I pulled a pair of jeans on with a white t-shirt and made my way out of the house. Across the horizon, and orange sun was beginning to peek out into the blue sky.
I didn't really know what I was doing...I just needed to fly. Flying would help me. Flying always helped me.
Kicking open the broom-shed door, I grabbed my Firebolt and set off at a speed that, thinking back, was kind of stupid. Then again...what else was I supposed to do? I couldn't tell any of my best friends – Ron would punch me and Hermione would give me her disapproving glare before stalking off somewhere or another. I couldn't tell my Dad – he'd laugh, Sirius was a waste of space and the idea of speaking to my mother about it was laughable.
I liked Lavender, I really did. She'd just turned up to borrow a book from Hermione and then Sirius had invited her in and she'd been sat next to me...one thing led to another and then we were ripping clothes off one another. I like her, she's great. In fact, she's the only person I've ever been out with for longer than a week. However, she's not Ginny. Her eyes don't light up like Ginny's do and her hair doesn't shine like hers does. When Lavender smiles, my day doesn't get better and, unlike Ginny, when Lavender laughs, it's actually quite irritating.
I landed after a two hours and glanced at my watch...it read quarter to seven. Sighing, I made my way over to the brook shed.
I opened the door and smiled. Ginny was leaning against the wall next to the door, a dreamy expression filling her sleep filled face.
"Gin?" I kicked her thigh softly and she jumped.
"What? Oh...what do you want, Potter?"
I frowned "Back to Potter, then?"
"Back to Lavender, then?"
I gasped, but she merely stood up to walk away.
"Ginny, wait."
She didn't pause as she said "Why?"
"Because...Lavender is...she's Lavender."
"I'm aware of her name, thanks."
"Don't be like this."
"I'm sorry...like what?" Her hair was swishing behind her in a way that made me want to rip her clothes off. It was generally quite irritating.
"Like you don't care."
"I don't care. I don't care about her or you."
"Then why did you kiss me?"
At this, she stopped and turned to face me "I don't know."
"And you don't care?"
Her face remained expressionless as her shoulders shrugged. "Not particularly."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Hey Harry!" A voice squealed from the gate. Lavender was stood there, a flower in her brown hair and very few clothes on. I barely even noticed, waving my wand to let her in absently.
"Let's just stay away from each other...yeah?" Ginny sighed "Bye, Potter."
She disappeared inside her house and I felt a tug on my sleeve "What was that all about...it looked pretty intense?"
"Nothing..." I mumbled, keeping my eyes locked on the door.
"Harry, are you Ok?"
I sighed, before pulling her into a hug "Yeah, I'll be fine."
She didn't notice the difference in the answer I'd given her like Ginny would have. Instead, she lifted her head and began to kiss me. Within seconds, we were busy inside the broom cupboard.
X
"We're going to Molly's for dinner...do you want to invite Lavender?" My Dad asked as I slumped into the kitchen chair, Lavender in the toilet 'fixing her hair'.
Evaluating the pros and cons of this situation, I shrugged. If Lavender came, Ginny may be jealous and ignore me...if she didn't, Ginny would still probably be jealous and not speak to me. If Lavender came, war would probably break out and Ginny would punch me...if she didn't, a war may still break out and the chances that she'd punch me were still reasonably high.
"Do you mind if I pass?"
"Yes...she's making meat pie...your Mum says it's necessary you attend."
"Too right it is...James, Molly doesn't even know Lavender." My Mum appeared, a disapproving look on her face.
"Sure she does...she's been out with Ron."
My Mum opened her mouth to speak but I sighed "Lavender can't come, she has to be home for six."
"Do I really?"
I froze "Erm...I thought you said you did?"
"No, unless you don't want me to?"
I shrugged "Nope. I'm easy."
"You can say that again." A voice sneered from the front door and Ginny walked in "Hi James, Hi Lavender, Hey Lil."
Mum smiled "Hey, Weasley. How's life?"
There seemed to be a hidden meaning behind her words, because Ginny took a minute to answer. "Life is...fine. I'm okay...thanks though."
She frowned "Sure?"
"Yeah...my Mum wants to know if you have and gravy cubes?"
"I'll have a look...do you want a cup of tea or anything?"
Ginny glanced towards me "I'll pass thanks."
"Okay, well here you go...and if you need anything else you know where I am."
Ginny sighed but nodded "I'll bear that in mind."
As the door closed, my Mum looked up from her cup of coffee "Lavender, could you possibly nip up to the spare room and check that the window is open...Hedwig sometimes gets a bit clumsy."
Lavender smiled and skipped off, leaving us by ourselves.
"You stupid boy."
"What?" I asked, appalled.
"Figure it out, Harry." And then my Mother, the woman who'd brought me up to always be polite, stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
"What did I do?" I asked my Dad, who was looking just as confused as me.
"I don't know. I'll speak to her."
"Watcha, Harry." A voice issued from the front door and Tonks walked in, her stomach bulging.
"Oh, hi Tonks. Dad, Tonks is here." I shouted, but it was my Mum who appeared.
"Hey...do you want a brew?"
"What?" I stared from my Mother to the woman in front of us to whom she was acting perfectly happy.
"No thanks, I just need to ask Harry something...if you don't mind. Remus should be here in a moment."
"Erm, Okay, but be warned...he'd being especially moronic today."
I shook my head as Remus walked in "What is it? Ignore her."
Tonks smiled, a wide, happy grin "Will you choose our baby's name?"
I felt my jaw drop "Seriously?"
Remus grinned "Yeah, we can't choose so we thought we'd let the godparents choose. However, Sirius wasn't around so..."
"Course I will! When's it due?" I asked, jumping onto Tonks and squeezing her tightly.
"Next week...do you want to name it then?"
"Yeah." I smiled and she patted my back "Are you staying for Dinner?"
Lavender wondered down the stairs as Tonks nodded "What's happening?"
"They're letting me chose their baby's name." I smiled, wrapping an arm around Lavender's waist.
"Introduction...please?" An amused voice spoke from the door. Sirius walked in and indicated to Lavender.
"I'm Lavender. Lavender Brown...I've heard a lot about you Mr Black."
"All good I hope...And do call me Sirius, sweetheart."
"Sirius, please." My Mum hissed, opening the door to let us all out.
We trudged across the lawn and found seats at the Weasley's table. I found myself sat between Ron and Lavender, opposite from Sirius, Ginny and Hermione. Needless to say, it was a reasonably awkward situation.
"Please would you pass me the gravy Sirius?" Ginny muttered, staring right past me.
"Yeah, course Gin. So...tell us, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, boys are wankers." She muttered.
"Ginny!" Molly said loudly "Don't you dare use language like that."
"They are."
"Get out!"
"Molly-" My mum started to speak.
"No, I'm not going anywhere! I'm just telling the truth. They lead you on and then either tell you you're not good enough-"At this point every eye in the room turned to face me "-or run off with some other prostitute. They're all wankers."
I stood up "Lavender isn't a prostitute."
Everybody seemed to be looking at me...Lavender was shaking her head.
"I don't understand...she was talking about Dean."
"No, she was talking about me."
"But...she hates you."
"Correct." Ginny said slowly, keeping her eyes on me.
"No you don't! You kissed me!"
Ginny flushed a deep shade of scarlet and a sharp intake of breath was drawn in from every pair of lungs in the room. Ron looked positively faint while Sirius was rubbing his hands together gleefully.
"You bastard."
"You bitch! You think you're so flaming fantastic and you've always treated me like shit-"
"You treat everybody like shit! You treat every girl like she's a sex object and you don't even like Lavender. You said she's an annoying little rat! You lie Potter. You don't couldn't give Merlin's left testicle about people's feelings as long as you get some. You just bullshit."
"Don't you dare. I tried, Ginny. How many times did I try? How many times have I told you I like you and asked you out...you can't even answer because you've either lost count or you don't give a f-"
"AAARGH!"
We both snapped out heads around to see Tonks doubled over, clutching her stomach. Remus was pale beside her.
"Dora? Dora?"
He shook her and she looked up, her eyes panic stricken and fear etched into her features.
"My water's just broken."
X
It is actually quarter to eight...but still...enjoy and review!