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You guys make my day!

Previous chapter beat the max reviews record!

I love hearing everything you'll have to say!

Hope you all enjoy this instalment too!

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CHAPTER 43.

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Unknown to each other, Charlie and Ginny were blindly charging towards their better halves, but before they could reach their intended destination they were intercepted.

Hermione suddenly came across Charlie and linked her arm through his and Ginny was stopped by George.

"Charlie! Why are you storming about the living room? And I don't believe I ever got my drink." Hermione chastised.

Charlie stopped abruptly and looked torn between staying with Hermione and going and getting Nikita from Harry's clutches or Harry from Nikita's, he couldn't see properly who was clutching whom.

"I'm sorry Hermione. I just got talking and it totally slipped my mind", Charlie apologized.

"You seem distracted. Is this how our relationship is going to be now?" Hermione asked, "I remember a time when you actively sought me out and chased me."

Charlie groaned inwardly. From the corner of his eye, he could see George talking to Ginny. If only Ginny could get to Harry and distance him from his girlfriend!

He looked at Nikita again. She and Harry had assumed a comfortable posture, leaning against the wall next to the kitchen. Nikita was nursing her goblet of firewhiskey and Harry was happily sipping his wine.

From his point of view, an animated conversation was bubbling between the two but they were way too close for comfort.

Charlie grimaced.

"Is something wrong Charlie?" Hermione asked, glancing in Harry's direction.

"Umm. Not really." Charlie mumbled.

"She's mingling well I'd say. Don't worry about her. Everyone will keep her entertained." Hermione said knowingly.

Charlie smiled a nervous smile at her before Hermione pulled him towards a group of people away from Nikita.

Meanwhile, George had a harder time restraining his firecracker of a sister.

"George let go. Why the hell are you in my way?" Ginny hissed.

"Calm down sis. What's gotten you so riled up? I just stopped you before you created a hurricane out of the air swirling behind you." George explained, still holding tight.

"Just leave me. That skank just waltzes in here and she thinks she can claim any man she wants? First Charlie and now look at her! Just let go George!" Ginny almost yelled.

"What are you talking about Gin? And stop shouting. You'll create a scene. Who are you talking about?" George asked innocently.

"Her!" Ginny said pointing almost poisonously towards Nikita.

George smiled and thanked some power above that she didn't have her wand on her.

He turned to look at what she was pointing.

Sure enough, he saw Harry standing and Nikita next to him, with a respectable distance between them.

"What? Who's the skank?" George repeated his question.

"George! Don't be dumb. You're testing my patience. Just look at her. Monopolising Harry in that way!" Ginny almost growled.

George laughed, loudly. He almost relinquished his grip on her and Ginny looked at him distastefully.

"What is so funny?" Ginny asked.

"You think... You think?" George laughed again before he could complete his statement.

Ginny was getting agitated now and she struggled to get out of her brothers hold.

"Didn't you see her? She's all over Harry." Ginny defended herself.

"Are you mad?" George said. "They're only talking. You can almost fit two people between them."

Ginny scowled and started to retaliate but then she looked closely and sure enough, they were still talking but not so closely anymore.

And to add to it, Audrey had now joined them.

"So you're going to say that even Audrey is hitting on Harry now?" George teased her, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Don't be silly." She quipped.

"I'm being silly? Says the girl who almost charged ahead ready to hex any woman talking to her husband." George said.

Ginny frowned. She did feel a bit silly. But she had seen them so close to each other. It had also seemed like Nikita was leaning in to kiss Harry any moment. And Harry had looked sort of uncomfortable for a moment there, like he always did when someone got too close to him.

But then again she was almost at the other end of the room. Up close now, they were still talking but they had a good measure of distance between each other. He also seemed to be enjoying her company and they were happily chatting away.

Harry didnt even have his helpless guilty face which usually was a total giveaway.

So had she imagined it all?

No, that couldn't be. And Nikita had been pretty suggestive toward Harry when she had been introduced.

She had clearly been checking him out when they had met for the first time.

Maybe she had misconstrued it all. Of course Harry had a right to talk to whomever he wanted. And even if Nikita did throw herself at him, he was obviously going to discourage her. Not like he was a child or anything. And they were happily married after all.

"Maybe." Ginny said almost to herself.

"Maybe? Obviously you've had a drink too many. Come now. Don't behave like a possessive wife. Spend some time with your favourite brothers. Help me cheer Fred up. I don't know what's gotten into that bloke. He hasn't spoken to me since yesterday." George said sadly.

Ginny looked down at her fingers guiltily. She had assumed correctly. George didn't know anything about Fred and Hermione. But Fred was obviously unhappy and the fact that George had actually asked for her help to cheer him meant that it was very serious.

She felt quite wretched now. It was all her fault that this mess had gotten so messed up.

She was anyway getting tired of all these games. She was about to open her mouth to tell George everything, surely he would understand since he was quite a pranster himself, when from another corner of the room a loud shout interrupted her.

"WHAT?" Ron bellowed.

His face had gone red, rivalling his hair and Charlie and Hermione stood in front of him looking apologetic. Charlie looked pained and Hermione also looked like she wished she could disappear.

Luna stood beside him, stroking his arm trying to calm him down.

"Charlie?" He questioned Hermione in a monosyllable which still was a few good decibels higher than normal hearing range.

The entire room had quietened and Bill, Fleur, Percy and Audrey had confused looks on their faces.

Harry made his towards Ron trying to calm him down and Nikita stood where she was, wondering about the change. This was not in the script! Well if it came to that she would follow George's cue and just improvise.

Ginny winced. And this time even George did the same.

Clearly neither of them, in their mischief making minds had anticipated a problem called Ronald Weasley.

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Dum da da da!

One after the other!

Why do you all think Ron's so pissed?

His famous volatile temper directed towards Charlie now!

Poor Charlie. Always bearing the brunt of it all!

As always thank you all for R and R!

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thank u!

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