Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
Chapter Four: All Things Harry Related
"Wow"
"Wow, indeed." Jane Granger agreed, before ordering them another round of cocktails. The tale had warranted a considerable number all told.
"In a month? He's accomplished all that in a month?" Hermione gasped incredulously.
"I'm guessing what we don't know far outweighs what we do. Arthur's at his wit's end trying to keep pace with him. He's in Arthur's office nearly every other day with some new idea. Public support is so firmly behind Harry, that Arthur can hardly deny him, but even so, everything that Harry's suggested, if not outright demanded, has been more than reasonable. It's been amazing really." Molly added her two knuts worth.
"That morning… I'll never forget it." Molly trailed off wistfully. "We heard the church bells ringing across the countryside, that was just before the Burrow was swamped with owls. He was alive! People were celebrating more than they were the first time Voldemort died."
Jane nodded meaningfully towards Hermione. "Do you think he planned it?" she asked Molly.
"Probably, at least in part." Molly agreed.
"Planned what?" Hermione questioned.
"Planned getting you two safely away before the world found out he'd returned to the land of the living, of course." Jane clarified.
"Nonsense" Hermione scoffed. "He's just not capable of so much duplicity. He couldn't come up with something like that right out of a coma?" Hermione disagreed.
Jane and Molly shared another look
Hermione clucked her tongue disapprovingly at their silent exchange.
"Well?" She growled impatiently.
Jane Granger gave her daughter a pointed look. "Rather sure of yourself, aren't you? That young man came out of his coma at a dead run and hasn't slowed a bit since. He's not like anything you've ever known or heard of I'd wager. He's, well, he's like a force of nature really. Relentless, unyielding, and.. Un-pre-dict-a -ble. "
Hermione gapped at her mother's description.
Jane held up a hand defensively. "Don't get me wrong, I don't mean that in a bad way. Harry's an absolute delight. He's like a sunny day after a storm, you hope for it, but are afraid to expect it, but once it's there,… it's glorious."
If Hermione wasn't stunned before, she was now. Well,.. she didn't know what she was? Her mother was either barmy or Hermione had come back to the wrong island.
"H-Harry? Our Harry Potter?" she questioned disbelievingly.
Molly nodded. "She's right, dear. Harry's, well,.. he's not changed all that much. It's more that he's incredibly positive, extremely driven now. He seems to be working thru some sort of an agenda. Only he's doing it at break neck speed. What that agenda is,.. who can say? Arthur hasn't a clue. Ginny certainly hasn't, but she'd like to, poor girl. So you can see, we've been rather anxious for your return Hermione." Molly intimated.
Jane added. "In other words, Hermione, see what you can do for him. Harry's after all, just one man, an amazing man, but just one never the less. Even Harry can't take on the world, at least not in a single day." Jane Granger chuckled, amused at her own anecdote.
Hermione stared at the unfinished drink in her hand for the longest time, contemplating all the many and varied things her mother's had imparted about Harry.
Her voice was almost a whisper when she finally spoke. " Harry's only driven when there's something driving him."
Molly gasped in a frightened voice. " Not another prophecy?"
Hermione shook her head."No,.. No ,I don't think so. He gets very quiet and isolative when something like that is hanging over his head, very secretive and calculating. He doesn't impress me as being secretive, in fact, what you describe is just the opposite. He's out there, making things happen. By the sound of things, I'd say he's enjoying himself while he's at it. Maybe that's all it is, really?" Hermione hypothesized.
"Maybe Harry's experiencing what it is to be free, truly free for the first time and he's making the most of it?"
"Hmmph." Jane snorted. "He does seem to be having quite a time. I don't know though…?" Jane pondered.
"When are you going to talk to him?" Molly cut to the quick.
"Soon, very soon." Hermione acknowledged her intentions. "But first I need to do a bit of research."
She glanced at her watch. "Look at the time? Ron should be back from practice. I'm sure he might have something to relate regarding Harry's quiddicth intentions. That should make a good starting point. From there, Ginny seems the next logical choice, but I think that will have to wait till tomorrow."
Hermione blushed prettily, offering. "Everything's so, so wonderfully new…" she tried to explain, blushing a deeper shade.
Jane and Molly sighed their understanding.
"Take your time dear." Molly agreed.
"But not too long?" her mother redirected with a chuckle, one they all shared.
Hermione floo'd home to find her husband smoldering.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" he growled at her.
"You know very well where I was, and don't take that tone with me Ronald Weasley!" she shot back defensively.
"So you bloody women have been going on about Harry bloody Potter all afternoon just like everyone else, eh?" Ron caustically accused.
"Ron?" Hermione shrieked scandalized. "You've no right to go on about him that way after all he's done for us. No Right At All!"
Ron visibly deflated, slumping into a nearby chair. He dragged his finger thru his still damp hair, obviously he'd just returned from practice as his equipment bag was still in the middle of the parlor, and he knew how his wife despised such sloppiness.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione" he apologized dejectedly.
"Practice didn't go well, then?" Hermione asked. She walked over and kissed him fondly on top of his head, pausing to inhale his spicy sent. Hermione fought down a shudder of anticipation. She loved the way he smelled, but know wasn't the time.
"Practice was fine, better then fine really. I can't see how we'll lose the cup this year." Ron breathed out with a touch of envy in his voice.
Hermione sat in his lap and cuddled into him. What's the matter then? Did Harry do something to upset you?"
She guessed by his mood that Ron was feeling a touch jealous. Despite everything that's happened? All that he's accomplished on his own, Ron was still a bit sensitive when it came to Harry. It was never anything that Harry intentionally did. He just seemed to blessed with a plethora of unique abilities, one could call them gifts even,.. if they were mad. Such gifts were anything but. Anything that Harry has ever had always came with a hidden price tag; one that was always high, too high by comparison. Ron knew this, He didn't really envy, Harry. Not really. Not where it counted. That didn't make it difficult to deal with at times though. Harry was a tough act to follow, and right now Ron was undoubtedly feeling that burden on his shoulders.
"Harry did a good job playing keeper while we were away, too good." Ron sighed with a long face.
"Why too good?" Hermione asked in trepidation.
"Too good because management didn't want him to stop. They want him to continue at keeper." Ron grumped.
"What? They said that! They really said that?" Hermione stiffened in his arms. She pushed herself up so that she could grasp both sides of his face and let him know in no uncertain terms.
"You're a world class keeper, Ronald Weasley. You know it, I know it, and the rest of the world knows it. Chudley would never turn its back on you and deservedly so. They know that if they ever let you go they'd be losing the best player in the world, bar none. There just posturing because you're up for a new contract next season" Hermione groused pointedly.
"You really think I'm the best, really? Ron returned, brightening hopefully.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Of course I do. Anyone with half a brain does. Why do you think they had you captain the English side for the cup, silly?"
"Yeah, but,.. Harry is ,.. Well, he's…?" Ron struggled not to ruin the feeling of surging pride he had over his wife's compliment.
"Harry's in a class of his own, Ron. Harry plays great, but he's not a great quidditch person. He enjoys it, is spectacularly good at it, but that's where it ends. Quidditch is a lot more than just playing. It's endless training, strategy, politics and so many other things, all of which are your forte, not Harry's." Hermione's lecture had the intended effect of raising his spirits as Ron's grinningly returned.
"Well, he's gonna have to learn, isn't he?" Ron chuckled, nuzzling at Hermione's ear.
"H-He is?" Hermione barely managed to gasp out. She loved it when he nibbled at her ears.
"Course he will." Ron replied in no nonsense tone, adding, "Now that he owns the team."
"HE WHAT!" Hermione leapt off Ron's lap like a scalded cat in her surprise.
Ron sighed and explained. "Look, here's the short of it: The Cannons wanted Harry to keep on playing as keeper throughout the rest of the playoffs, but Harry flat out refused, saying that it was my job and my team. Claims he doesn't even like playing keeper. He offered to have a lash at playing Chaser, but they wouldn't hear of it, not a bad idea really, as Vance is barely able to sit a broom; too many injuries this year." Ron explanation went off in a tangent exasperating his wife.
"Ron..." Hermione tapped her foot impatiently. "Harry…owner… remember?
"I'm getting to it- sheesh. " Ron complained.
"Harry and Dobbs get in a right row over it, culminating with threatening Harry that once he's under contract for next year they'll play him where ever they like, even if that means peanut vendor. Harry, being Harry, well,.. you know how he is? Threatening him was probably the worst thing in the world they could've done. I don't know all the details, but apparently Harry spent his weekend buying up all outstanding shares of Cannon's stock, and was even able to convince some other share owners to sign over their proxies. As of this morning, Harry owns outright, or controls seventy-seven percent of the Chudley Cannons. "
Hermione goggled at Ron dumbly.
"Harry made the announcement this morning. He said that all operations would continue as normal and that I was the team's captain and starting keeper." At this Ron puffed up proudly.
"He said that former team majority owner; Hadley Dobbs could watch the team play from the junior share holder's boxes, but that if he attempted to interfere in any way with team operations, he would be banned from the stadium.
At that point, Harry paused and looked at Dobbs, who was gaping like a fish, and asked Dobbs: "What're you doing here; it's not a game day?" Well,…. Old man Dobbs he starts blustering and posturing and,… Harry just waves his hand and banishes him before continuing on like nothing had happened."
"Banished him?" Hermione shrieked in alarm. "Where did he banish him to?
Ron started sniggering but couldn't control himself and broke out into full out laughter.
"I h-heard he wound up at the T-Tornadoes game dressed up like a p-peanut vendor!" Ron managed to gasp out.
Appreciating the irony of that, Hermione joined her husband, falling onto the couch, laughing shamelessly
Ron was sleeping blissfully by eight pm; between returning to practice after a month off and his new wife's attentions, even Ron, good athlete that he is, has his limitations.
Hermione padded softly out of their bedroom, dressing in the hallway so as not to disturb her husband.
Her husband, she wondered if she would ever tire of hearing that reference.
She wrote a quick note and left it on the table, a place that Ron was sure to find it, (with his ravenous appetite), if he should happen to wake up and worry where she'd gotten to.
It was a bit late to call, but she expected Ginny would still be up, and she needed to see her sister in-law. Tthere were still too many pieces missing to the puzzle that was Harry's recent behavior.
Hermione floo'd to the Burrow.
"Hermione?" Mr. Weasley questioned as she emerged from the hearth.
"I'm sorry come so late without calling first, but,.."
"Nonsense" Mr. Weasley cut off her explanation. "You're family, dear. Anytime you visit it's appreciated. Can I get you some tea, or a butterbeer, perhaps?' Arthur offered warmly, joining in greeting his newest daught in-law
"Er,.. No,.. actually, I was hoping to have a word with ,Ginny?" Hermione asked sheepishly.
"Harry?" Mr. Weasley guessed
"How did you…?" Hermione began to question.
"Besides being the Minister of Magic, I have been a father for quite a bit of time. Though I only have the one daughter, one seems to be plenty when it comes to … Harry Potter." Mr. Weasley was smiling when he said this, but there was something in his voice that was a little unsettling, his eyes didn't quite hold his smile.
"M-Mr. Weasley, is something wrong,… something between you and Harry?" Hermione asked uncertainly.
"Mr. Weasley smiled reassuringly. "Firstly, it's not Mr. Weasley, it's dad now, or if you're not comfortable with that, then Arthur will do to be going on with. Secondly; any issues I have with Harry are from a professional stand point, they do not impact in any way, shape or form on his standing with this family and they never will."
Had he his full memory, his words would sound more hollow than they already felt to Hermione's unsuspecting ears.
"I- I don't pretend to know about all that's happened, but if you're referring to the reforms that Harry's suggested, aren't those all good things?" Hermione questioned.
"Mr. Weasley sighed wearily. "Though I would rather leave politics at the office, I'll indulge your curiosity. They are good things in and of themselves, like the Elf Freedom Act he proposes, but to call it merely a suggestion is like calling the last war with Voldemort a peace rally for pure blood superiority."
Hermione's face fell. "I'd hardly call that a fair analogy. Too long the wizarding world has either completely ignored or downright violated the rights of other magical creatures." she returned defensively.
Arthur Weasley nodded his agreement. "I concede your point, however, Harry is not suggesting we consider the legislation he purposes, with I might add- the full endorsement of the Goblin Nation; he's basically stated flat out, pass it, or suffer the consequences."
Hermione paled at that. "W-What consequences?" she rasped.
Her father in-law merely shrugged by way of an answer. "Who can say? Harry was not clear on this point, but knowing Harry as I do,.. I did not consider it an idle threat."
"If you pass it ..?" Hermione began to puzzle out the ramifications.
"I'd be committing political suicide. Though I suppose it's a moot point? Harry could announce his intention to seek my post tomorrow, and he'd win by a landslide. I want to do the right thing here by everyone, but Harry's giving me no room to maneuver. What's more, he's given me a deadline!"
"When?" She almost feared she knew the answer before she asked.
Arthur's eyes fell. "October thirty-first." he acknowledged in a small voice.
Hermione gasped at the significance. "The anniversary of his parent's murders." Hermione suspected as much.
Arthur nodded. "Even now…"
"Even now." Hermione echoed her agreement.
Harry still honored his parent's lives in the way he remembered their deaths. In many ways, Halloween was Harry's true birthday.
"I'll talk to him." Hermione offered.
Arthur shook his head. "Not that I don't appreciate the offer, but as I said this is Ministry business, it isn't personal. I'll deal with Harry as best I can. Now, why don't you go up and visit with Ginny. I dare say she could use a bit of advice." Arthur suggested, he waved her toward the stairway.
"G-Good night, dad." Hermione ventured.
Mr. Weasley smiled with genuine warmth this time, unlike before when Harry was mentioned
"Goodnight, Hermione." he returned in a pleased voice.
Hermione mounted the stairs, more troubled than when she'd arrived.What are you doing, Harry?
She knocked softly on Ginny's door, careful not to wake her if she was already asleep.
"Yes?" Ginny called out from her room.
"It's Hermione, Ginny."
The door flew open and Ginny pulled her friend into a rib cracking hug. "Thank, Merlin!" Ginny gasped in relief.
"Not you too?" Hermione remarked suspiciously under her breath.
Ginny pulled back from their embrace and with an anxious expression asked; " 'Mione what's he doing? I mean why is he,… Does he… Oh, I don't even know what I'm saying anymore?" Ginny threw up her hands in frustration and began pacing, continuing to mutter in her frustration, oblivious to her sister in-law's attempts to get a word in edgewise.
"He sends flowers one day and the next he's in all the papers dating some bit of skirt, claiming they're just friends- puh-lease! Then he shows up after one of our practices and compliments me in front of my whole team, the next day he's out partying with my team captain? It's disgusting! Gwenog Jones's spent years building up the reputation of being ' the ice maiden' of the league, now she gushes over him like some silly school girl. She's even got his bloody picture tacked up in her locker! Now the two of them have conspired over this ridiculous bet of theirs- you just know the girls and I are gonna end up in some slag picture on the cover of Play Wizard after everything is all said and done?"
"What if the Harpies win?" Hermione seized the opportunity to distract her friend.
Ginny paused to goggle her friend as if just remembering she was in the room.
"Puh-lease" Ginny growled sarcastically. "We're good, very good, but Harry,.. The man's a one person team on his own, and my prat of a brother, though I'm loath to admit as we're starting the semi finals against the Cannon's next week, Ron is no slouch either. That git already went so far as to send me his jersey."
"Ron did?" Hermione gasped incredulously.
Ginny narrowed her eyes as she sarcastically clarified. "Not Ron, Harry! Harry sent me his jersey from the last World Cup. He even said I could keep it, if I wanted? If I wanted! The bloody thing is worth a fortune. I could auction it off tomorrow for a thousand galleons easy. I thought I'd die of embarrassment. Gwenog is going on in the locker room about all the fun her and "Harry" had out the night before and the next minute a courier is delivering a wrapped package to me. Like a complete idiot, I opened it right there in the locker room, in front of all my teammates. And what do I find; Harry's game jersey from his cup win, wrapped carefully around a white rose with a note that he wanted to be "the first to offer his jersey before the rest of the blokes stampeded for the chance to have the league's best scorer and prettiest witch on the Harpies -wear their jersey". he said it was just in case we should lose the bet. If not, I was welcome to keep the jersey as a token of his admiration. Bloody Hell! You should have seen the glare Gwenog gave me when she saw me holding Harry's jersey. I'm telling you, 'Mione, if she had her way, I'd be transferred tomorrow to the worst team in the league."
"Oh, Ginny, that'll never happen and you know it. Like Harry said in his note, you're the best scorer in the league." Hermione reassured her.
"That isn't the worst of it, 'Mione. What am I going to do about his jersey? I can't very well keep the thing?" Ginny whined.
"Why on earth not? I'm told it's quite an honor to receive a player's jersey, especially one from a special game or a big win." Hermione asked puzzled by her reluctance to keep Harry's gift.
"An Honor?" Ginny nearly shrieked. "Of course it's an honor,.. If your dating said player or engaged or something. Doesn't he understand that you just don't go around giving girls your jersey to wear for Merlin's sake? What am I to think? Huh?"
Hermione worried her finger tips over her forehead pretending to wearily consider Ginny's point, but in actuality she was trying to cover the smirk that was threatening to break out and further infuriate her already far too intense friend.
Once she was able to compose herself. "I'm not sure that he does understand the ramifications, perhaps if you explained things to him…?"
"Hmmmph" Ginny groused. "How exactly am I supposed to do that? None of us can access his house and owls can't seem to find it either. He drops in at a moment's notice and is gone again in a trice. He's like the wind around here. You can't see him but you can always feel he's around. On the rare occasion that I do see him, he usually pays me some compliment that has me stammering like an idiot and before I can collect myself to even try and have a reasonable conversation, he says something or other that's so absolutely sweet and disarming that it's like being hit with a confundus!"
Ignoring the bit about Harry's undoubdtedly intentional inaccessibility, Hermione curiously asked intrigued. "Just what sort of things does he say?"
Ginny's eyes went out of focus as she returned. "Harry stopped in the Harpies locker after we won our quarters against Raven Hurst. I didn't know he was there congratulating Gwenog on our win while I was on the other side of the locker complaining about how hot it was during out game and how my hands were so sweaty that I almost lost my grip on my broom. Harry overheard me and he peeked around the locker and said. "That never would have happened Gin, you're too good of a player to fall off your broom, no matter the conditions. Besides, it was worth a little sweat. You were absolutely glowing out there. You looked like a warrior queen in the midst of a pitched battle- stunning really."
"Whoa" Hermione breathed out shocked.
"Whoa? That's all you have to say; Whoa? "
"What did you do, after he said that?" Herrmione asked, ignoring her friend's ire.
"What'd I do? I blushed like a proper Weasley, that's what I did. Then the prat has the nerve to point out.
"That's the look! Wow, Gin, that's incredible. Thanks!" The next thing I know I'm in the shower trying to drown myself in my mortification, and Harry's off making that damn wager with Gwenog."
Hermione gave her sister in-law a few minutes to calm herself before reluctantly asking.
"Is there anything else,.. I mean has Harry had any other contact with you."
Ginny's eyes went wide for a second, but she turned away to look out the window of her room.
After a quiet moment, "Ginny?" Hermione asked in concern.
Ginny was trembling; she had her arms protectively wrapped around her chest as if trying to ward off a chill.
"Two other t-times" Ginny's replied in a near whisper, her voice catching slightly.
"Tell me?" Hermione asked compassionately. She could tell that Ginny was shaken by whatever these other encounters with Harry were.
"The weekend after our quarter's win, that was a few days after Harry's visit to our locker, Gwenog had taken the team out to one of the league sponsored night clubs to celebrate as treat from the management. Harry was there with a few of his mates from the Cannons. Anyway, H-Harry sent over some very expensive bottles of champagne to our table to congratulate us. I had a bit, like the rest of the girls, but after seeing Harry dance a bit, er,.. close with Gwenog,… I had a bit more."
Hermione sighed wearily in anticipation at this, but otherwise didn't interrupt her friend.
"I-I got a bit ,.. I was a little put off,.. And well,.. I , um,.. Well, I danced a few times with our head of Security, Devlin Childress. He's always shown an interest in me, but I-I never really considered dating him or anything. Well, what with the champagne and all I, er… I got a bit flirty and he overreacted a little. We were kissing a bit and.. and before I knew what was happening his hands had wandered a bit. I asked him to stop, but either he didn't hear me or he didn't care because he, well he, was getting kind of rough and it hurt and…" Ginny let off embarrassed.
"And Harry happened." Hermione sighed knowingly.
Ginny nodded her head. Her eyes still glued to the window. Hermione could tell she was crying at this point as her hand would scrub at the area around her eyes and she could hear her sniffling softly.
"I-I must have screamed or something,.. I don't remember for sure. I only remember I was scared. Devlin had pulled me into a darkened alcove away from the dance floor and he,.. He wasn't taking no for an answer. In the blink of an eye I was standing there in front of Harry, and Devlin was nowhere to be seen, but the window nearby was broken out and I could hear somebody moaning in pain outside. H-Harry didn't say a word. He just looked at me with the gentlest expression in his eyes. H-He looked so w-worried..." Ginny crying became more pronounced as she continued to stammer.
"H-He scooped me up into his arms like I was no more than small child and he carried me over to my friends, Wendy and Mira. H-He t-told them to take c-care of me." she hiccupped.
"He told me everything was going to be alright and h-he brushed the back of his finger against my cheek. I-I felt s-so s-safe. He was so gentle with me, 'Mione. H-He looked at me like I was the only p-person who mattered to him in the whole world. I-It was like when Daddy took care of me when I was a little girl and I had a high fever from the Dragon Pox. I was so scared at first, but then I felt so safe because my daddy was there to make it all better. That's how Harry made me feel. Harry turned back toward the door, that Devlin just came back through snarling mad. Devlin's face was all cut up from the glass window that Harry must've tossed him thru. Blood is pouring out of his nose, it looks broken because his eyes are already bruising. He starts yelling something at Harry, challenging him or something? I could see Harry's eyes start to harden dangerously as he turned toward Devlin.
The lights in the club started to blink on and off, some of them even exploded, showering sparks everywhere. Gwenog and some of Harry's teammates had swarmed around him, getting between him and Devlin. They were trying to get them both to calm down. Harry started to back off, but Devlin was shouting all kinds of crap at Harry. Harry looked like he was pretty much just ignoring it, but then Devlin shouted something about me and Harry snapped back around and started going straight for Devlin. Devlin's a big bloke,Hermione. He's maybe two fifty and solid muscle! Wendy told me later that Harry had thrown Devlin through that window one handed? Gwenog and a bunch of security guards and even a few of Harry teammates tried to hold Harry back from going after Devlin, but Harry just brushed them aside like they were a bunch of toddlers. Remember these are world class athletes and professional security people we're talking about? Gwenog is begging him to stop and ordering Devlin to back off, but Harry keeps moving toward Devlin, and Devlin, he keeps goading Harry about all the stuff he says he's going to do to me. Oh, 'M-Mione…."
Hermione wrapped her arms around Ginny from behind and held her as she broke down into sobs.
After a few minutes, Ginny pulled herself together enough to finish.
"Harry was just a few steps away when Devlin's wand shot into his hand, b-but he never even got a curse off before Harry threw him back out the same window that he had only just minutes before. H-Harry yelled through the window that if he ever bothered me again, Harry would make sure the next window he threw him out of was a hundred stories up. A blink of an eye later and I'm in Harry's arms, in my bedroom- here. He was so gentle and so worried. He asked me if I was all right? He laid me on my bed and transfigured my clothes into a beautiful white night gown. It's so soft and warm, I'll never change it back into my regular clothes. He said I looked like an angel in it. He covered me with a comforter and held my hand until I fell asleep. I-I've never f-felt so…"
"Safe?" Hermione assumed.
"Loved" Ginny revealed.
Several pensive minutes later. A completely astounded Hermione reminded, "You said there were two times, what was the other time you saw Harry?"
"The next day after practice, we had a team meeting. It seems that Harry is the "new" owner of the firm that handles league stadium and player security. The wards around the stadium and training facilities are being completely revamped and upgraded. The previous staff was sacked and replaced by Goblins, and in our case, Goblinette warriors. Gwenog said their reputation is more solid than the all the gold in Gringotts."
Puzzled, Hermione redirected. "Ginny,.. You were going to tell me about when you saw Harry?"
"I'm getting to it." Ginny huffed. "Where was I, oh yeah, the new security. Anyway, Draco Malfoy was there as an official liaison between the Ministry and because of his association as a consultant and security expert with Harry's new Security firm. Well, after the meeting Draco approached me and well, we got to talking. He was so different then he used to be. Much more open and sincere. He apologized again for everything he put me thru before, and he also thanked me. He thanked me for being there for Harry when they,.. When the healers…?"
"When the healer removed his life s-support." Hermione confirmed with a catch in her voice.
"Yes" Ginny softly agreed wiping at a stray tear the memory elicited. "Well we got to talking and Draco asked if he could take me out to get a cup of tea?"
Hermione blanched at that. "You didn't?"
"It was just as friends, not a date or anything" Ginny quickly defended.
And let me guess what happened? Hermione thought disgustedly, rolling her eyes at the ludicrousness of the whole scenario.
"We talked for hours about quidditch and the ministry, Draco even talked about Harry a bit. How he was so wrong about him in the past and how Harry changed his life and gave him a chance to redeem himself and re-earn his self respect. Anyway, we even talked about us. Draco mentioned how he totally screwed up the chance of a lifetime when he was with me. That if he was ever blessed with an opportunity to court someone like me again that he'd do anything and everything to be the kind of person I'd deserved and that he hadn't been. It was really quite touching." Ginny sighed wistfully.
"Oh, puh-lease." Hermione scathed in disgust. "Gee, let me guess what happened then, shall I. You two lovely young people ran into Harry somewhere along the way on this just friends-'not a date'- encounter?"
"Well, yeah. How did you know?" Ginny returned innocently.
Ignoring her question, Hermione asked one of her own. "How did he seem when you er, 'bumped' into Harry?"
"H-He was very surprised at first. He seemed to think we were on a date or something? I- I tried to tell him we were just out for a friendly cup of tea, but Draco cut me off. He sort of let it appear that we were together and,.. I don't know,.. Harry just sort of turned kind of distant? He mentioned that he was happy for us and then hurried off without so much as a backward glance."
Hermione just gaped at her sister in-law . UN-BE-LIEVE-A-BLE !
Hermione massaged her temples with her finger tips trying to ward off the coming migraine.
"Oh, Ginny…" she sighed disappointedly.
"You don't think that Harry believes that Draco and I are really dating, do you? Ginny gasped worriedly
Hermione rolled her eyes incredulously.
"Oh, no." Ginny mewled softly.
"No kidding." Hermione agreed.