Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
Chapter Twenty-five: The Duel
The wedding ceremony ended as all wedding ceremonies do; with a kiss, or kisses, as the case may be. Harry found it anti-climatic, as many guests did compared to the rest of the ceremony.
The mothers of the brides and grooms apparently didn't appreciate his impromptu changes in the traditional service. He pointed out this fact ,afterward, in that if they hadn't asked him to perform the ceremony in the first place than they wouldn't have been disappointed.
He couldn't fathom what all the furor was about? They asked him to make the ceremony memorable and he thought he'd delivered.
The grooms enjoyed the ceremony immensely and despite their complaints to the contrary; the brides broke down in laughter more than once, especially when the high priest, Hari-Hari, pronounced that Molly Weasley was revered by the Great Moa-Moa over her faithful support in making many mookoo babies and now she was elevated to the status of "Rafiki" which roughly translated to 'big momma'.
Arthur Weasley puffed himself up proudly at that
At that point, a red faced and stuttering in outrage; Molly Weasley, had interrupted the ceremony by asking if he'd 'completely lost his mind'.
Strange that everyone kept asking him that.
Anyway, it was a nice ceremony.
Now the reception, that's when things started to get interesting, at least Harry thought so.
"Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to youuu..."
"Harry Potter!...Have you completely lost your mind?" Molly raged at him in a scandalized tone.
"What?" he asked blankly, sitting in a flaming pink- flowered swimsuit on the edge of the stage holding the ukulele he'd been playing under one arm and a gigantic coconut in the other that he was sipping, an intoxicating beverage of some sort, out of.
His brother knights, well all except Draco,( traitor that he was), were dressed in tropical island garb, twirling flaming torches and dancing with scantily clad native girls in an absolutely un-Christmas like fashion despite the festive song they were supposedly performing to.
Draco was redeeming himself, somewhat, by cheering his approval from down on the dance floor, where the twin grooms were currently rolling around laughing uproariously. Their wives were trying, unsuccessfully, to hide snickers and giggles behind their hands whilst toeing their grooms to try and get them to desist.
Infuriated by Harry's blank look of innocence, Molly scathed at the group. "Stop that! Stop that at once! There are children present." She scolded.
The dance troupe came to a halt each with puzzled expressions when Harry called out garbled native lingo that sounded like pig Latin...
"No dancy ou-oo nix, dudes! Rafiki moocho bunsa buncha!"
At this the group left the stage grumbling disappointedly under their breath whilst shooting glares in Molly's direction.
Once they'd left, Molly rounded on Harry once more. "Well?" she tapped her foot impatiently, looming over him.
"Oh, sorry." he apologized handing her his drink thinking she wanted to try it.
"Not the drink you dolt." Molly scowled, pulling away the offending concoction and claiming, "You've had quite enough of that!"
She sniffed at the beverage and pulled a disgusted face. "Just what's in this foul smelling swill?"
"Fermented Ju-Ju berries... make big WOO-HOO!" Harry chorused cheekily as he held his head making as if dizzy.
The twins having just regained their feet and some semblance of decorum- hit the floor in side splitting guffaws once more.
Molly rolled her eyes at them, but saved her wrath for Harry.
"We're waiting to be entertained, sir, so get some cloths on and get to it. And this time make sure it's an appropriate song in corresponding with the season." She declared in a warning tone, waggling her finger at him.
Harry quirked an eyebrow and remarked that, "First off, I am wearing clothes, such as they are, but hey, it's bloody stifling in here. Secondly, everyone looks entertained so I must be doing something right?"
"It's Christmas Eve for Merlin's sake." Molly pleaded with him.
Harry pulled a surprised expression at that. He snapped his fingers and morphed into a Santa Claus outfit with a bell clapper in each hand which he rang merrily and broke into song.
"Sleighbells ring, can't you listen, in the lane snow is glistnin.."
"It's a beautiful sight, we're happy tonight"
"Walkin in a winter wonderland!" Everyone joined in at that last line to which Molly threw up her hands in surrender and stomped off muttering under her breath.
"That was Rifiki everyone, give her a big round of applause!" Harry chortled clapping at Molly's retreating form, who was now moving faster than previous and covering her face in embarrassment.
"Now then," Harry clapped his hands and rubbed the palms together expectantly, " in honor of the er,.. the holiday season,... as requested by the much esteemed Rafiki..."
"Stop calling me that!" Molly scathed from somewhere in the crowd.
"He-He,.." Harry paused chuckling before continuing.. "Here's our own Rafael Simone singing a native favorite from home."
The crowd applauded as the lights dimmed, when they turned back up Harry and company were dressed as a Mariachi band and Rafael belted out.. "Feliz Navidad! Feliz Navidad..."
Harry did his best not to laugh as he played and sang background accompaniment. He was sure he could here Molly screeching indignantly in the back ground over the music.
Next came lieder hosen and an 'Oompa band' singing "O' taneabaum"
On it went for an entire hour until he called a ten minute break before starting the second act.
Many sighed in gratitude, many more sighed in disappointment. The former entreated him once more as he exited the stage.
"Are you through taking out the mickey on us?"
Harry toweled off his perspiring face and neck and took a long swig from a water bottle, purposely postponing his answer.
"Absolutely, emphatically-NO." he answered with a smug expression that only served to infuriate and exasperate at the same time.
"'Arry, please... ?" Fleur cut in, rescuing Hermione.
"Stay out of it, Fleur." Harry warned, turning up his occulomency shields to such a high level that Fleur startled as if receiving an electric shock, her own empathc sences reeling from the onslaught.
"I won't be badgered and I won't be bullied in my own home. You're on my turf now. If you don't like the way the game's played then pack up and go home!"
"Harry...?" Jane Granger admonished in a disappointed tone of voice.
He paused at that, his gaze shifting from one woman to the next with different emotions ghosting across his face, the last that held sway was his trademark-defiance.
He centered on Jane Granger, but he was speaking to all of them and they knew it. "I didn't start this. This is my home, not the Burrow,.. not even England." He let some of the hurt at his forced exile bleed into his voice.
"I won't be conned and manipulated in my own home by people who endlessly think they know what's best for me without even bothering to consult the source of their meddling."
Hermione and Fleur's eyes fell, shamefaced by not only his words, but the glare Jane shot at the both of them.
"Well just for the record,... what do you want?" Jane asked less gently than she would have liked.
"I'm taking care of what I want even as we speak, sans that... I want Ginny gone from here."
Hermione troubled eyes shot up at that, as she gasped, "Y-You can't mean that?"
"I do mean it." He returned with dread certainty. "You'd no right to bring here like this and try and play me for a fool."
"W-We didn't mean... we ver only trying to elp..." Fleur haltingly tried to defend their actions.
Harry scowled at that... "Too little too late, it's about eight years too late, in fact."
Hermione paled at that. Fleur began sniffling beside her.
Jane Granger patted her hand reassuringly on his upper chest, trying to calm him. "A-Alright Harry. If that's really what you want, but I think she needs to hear it from you?" Jane suggested, nodding her head in the direction of the dance floor.
Harry's raptor gaze swept in the direction indicated. There was Ginny in a stunning, crushed velvet, pale orange, strapless gown. She was laughing musically whilst sharing a dance with Jimmie Collins, of all people.
Harry's face darkened like a storm cloud. He threw his towel and water bottle aside grumbling something about, "More teenage games, is it?" as he stormed toward the object of his ire.
"Uh-Oh" Jane Granger murmured worriedly.
"Oh, no..." Hermione groaned in trepidation.
They'd half expected him to punch his unsuspecting fellow Knight without so much as a 'beg your pardon', but surprisingly Harry halted , gathered his resolve, visibly calming, and tapped Jimmie on the shoulder, politely inquiring if he could cut in.
It was obvious from their vantage point that he was coldly rebuffed.
Even more surprisingly, Harry nodded his reluctant acceptance and waited patiently nearby for the song to end, when it did, he entreated Ginny for the next dance and was less than cordially rebuffed this time.
"Butt out old man and find your own date!"Jimmie growled shoving Harry's shoulder in warning.
Ginny gasped in alarm at this but did nothing else, other than to shift her gaze worriedly back and forth between the two.
Undaunted, Harry pressed, albeit politely. "I've no wish to intrude..."
"So don't" Jimmie cut in warningly.
"But I have a personal matter to discuss with Ginevra and would appreciate a few moments of her time to clear up the matter?" Harry asked cordially, in a level and disarming tone despite the growing tension between them.
Hermione started to make her way toward the dance floor, instinctively sensing things were coming to a dangerous head. She could see Draco on an intercept course from the other side and silently thanked the powers that be for his timely intervention.
Jimmie moved into Harry's personal space and stood nose to nose with his mentor. "What part of 'butt out' aren't you getting?" Jimmie growled threateningly.
"Get outta my face, Jimmie." Harry warned through clenched teeth, his patience having finally failed.
"Harry,...Jimmie...please...?" Ginny begged worriedly, but quieted when Harry held up a hand to silence her, his eyes never leaving his challenger.
"What're you gonna do, Potter, pull rank on me?" Jimmie sneered
Draco had just arrived and he pulled up short in surprise at that. He'd never heard either of the two address each other in the formal, especially not in anger.
"I don't know what's got your nose out of joint and frankly I don't care just now, so back off."
The rest of the dance floor had gone quiet at this point. Everyone was watching the confrontation with growing alarm.
"We're not on duty, just now, so you back off, unless you'd like to try your luck?" Jimmie challenged coldly.
"Jimmie?" Draco hissed under his breath, mindful of the many eyes on them. "He is your brother Knight." Draco reminded his young charge, shocked at what he was seeing.
"Do you really think she's worth it?" Harry asked icily, scornfully nodding his head in Ginny's direction.
Ginny's mouth gapped at that, she couldn't believe how callous he was being, not that she could fathom how thing's had degraded to this point to begin with.
She'd hoped that in coming here she could remind Harry of all that they once were to each other.
She'd hoped she could get him to fall in love with her, but all she'd succeeded in was driving a wedge between him and his friends...
She couldn't be the cause of this,... she just couldn't?
Before Ginny could get a word in edgewise, Harry met the challenge. "I accept. We duel. Right here, right now. Winner takes the prize,.. the loser..."
"Harry?" Draco gasped in disbelief. Never, never in his wildest dreams would he have ever thought he'd see two such close friends ruin their friendship for anyone or anything.
This just couldn't be happening? His own morbid thoughts echoing Ginny's.
"Harry, no,... please, think about what you're doing? Jimmie,... you can't possibly want to...?" Draco implored his two friends to see reason.
"Stay out of it, Dray." Jimmie warned, not taking his eyes away from Harry's.
"Harry,... no... you can't...?" Hermione pulled at Harry's arm, pleading with him to desist.
She might just as well been trying to move a mountain. Harry ignored her attempts other than to call out to "Ron?" who stepped out of the gathered circling crowd and pulled his distraught wife out of harm's way.
Neither man's gaze left the other as both were steeling themselves for what was to come.
"Weapon's only, no magic once we start, skill only?" Harry suggested, taking his eyes off his opponent, just long enough to shift them meaningfully at the crowd around them.
"Agreed" Jimmie accepted his terms, adding, "We duel until its finished?"
"Agreed" more gasps of alarm filled the room around them at that pronouncement.
Harry unbuttoned the first several buttons of his dress shirt to free his movements. His opponent was doing likewise and rolling up his sleeves.
Harry was loosening up his shoulders and neck when Ginny stepped in front of him to plead.
"Please,...pleased don't do this over me? It's not necessary... not when I... I.. love..."
"It's done." Harry cut her off coldly before she could finish her statement. She staggered back as if struck, her mouth hanging open in shock as he drove his point home.
"It's time you grew up, Ginevra. These are good men, dangerous, but good. Like all men of honor, we do not suffer slights to said honor. This is what happens when you 'play with fire'."
Ginny burst into tears at that.
"Draco?"
Draco stepped up and took Ginny's trembling arm, escorting, or rather, pulling the distraught woman away to safety, his own eyes pleading with Harry, who only shook his head in resolution.
The two duelists squared off.
"Good luck, Jimmie." Harry offered grimly, but sincerely.
"Good Luck, Harry." His younger friend and brother returned, both were visibly saddened, but resolved to their course.
Each knew they'd gone too far, but neither was willing to back down at this point.
Honor would be served.
Abigail stepped up alongside Draco pleading with her husband. "Dray you can't let them do this, you can't?"
"H-Honor will be served." Draco choked back in reply.
"Ron...?" Harry called out into the crowd. "Call it out."
"10-9-8-7..." Ron's voice counted down the beginning of the duel in a dread monotone.
At #1, Jimmie conjured a violin and broke into a mournful gypsy ballad with challenging undertones that Harry met with a newly conjured guitar. The two circled each other bating and complimenting the other's melody.
Faster and faster they went. The relieved crowd turned excited as they followed along with the beat that Draco clapped out accentuating the performance.
Ginny gapped at the spectacle, her eyes growing wide in both relief that they weren't actually trying to kill each other over her, but at the same time embarrassed at being the subject of their prank.
Jimmie lunged forward, now plucking his violin like a guitar whilst Harry conjured a bow and began to play his guitar like a bass fiddle.
They threw half hearted elbows and kicks at each other, when the opportunity presented itself, without missing a single note as they playfully taunted each other.
Harry jumped up onto the stage and vanished his guitar with one hand as he pounded the keys on his piano with the other.
Jimmie followed by jumping up onto the grand piano and danced gypsy style as he played a contrasting melody to Harry's.
Harry fingers moved like lightning across his keyboard as he furiously kept pace.
Jimmie jumped down and loomed over Harry's keyboard , which he abandoned at this point and conjured a violin of his own so fast that he never skipped a note. The two circled each other as they played on and on building to a crescendo as their audience clapped and cheered along, many calling out their support, spurring on their chosen favorite.
They leapt down from the stage hitting their final notes at the same time. The crowd cheered wildly.
Harry lifted a hand indicating his foe, and the crowd cheered their support.
Jimmie did likewise and the cheering continued, perhaps just slightly less so, but still noticeable.
Harry hung his head in defeat.
The two walked up to Draco and Ginny. Abigail huffed something about.. "y-you two" as she wiped at her teary eyes from laughter..
Harry held a single galleon up which he presented to Jimmie with a flourish, who pocketed the coin and patted his breast pocket after for show.
"You lose- you have to dance with her." Jimmie announced.
Harry nodded dolefully, stepping up to Ginny who gapped in outrage, blushing to the roots of her hair as Harry's meaning occurred to her... "Do you think she'd worth it?"..
A Galleon? My honor's worth.. a galleon! Ginny seethed inwardly.
Harry proffered her an arm that Ginny slapped away angrily, fleeing the hall amidst guffaws at the prank played at her expense.
Hermione gapped at her mother who was doing her best not to laugh as well.
"I-I think we've just been had?" Jane Granger stifled the laugh that was threatening to erupt.
"She iz going to be furious wit him." Fleur warned with a pensive expression.
"Perhaps" Jane agreed, "but, I think she's finally realized something very important? You play with fire, you get burned." Jane surmised, chuckling appreciatively at her surrogate son's antics.
Harry proceeded to dance with a still giggling, Abby, showing not the slightest concern over Ginny's departure. Jimmie serenaded the couple with a lovely ballad on his violin and soon other couple's joined in, many still chuckling appreciatively at the prank they'd all fell for.
It was just going 1 a.m. when Harry collected the happy couples after they'd said their farewells to friends and family and were about to leave for their perspective honeymoons.
He pulled them into a private lounge where Draco, Abby and many other of their Knight Watch family were waiting for them, including the leader of the Goblin Nation-Raynock and Minister and Mrs. Weasley.
Harry deferred to Draco as he took a breather from performing all evening.
"All of us here," Draco began without preamble, "wanted to get you something special as a wedding present, and after much deliberation, we decided this was the best we could do, although many of us,.." at this he eyed Harry knowingly, who just shrugged for his part. "Many of us feel it was too much, but what's life without a little gamble?"
The couples shared puzzled expressions with one another, not having a clue where this was going.
Taking a cue from Draco, Harry joined in. "As you already know; The Foundation is looking into opening two more full installations in the next three years and tentative plans are in the works for an additional four more within the next eight to ten years. We've decided that one such installation would be ideally placed in the European theatre... Britain, to be exact. Minister Weasley has endorsed the legislation within the Wizengamot and British Parliaments, both of whom ratified the bill in a landslide vote." Harry paused to nod his thanks to Mr. Weasley who clearly appreciated the gesture, but gave credence where due.
"I had very little to do with the matter as your reputation far proceeds you and Britain would be a fool to contemplate not accepting such a generous offer that, while mutually beneficial on the surface, greatly benefits Britain on the whole."
Harry and Raynock both nodded their head appreciatively at that.
"By a generous donation from the Black Estate, suitable land has been allocated in Scotland for Knight Watch Nine and other corroborating facilities." Raynock joined the conversation with a toothy grin.
"Er,.. other...facilities?" George asked.
"The world headquarter of the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes and the Highland Hijinks; the foundation's second professional quidditch team, already approved and licensed to begin league play in late 2012 when the league resumes after the fall break."
The two couples gaped stupidly at that.
"Knight Watch Nine will have all the usual facilities and amenities, in additional a modest lot of some two hundred odd acres is allocated for building a manor home, or homes as you prefer and to your specifications." Raynock announced.
"H-Homes?" Fred asked not comprehending.
The entire room smiled brightly at that.
"But of course." Raynock chided. "You will need suitable accommodations for the breeding and training of the next generations of Marauders and Hijinks."
"HUH?" George gapped, whilst their brides blushed furiously.
Harry went on to explain. "While Knight Watch Nine is being placed under the command of William Hoag, the foundation itself is to be run by you four concomitantly. Both Lee Jordan and Remus Lupin are on board as creative consultants in the development division of WWW and Oliver Wood's transferring over as skipper and GM of the Hijinks. The positions are ones you've all earned and are the best people for them. It is our suggestion that you play to your first loves and strengths. The men run WWW and the ladies the Hijinks, but we leave it to you to work out the logistics of your positions and the hiring of your ancillary personel. You will naturally need to be in close proximity for such a prestigious undertaking, therefore we felt it prudent that your homes be located near or onsite. The land is deeded and subsequent homes whose design is yours to chose, is our wedding gift to you. We pray that you are happy in them."
Surprisingly, the ladies were shocked to silence, while the twins... were crying.
Molly held back, deferring to their host who stepped forward and clapped a hand to each tear stained cheek of one twin. Smiling lovingly at them, he pulled each forehead into a soft kiss, murmuring his profound thanks for their steadfast loyalty and friendship. As much as he wanted to selfishly keep them here, with him, he wanted them to be happy and knew the WWW was their dream, whilst likewise; their wives were born quidditch people.
This was the best thing for all of them, especially the Foundation. As much as he would be saddened to see them go, he would be that glad for them as well.
They were going home to make their own mark upon the world.
He hugged their wives, gratefully accepting appreciative kisses to his cheeks as they whispered their profound love to each other.
He broke off by reminding them that they were still Marauders for the time being and were expected to return in two weeks sharp to make their run at another and unprecedented fourth straight World Cup title, by beating their own record of three straight.
All four snapped to attention and saluted at that.
With a laugh, Harry left them to their families and friends to say their goodbyes before they port keyed away for their honeymoon- together, as they would always be forever more.
He envied them their closeness and devotion to one another. He, himself, was grateful for the close relationship he enjoyed with Abby and Draco, and his brother knights, though often he felt the odd man out.
Vaguely , he considered returning to enjoy the last vestiges of the reception, but that would prove depressing at this point. Getting drunk with his fellow knight was out as each was undoubtedly partnered up for the night.
Oh,... well,... a walk along the river would do him good before turning in for another restless night's sleep.
Harry was barely into his walk, reminiscing over the last such excursion he'd made along the river way thinking absently on how it could have gone better when,.. the sounds of crying caught his attention.
Nice Potter, he silently berated himself, knowing he was the cause of this.
Ginny was sitting on one of the benches that dotted the scenic walkway crying softly into her hands.
Silently he walked up to the other side of the bench, her back still to him as he cleared his throat and asked gently..."May I?"
Ginny's back stiffened initially as she was startled, but she obviously recognized the voice as she entreated... "Go away, H-Harry."
Harry winced at that, but had no intention of leaving her like this. "Ginny,.. can't I..?"
"WHAT?" she snapped, cutting him off snarling as she turned tear stained cheeks and blazing eyes on him suggesting, "What are you hoping to do,..e-embarrass me again in front of everyone? Sorry, Harry... this dress doesn't have any pockets so I'll just have to owe you a Galleon. Just go away and leave me alone."
"It's a beautiful dress,... shame about the pockets though." He half flirted, half joked to try and ease the tension between them.
Ginny snorted disbelievingly and made to leave until he held his hands up disarmingly and asked, gently... "Please stay?"
"W-Why should I?" Ginny snapped back uncertainly.
Harry shrugged. "Seems to me you came a long way just to run away now?"
"Hmphh,... don't flatter yourself." She groused, casting her gaze back toward the river, but he was at least glad she didn't leave.
Merlin,.. I can't look at those eyes. She chided herself, thinking.. It's a good thing he can't read minds... or can he?
"May I, please?" he swiped his hand toward the bench next to her, not taking anything for granted given her present mood.
"It's your bench." Ginny huffed reluctantly conceding.
"Nothing here is mine, Ginny." He responded vacantly, seating himself beside her closer than she'd like and perhaps farther away than he'd like... if he were honest with himself.
"It's my hopes and my dreams, but it's not really mine." He explained. "It belongs to each and every member of Knight Watch, equally. It was just my idea; everyone else has put in the work to see the dream realized."
"It's a nice dream or was." She agreed. "But it's becoming a reality, and the whole world over is benefitting from it."
Harry shifted his eyes toward her, but she still had her own eyes fixed straight ahead, avoiding him.
"I...I wish things had progressed faster. I'd hoped... they would." He threw out haltingly, baring more of himself than he had in a long time, though he was still being very cautious.
Ginny caught the vague inflection though. "If I asked you something would you tell me the truth,... the whole truth?" she turned slowly toward him, the faint glow of the overhead lamps caught the deep brown of her eyes and the tears still held within.
Harry sighed, suspecting this would go nowhere good, but still felt he owed her this much. "I'll try." He offered.
"D...Do you feel anything for m-me?" she winced slightly at the slight stutter that betrayed her anxiety.
"I do" he answered sincerely.
It was both more and less than she hoped for, but she had to be sure..."I don't mean as a sister figure or as a friend but as...?"
"I do" he cut in and Ginny's breath caught in her throat.
Her eyes searched his, but found only the truth therein.
"Then why...Harry?" she begged to understand why he was doing what he was doing.
Harry smirked at that, but before she could snap back at him, he explained. "I may be available Ginny, but that doesn't mean I'm easy. If you're really serious about... this,... whatever this is... then show me? It's going to take more than a soul cleansing confession and a stunning dress!"
Ginny blushed, in spite of herself . "You like it, then?" she returned coyly.
"I might be difficult, but I'm not dead, Gin."
She gasped slightly,.. it was the first time he'd used the familiar abbreviation of her name in a long time.
Hoping to stretch her luck she entreated. "C-Can I ask you something else?"
Harry smirked knowingly. "How about I ask you something first?"
Ginny nodded pensively.
"Why a healer...the truth now?" He reminded her, waggling a finger in her direction as she was about to blurt a quick, but not complete answer.
She faltered slightly. "Partly because I've always admired healers and I like helping people."
Harry nodded. "And...?" he pressed.
Ginny shuddered slightly, but answered truthfully. "Y-You always seem to need one."
Harry snorted a laugh at that.
"I mean Knight Watch." Ginny corrected his assumption.
"Uh-HUH" he returned showing he wasn't convinced.
"Oh,... alright... both." She confessed reluctantly.
Harry snorted again.
"My turn." Ginny reminded him without preamble.
He sighed again, but nodded his consent.
"The truth..?" she half pleaded.
He nodded again.
Ginny hesitantly reached out and placed her trembling hand against his right shoulder over the scar he'd got from the killing curse he'd taken for her at the Battle of the Ministry, his fifth year, her fourth.
"W-Why'd you d-do it?" her voice was barely more than a whisper.
He held her gaze only briefly before answering somewhat less than convincingly... " I knew from the prophesy that I could only die by Voldemort's hand so it's not as big of a gamble as you'd like to think." He returned apologetically.
"Still, you couldn't be sure, not completely?" Ginny pressed suspiciously.
Harry smirked again. "I'll admit there was a moment or two of uncertainty."
Ginny smirked now, but pressed her advantage. "Why though,... why did you do it...take the risk, I mean?" she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, giving her nervous hands something to do. She felt more than a little emboldened when she noted that his gaze followed her hand to her hair.
"You already know why, Ginny." He offered facetiously.
"I need to hear it." and she did, she really did.
"Even if what was true then may not be true now?" he cautioned.
She shuddered slightly at that, but clung to the hope that it was only may not. Ginny nodded for him to continue.
Harry held her gaze. "Because- I loved you! I would have taken a thousand killing curses back then to keep you safe, prophesy or no."
Ginny collapsed in tears overcome with by a myriad of emotions. This time Harry left her alone and disappeared into the night to consider his own disjointed thoughts and feelings.
"So,...do you think I went too far?" he grumbled over the cup of coffee he was nursing.
"Do you think you went too far?" Jane asked pointedly right back without pause.
"No,...I don't know,...maybe? You have to admit though, it was funny." He snorted.
Richard Granger sputtered on his own coffee in agreement. "T-The look on Ginny's face when she realized you'd both been playing her? Har!"
"How'd you get so many to go along with it? Draco looked genuinely distraught. I swear, I thought you two were going to go at it like when you dueled that git in China over Cho?" Jane remarked impressed by the acting of everyone involved in the prank.
"Ah,... yes,.. my source of inspiration." Harry commented wistfully. "Getting a few guys on board was a piece of cake. I approached Jimmie about it the day before. I was gonna do a duet with him anyway, we just expanded on that a tad. Draco, Ron and I have known each other so long that I only need to give them a heads up for them to play along. The rest was just everyone else's natural reactions. People tend to believe what they see and hear,.. not what they know to be true." He surmised with a hint of his own innate wisdom shinning thru.
"Sheer genius" Richard complemented.
"Was she angry?" Jane redirected, getting back to the reason for his early morning visit.
Harry rubbed tiredly at his eyes, their usual brilliant gleam diminished to a dull , murky green. "She... she was crying when I found her." He answered with a grimace. "I was shooting for angry, furious even,... not...?" he spread his hand's helplessly.
Jane nodded knowingly, but it was her husband that advised as he cupped his wife's hand. "No man is good with crying. The important thing is that you didn't take advantage. You showed you cared by listening to her and answering her concerns honestly. Now, you just need to give it some time. Give her some space, don't pressure her, but don't give her the impression that you're avoiding her or are disinterested."
Jane patted her husband's hand on hers affectionatly. "Good answer." Then she turned her attention to her surrogate son.
"For someone with limited experience, you continue to amaze me, Harry."
He blushed slightly at that.
"It's times like this I wish more than ever that your mother and father had lived ,.. they would be so proud of you. Not just for what you've accomplished, but for the man you've become."
Richard was bobbing his head in agreement next to his wife as she continued. "You've played a few pranks at the Weasley's expense, and ...you've made your point, but you did so without anyone actually getting hurt in the process. Ah..." she held up a hand fending off his rebuttal.
"Yes,.. Ginny's reaction wasn't what you expected, and granted, her feelings were hurt, but were they because you made a fool out of her, or was it because she was actually disappointed that you weren't fighting for her? I tend to believe it's a bit more of the latter and less of the former."
"Y-You think?" he asked worriedly.
"Women like to be championed, Harry. No matter how mature or secure they are in their relationships." Richard expressed pointedly and while his wife shot him a dubious expression she didn't deny his assumption.
"W-What should I do now?" he asked uncertainly, daring to hope that he hadn't totally mucked things up.
"Like Richard said before, Give her some time and space, but still let her know you care and are interested,... which I assume you are or you wouldn't be here this early worrying over this?"
Harry shot her an incredulous look, but wisely held his tongue knowing from experience that she was just baiting him.
Richard decided to change the subject. "Are you done venting your wrath on the Weasley's or was that just the first salvo?"
Harry spread his fingers out, tapping them nonchalantly on the table as he returned. "While I admit that I had a few other ideas, I think they've been sufficiently cowed. Now, it's time to go for the throat." He growled and his eyes blazed with new life, mirroring his conviction.
"Arthur's up, I take it?" Jane surmised, with a knowing grin of expectation.
Harry nodded predatorily.
"Don't let Molly off the hook scot free? She's not wholly innocent in all this either." Richard reminded him.
"I haven't forgotten." Harry's face darkened as he muttered old hurts. "Just as good as one of her own, except where her daughter's concerned; she's off limits. Nice double standard that?"
Jane and Richard shared a troubled look at that. He'd never gotten over the Weasley parents spurning his request to date their daughter,.. not that they blamed him for it.
Harry continued... "I could have lived with that, let bygones be bygones and all that, but not with what came next? Exiling me from my own home was nothing short of extortion. I didn't ask for anything that didn't help a lot of people and for that I was exiled. Not as the price for what I sought, but really it was to keep me away from their precious children. Well,... we all see how effective that was?" Harry snorted incredulously.
"Harry...?" Jane began cautiously, but he interjected, allocating her fears.
"I'm not gonna take vengeance or anything like that." He waved her off, noting her sigh of relief. "But I'm not gonna just keep turning the other cheek, either. I've done a lot for that family,.. a lot more than they know and not to make them beholden to me or anything, but because I wanted to. That's what family's do,.. or so I'm told?"
Richard nodded. "They do, yes, but what're you getting at Harry?"
"Arthur Weasley squeezed me good last time." At seeing Jane's impending response he took the initiative. "Oh they were sorry, sure, but never the less; I was still the odd man out. It's time I returned the favor." His eyes flashed predatorily, unsettling his hosts. It wasn't hard to discern at that moment why Harry Potter was the most feared man alive.
Harry could be the gentlest of souls, but wrong him...?
Make no mistake, Arthur Weasley had wronged him and would soon learn that he was 'playing with fire'.
While Harry had been talking with the Granger parents, Ginny had been only across the hall talking with the Granger's daughter and son in-law.
"You look like hell."
"Thanks ever so much, Ron." Ginny shot back sarcastically from across the table, adding: "I would never have guessed, what with being up, crying all night."
"Over a prank?" Ron snorted. "You've both done and had worse than you got last night." He reminded his younger sister. "Besides, it's not like Harry doesn't owe you a few what with all the shite you've put him thru over the years."
"Look, Ronald,..." Ginny scathed. "I didn't even want to talk to you in the first place. So why don't you toddle off and find Hermione for me and quit being such a prat."
"I'm here. I'm here." Hermione announced stepping into the room, still buttoning her blouse, but adding, "Not that I'll be any more sympathetic to your plight than Ron is." She cautioned, pouring herself a cup of coffee and sighing after her first swig.
"Thanks a lot, 'Mione." Ginny groused, shooting Ron a glare as he chuckled over her disgruntlement.
"Oh, Ginny..." Hermione placated. "I warned you that he wasn't the same boy you once knew. Harry's complicated at the best of times. Even Draco doesn't know every single thing he gets up to. He certainly wasn't 'in the loop', as it were, over the recent prank war you and your father unknowingly brought on yourselves."
"How is this my fault?" Ginny whined.
Ron rolled his eyes, but let the 'voice of reason' deal with his sister.
"You or Arthur could have put an end to this at anytime, if one or the other of you had the courage to actually swallow your pride and just talk to him." Hermione suggested.
"Well he's certainly not making it easy?" Ginny complained.
"Any reason he should?" Ron chided. "He's always been there, on the periphery,... waiting for you to get your head out of your arse. Now that you're finally here he should what... fall on his knees and thank his lucky stars?"
"No" Ginny answered too quickly and wincing at the realization that it was exactly what she'd thought would and should happen.
Ron rolled his eyes, knowing he was right. "You're not a fool, Ginny, and you should know better?" Ron rounded on his wife, sensing her hand in this growing fiasco.
Hermione huffed indignantly and was about to retort, but a glare from Ron silenced her as she knew he was right.
Satisfied, and if he were honest with himself, enjoying his minor victory, Ron turned his attention back to a now more malleable sister.
"Sorry you two, but I've got Harry's back in this one. He's got nothing to prove and the gallant knight certainly shouldn't have to win the fair maiden's hand. He's already fought wars for you Ginny. The world may have benefited from his sacrifices, but really, he did it for you. Everyone knows it and you should too. If anyone should be begging on their knees, it's you, Ginevra."
Ginny's upper lip began to tremble and her chocolate brown eyes filled with tears. She was hurt by his words, but knew he was right. Harry had nothing to prove to her.
Ginny forced down her self pity and wiped her eyes dry. Crying wasn't helping and it was well past time she started proving herself as someone worthy of Harry. Putting on a dress and shaking her hips in the hopes of winning his undying affection was an insult to the man.
"Y...You're right, Ron. I've been a fool and Harry's deserves better, a whole lot better."
Ron nodded accepting her concession gracefully. Secretly he was crowing, heady over his victory over the two most formidable witches in his life.
"So... what're you gonna do about it, Ginny?" he challenged.
Ginny scrunched up her face trying to think of a starting point to try and start on the path to righting things between her and Harry when a simple notion struck.
"Invite him to breakfast." She decided.
Ron was taken aback at that, but after a moments consideration he shrugged and commented that it wasn't a half bad idea and made for the fridge.
His wife rolled her eyes at her husband's never ending appetite.
Ginny saw herself out of their suite and walked right into Harry as he was exiting the Granger's suite across the way.
The two stood gaping at each other for several minutes before Ginny finally found her courage to ask...
"I was just going to..um, would you like to have breakfast with me?" she asked timidly, chiding herself for sounding like a stammering school girl.
Nice one, Ginny, why don't you stick your elbow in the butter dish for an encore?
"Sure,..Gin." he accepted. What ire he was planning to vent on the Weasley parents was forgotten in that single moment.
They walked uncomfortably down the hall, neither wanting to be the first to start up a conversation, though they kept glancing toward each other shyly.
In near panic, Ginny stammered out the first thing she could think of at how tired he looked. "Didn't you get any sleep last night?"
He snorted. "Look that good do I?"
"No, you look really good... er, I mean tired ,...and.. well,.. last night we...?" she tried in futile to recover and explain herself.
Harry rescued her. "Thanks for the compliment, but no, I didn't sleep. I was thinking about ..things.." he left off vacantly, though she caught the inflection in his tone.
"Me...too" Ginny sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I...I'm sorry, Harry. I've been very pretentious and not very fair to you. You were right about a lot of things you said. I.. thought we could just pick up where we left off as teenagers, but that's not very fair to either one of us, especially you."
She couldn't believe she'd found it within herself to say all that.
I must be more tired than I thought?
Harry nodded his understanding, much to her relief, and absently pulled open the door to the dining hall, for her.
Ginny smirked a half smile in that he was 'always the gentleman', when she should be carrying him on her back in supplication at this point.
Unashamedly, she realized she would do just that if he asked her to. She'd do anything for this man and that thought both frightened and thrilled her.
Though the dining hall was open 24/7, even for Christmas, they were the first in this morning and a elf waiter hastily made his way in their direction, eager to start the day with so auspicious a guest as the Magical Knight.
Harry pulled out a chair for Ginny, who instead grasped the back of the chair and indicated he should seat himself first with a .. "Please?"
Harry balked for a moment, blushing slightly, but took the proffered seat and Ginny slid in next to him after.
"Lord Knight...Milady..." The elf waiter bowed respectfully to his quests.
"Morning, Rory" Harry greeted, to which the elf smiled broadly, proud that Harry knew his name.
"What's good this morning?" he asked.
"Everything as always, milord." The waiter scoffed as if it would be an absolute scandal otherwise.
"Just Harry, please, Rory." Harry corrected, not caring for such titles of distinction. Ginny was pleased to see that he was still so unassuming.
"Certainly not." The elf scoffed indignantly. "Lord Raynock would have poor Rory's hide and the high elder..." Rory shuddered at what the elf elder would do to him if he failed to show Harry the proper respect.
"Alright, Alright..." Harry placated fanning his hands in surrender and ordered them both a sampling of several entrees.
The dining hall was tastefully decorated for the holiday. In place of flowers, miniature Christams trees adorned the tables in the day, while guests dined by candlelight and carolers at night. A baby grand piano highlighted the room and guests were often treated to live music as they dined.
"Would you...?" Ginny asked coyly, nodding toward the waiting piano.
"Only if you join me?" Harry countered.
Ginny cast he gaze around, emboldened that they were the only two here just now and nodded her agreement.
After a few back and forth suggestions they decided on some holiday choices that didn't carry any uncomfortable undertones.
Hesitant at first, they let the music lead them and before they knew it they were singing romantic duets oblivious to the hall filling with diners around them that whispered conspiratorially.
The last song had everyone pointing and gossiping outrageously as the two sang a beautiful version of "Baby Its Cold Outside".
Everyone cheered and cat called outrageously, embarrassing Ginny. Harry started at first before laughing uproariously with the rest of the diners.
"What?" Ginny asked, not catching on.
It took him a bit but he was finally able to choke out... "We-Well .. we we're singing about being romantically snowbound... and we.. are obviously still wearing our c-clothes from last night... Har!"