A/N: I will start this one out with a note. As always – I'm SO sorry for the long delay. No excuses, but I do plan on working on the next chapter very shortly. . Secondly, huge thanks to my beta, TerraFerme, for his excellent work on editing this chapter! Thirdly, this chapter went somewhere entirely different than where I intended it to. I do like it though so I'm letting it stand. Sometimes that happens. Happy reading! Please let me know if you have suggestions for me!
So - when I first uploaded this it showed the changes my beta made along with my original text...odd. I'm sorry for those who had to read through that mess. I fixed it . Thanks to those who alerted me to the issue
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The match against Ravenclaw had been weeks ago. Within days, Ginny had received letters from three teams making her generous offers to join their ranks. She wasted no time in accepting the only starting offer she'd ever really hoped for; reserve chaser for the Holyhead Harpies. She'd been walking around the castle with a permanent grin affixed to her face ever since. Ron, on the other hand, was still waiting and, despite the assertions he'd made immediately following the match that he'd been thrilled just be considered, he was in a right foul mood. He snapped at everyone about everything and sulked over tiny things that he took great personal offense to, even when they hadn't been meant that way. Hermione had given up trying to soothe him and was giving him a wide berth. Ginny had offered encouraging words every time their paths crossed at first, but eventually Ron'd had enough and snapped at her to stop rubbing her success in his face. Harry was trying valiantly to only discuss things with Ron that had no relation to Quidditch, but even that backfired since currently Ron was finding a way to relate everything back to Quidditch. Ron was letting this disappointment taint every aspect of his life and making everyone miserable.
It was Saturday morning. Harry and Ginny had been awake for nearly an hour, but hadn't yet moved out of their bed. Usually when they remained in bed for this long after they'd woken up, it was for a specific purpose. Today however, they were talking and trying to avoid spending any unnecessary time with Ron.
"We should get up," Harry said for the third time, as he ran a hand down her back and over her bottom. "Unless … you wanted to…"
"I explained to you yesterday why we can't," Ginny said somewhat uncomfortably.
"Right," Harry said remembering their discussion and quickly plowing ahead. "Breakfast then?"
"Can we have breakfast up here? I really don't fancy going down to the great hall this morning," Ginny said glumly.
"Because of Ron or the … um, other thing?" Harry asked.
"Maybe both," Ginny offered, but then added irritably, "mostly Ron."
"Someone really needs to talk to him. He's being a complete git," Harry said.
"I nominate you," Ginny said.
"Why me?" Harry groaned.
"You're his best mate," Ginny reminded him.
"So what? You're his sister," Harry countered.
"Maybe Hermione can try talk to him again," Ginny suggested. "After all, she's his girlfriend."
"No," Harry groaned, remembering the hurtful things Ron had said to her last time she'd tried. "I'll talk to him after breakfast."
"I have to tell you something," Ginny said awkwardly, sitting up in bed. "I should have told you back when it happened, but I was trying to protect you. But now, in light of the whole Ron situation, you need to know about this in the event he brings it up."
Harry's brow furrowed and Ginny could tell that he was willing himself to keep his temper under control. They had agreed on more than one occasion that they would have no secrets between them. She knew that it had been wrong of her to keep this from him. "Ok," he said shortly, also sitting up in bed.
"After the match against Ravenclaw when Ron and I went to meet with the scouts, we found out that it was all just a ruse to have an audience with you," Ginny confessed. "Ron, Headmistress McGonagall, and I agreed to keep it between the three of us. We didn't want you to feel like anything had been diminished for us because some idiot scouts used us in an effort to get to you."
"What do you mean they were trying to get to me?" Harry asked, although he thought he might already know.
"They were scouting you too," Ginny reminded him. "Even though it's been your intention all along not to play professionally, they'd hoped to meet with you and change your mind. You see, any team that can boast that Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, signed as one of their players is going to become extremely popular. McGonagall said scouts don't typically meet with the players they're scouting and they only invited the Gryffindor players being scouted to the meeting, not any of the Ravenclaw players. The whole thing was a set up. As soon as they realized you weren't coming to the meeting, they wrapped things up pretty quickly. Headmistress McGonagall was awesomely scary."
"I bet Ron is remembering that and it's adding to his irritation," Harry said.
"Exactly," Ginny said. "Which is why I needed to tell you about it before you talk to him again."
"You should have told me right after it happened," Harry said evenly.
"I know," Ginny said quietly. "I'm sorry. We didn't want to ruin the great mood after our win, so we kept it a secret."
"I understand and appreciate why you did it, but next time, just tell me," Harry said. "I'm a grown-up, I can handle it."
After a leisurely breakfast in their own small kitchen, Harry went in search of Ron while Ginny settled in front of the fire with a pile of homework and some knitting. "Send Hermione over if you see her," Ginny had called as Harry left their dorm.
Harry was not surprised to find Ron alone out by the lake chucking in the biggest rocks he could lift. His bad mood had gone on so long that he'd alienated everyone that would typically spend time with him.
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked sourly when he spotted Harry watching him.
"Thought we could we talk," Harry said, trying to sound friendly and casual.
"I suppose," Ron said with a scowl.
Harry edged away from the lake and when Ron joined him they set off on a path toward the Quidditch pitch. He wasn't sure where to begin even. Finally he said, "It's okay to be upset. No one blames you for that. But you need to stop taking your disappointment out on everyone. You've chased away everyone that spent time with you."
After a brief silence, Ron sighed loudly and said, glumly, "I know."
Taking the loss of the surly attitude as a step in the right direction, Harry barreled on, "Just because you haven't heard anything yet doesn't necessarily mean anything. Maybe there are just a lot of keepers to scout this season."
"Yeah, maybe," Ron agreed half heartedly.
Not having any idea if what he was about to say was remotely true, Harry said, "I bet keeper is one of the hardest positions to fill. I mean, the keeper is like the backbone of a team. They want to be sure they are getting one that is really going to hold the team together."
"I've heard that," Ron said sounding hopeful. "I guess I've gotten a little bent out of shape over this whole thing."
"Just a bit," Harry said loyally.
"Well, more than just a bit," Ron admitted. "I let myself get really worked up over all of this."
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Why is that? I mean, after the match you said you were just happy to have been considered. What changed?"
"I guess I really got used to the idea of playing Quidditch professionally next year. Without that I really don't have a plan for my future," Ron said. "So, once it seemed unlikely that I was going to hear from a team, I just kind of fell apart. I mean, what am I going to do if I don't play Quidditch? And I had this idea in my head that if I had a reliable and prosperous career path figured out, it might encourage Hermione to move ahead with our lives together sooner."
"Oh," Harry said, "I had kind of guessed the rest, but I'd missed how Hermione might play into all of this."
Sheepishly, Ron continued, "I guess I hoped that if I made it onto a team, she'd want to get engaged to keep the female fans from trying to get too close. It's stupid, I know …"
"It's not stupid," Harry said. "I bet Hermione would like to hear how much she plays into these Quidditch plans. She'd understand better why you are so upset and how much she means to you."
"Really?" Ron asked.
"Yeah," Harry replied. "But, fair warning. You've been acting like a complete jerk for weeks now. She's bound to take some extra convincing to forgive you."
Just as they neared the Quidditch pitch and Harry was going to suggest they fly around a bit, a breathless Hermione caught up with them brandishing a letter at Ron. Between gasps for air, Hermione said, "This came for you at breakfast." She was clutching a stitch in her side with one hand and attempting to smooth her hair back down with the other as Ron stared down at the orange crest on the envelope.
"It's from the Cannons," he said in a strained voice.
"Open it!" Hermione practically barked at him.
"I can't," Ron said with wild eyes. "You do it."
Hermione pushed the arm that Ron was holding the letter out to her with toward Harry. Still panting slightly, she said, "Harry, you do it."
"Alright," Harry said. He took the envelope with a nod from Ron and carefully ripped it open. He scanned the page before breaking in a huge grin and reading aloud, "Dear Mr. Weasely, We are delighted to inform you that you have been short listed as a candidate for our reserve keeper position. We would like to invite you to an invitation-only tryout for the position. You and two other keepers will be competing for the spot in a goal keeping challenge. Best out of 50 wins the spot. In the event of a tie there will be a sudden death rematch option. Please send us an owl if you would like to be included in the tryout and we will send you further details. Thank you, The Chudley Cannons."
Hermione shrieked and threw herself into a stunned looking Ron's arms.
"Brilliant!" Harry said happily.
"Is that really what it says?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, of course," Harry said handing the letter back to Ron.
Ron scanned the page quickly and then, looking back up at Harry, muttered simply, "Merlin."
"I'll leave the two of you alone," Harry said smirking. "But you might want to take a walk over to the owlery to let them know that you're interested in coming to the tryout."
"Yeah," Ron said still looking bewildered. "Thanks Harry."
Chuckling, Harry headed back up to the castle on his own. As he walked, he thought about what it would be like if he was accepting offers from different Quidditch teams. What he wouldn't give to be playing professionally next year like Ginny and possibly Ron. Of course, the option was still open to him, but deep down inside he knew that parts of it would just make him deeply unhappy. He'd had enough unhappiness already in his life he wasn't going to purposely invite more in. He would have to be satisfied with living vicariously through Ginny and possibly Ron.
"Fresh pickled toad," Harry whispered their current password outside their dorm room door. It swung open and he left his cloak and shoes by the door. Ginny was fast asleep on the couch in front of the fire, knitting still clutched in her hands. He intended just to take it from her and set it on the table but, as he did so, she woke up.
"Harry," she said, her voice laced with tired confusion, "Hermione never showed up. I guess I fell asleep."
"I only just saw her out on the grounds. I left her and Ron together," Harry explained.
"How did your talk with him go?" Ginny asked curiously.
For the next half an hour, Harry told her all about what Ron had said and how Hermione had shown up with the letter from the Cannons.
"I'm so glad he's not out of it yet then. I've been feeling guilty for weeks about my happiness at getting onto the Harpies," Ginny said.
"I know, I could tell," Harry said as he reached a hand toward her only to withdraw it again before actually touching her. "But, you really shouldn't feel guilty. It's a tremendous accomplishment."
Ginny narrowed her eyes at him said, "You can touch me you know. It's not catching."
"I know," Harry said warily, fearing her temper. "I just wasn't sure if you wanted me to."
"I always want you to touch me," Ginny snapped. "This doesn't change anything."
"Yeah, but last month I tried to touch you and you told me to back off, that touching you only made it worse," Harry said.
Ginny chuckled darkly before her expression softened and she said, "Poor Harry, I'm sorry. Last month, it did make it worse. It made me want you more, but I couldn't have you. This month I want you to touch me and comfort me. It just varies so much. I'm not trying purposely to be contradictory and irrational."
"Okay," Harry said. "I guess I'm still getting used to it and figuring out how I should handle it."
"You can always just ask me if you aren't sure," Ginny said carefully. "And eventually you'll be able to read all the signs."
"I hope so," Harry said. He quietly contemplated how close he should get to her on the couch before asking, "So, how many more days?"
"I don't know, maybe two," Ginny said. Harry groaned quietly beside her and she laughed. "Just imagine what a pain it is for witches and then you won't feel so bad for yourself."
"I can't feel bad for both of us?" Harry asked as he reached across and took her hand.
"Of course," Ginny said as she grasped his hand more firmly and pulled him toward her. "But, it's not like we can't do anything."
"Really?" Harry asked, his whole face lighting up.
"Sure, we just can't do that…," Ginny said trailing off suggestively. "Before our wedding night, we fooled around a lot during that time and you never even noticed. Just pretend we're saving ourselves all over again."
Harry groaned again and said, "But that was so much less fun than what we do now."
"I know, but think of it like a preview…in a few nights we'll be back to our regularly scheduled program," Ginny suggested hopefully.
"I suppose," Harry said, carefully eyeing her, as if trying to decide where to start.
"Harry," Ginny said huskily. "Just kiss me."
And so he did. It had been so long since they'd just kissed like that. He had forgotten how breathtaking and heady it could be all on its own. They kissed and kissed trying all the while to get as close as humanly possible to each other. Eventually they sat on the couch with Ginny straddling him and their upper bodies pressed tightly together as they kissed. When Harry's hands found their way under the back of Ginny's shirt, she groaned sadly in response and said, "Not today."
"Why not?" Harry asked, stubbornly not removing his hands. "Those aren't affected too, are they?"
"Sore," Ginny said quickly, as she worked to recapture Harry's mouth with her own. He continued to kiss her back but she felt that some of his enthusiasm had ebbed away. In consolation, she slid her hands under his shirt lightly raking her nails across his skin as she ground against his erection. She felt him draw in breath sharply before deepening the kiss again. She continued her ministrations and when she could tell he could handle no more, she broke the contact, pulled him off the couch and into their bedroom. She closed the door behind them and knelt before him.
Sometime later, a deeply satisfied Harry lay in bed with Ginny. She was cuddled up to him as he stroked her back. She yawned loudly and said sleepily, "See, I told you we could still do some things, just not everything. It can still be a fun time."
"Thank you," Harry said as he stroked her hair. "I wasn't expecting that."
"Maybe you won't be so afraid of me next month," Ginny said teasingly.
Harry chuckled and agreed with her. Then, sensing she was about to fall asleep again, he said, "It's almost dinner time, want to go eat?"
"I just want to sleep. Do you mind going alone?" Ginny asked, sounding guilty.
"No, not at all, you rest. Do you want me to bring something up for you to eat later?" Harry asked.
"Chocolate," she mumbled as she snuggled deeper into Harry's chest.
Harry kissed her gently before struggling out from under her. He tucked her into their bed and quietly left the room.
Down in the Great Hall, dinner was just starting. He saw Hermione and Ron at the table and moved to join them.
"Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked, as Harry settled at the table.
"Sleeping," Harry said.
"Is she sick?" Ron asked, sounding concerned.
"Well, not really …," Harry said, unsure of how to answer the question.
"What's wrong with her? Does she need to go to Madame Pomfrey?" Ron asked protectively.
"She's just tired and …" Harry again was unsure how to put things.
Ron was openly staring at Harry now. Hermione smirked a little before asking, "Is it her witchy time of the month?"
"Ugh!" Ron said loudly. "Way too much information."
Hermione laughed at Ron's discomfort, but for Harry, it was still hitting a little too close to home. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and he nodded. Nodding back at him, she said, "Just bring her some chocolate, it works wonders."
"Anyway," Ron cut in, "enough about that. I owled the Cannons and they sent me the details for the tryout. They're a week from today at 10 AM at their training facilities. Reckon you and Ginny will have time to help me practice?"
"Sure," Harry said excitedly. "But if you want my honest opinion, you're unbeatable as long as you don't let your nerves get the best of you."
"And how do you suggest I do that?" Ron asked sarcastically. "I have a long history of doing exactly that."
"While you're up there, pretend it's the Horcrux Hunt all over again. But instead of finding and destroying horcruxes, you have to keep the quaffle from going through the hoop. Just think how much easier protecting a goal will seem than hunting horcruxes," Harry suggested.
"Don't you think that will make him more nervous?" Hermione asked. "When you put it that way, it sounds like a lot of pressure to be under."
"No, I like it," said Ron. "If it has more of a sense of duty, I'll think about it less and just do it."
Hermione still looked skeptical, but wisely said nothing further. When the three of them rose from the table to head back upstairs, Harry asked Hermione, "So, what kind of chocolate?"
Hermione smiled fondly at him and said, "Any really, but I happen to know that Ginny loves the hot chocolate the house elves make."
Harry thanked Hermione and hurried off to the kitchens to see what he could get in the way of chocolate for Ginny. The closer he got to the kitchens, the more he wanted to turn and run the other way. He hadn't been to the kitchens since long before the battle; back when he would visit Dobby there. He swallowed the lump in this throat and continued on. He knew that Dobby, who cared for people, would want him to take care of Ginny.
The house elves remembered him, of course, and were as helpful as ever and possibly even more so, knowing that Harry had been friends with Dobby. They filled a basket with a large thermos of hot chocolate, and as many cakes, cookies, and candies they could find that included chocolate.
When Harry returned to their dorm, Ginny was just waking up from her nap and coming out of the bedroom. He presented her with the basket full of chocolaty goodies. Her eyes filled with tears and Harry stood utterly at a loss for what had failed in this plan. Sense finally returning to him, he quickly set the basket down and moved to take Ginny into his arms. "What's the matter?" he asked carefully.
"Nothing," Ginny said through her tears.
"Why are you crying then?" Harry asked bewildered.
"Stupid hormones," Ginny hissed. "I'm crying because you are so sweet. You brought me chocolate."
"But you asked me to," Harry said.
"I didn't think you'd take me seriously though," Ginny said.
"I kind of did. But when Hermione figured out why you weren't at dinner, she helped reinforce the chocolate idea," Harry confessed.
"Well," Ginny said, wiping tears. "It's still sweet of you."
"It's my job to take care of you," Harry said seriously. "Just like you took care of me earlier. I was only getting you what you needed."
"You're the best husband ever," Ginny said, kissing him on the cheek. "Come help me eat some of this."
They settled on the couch and, as they ate the chocolate, they discussed the best drills for helping Ron practice for his upcoming tryout.