When You Wasn't Famous
By: Sam Lincoln
Disclaimer: The characters from Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling and are used here without permission.
"When you're a famous boy/it's gets really easy to get girls/It's all so easy you get a bit spoiled/but when you try to pull a girl who is also famous too/It Feels Just Like When You Wasn't Famous
-When You Wasn't Famous, The Streets
Chapter 9: A New Day, Another Morning After
The next morning Harry made his way down to the kitchen, where he found Dean, Neville, and Seamus milling about.
"Harry!" Dean said. "I didn't see you come home last night."
"No I used the Floo in my bedroom," Harry said. "Nev, good to see you mate." He walked over to Neville and the two friends shared a hug. "When did you get in?"
"Last night," Neville said. "We finished getting everything from last year sorted so now it's a couple weeks of holiday. Then it'll be time to get ready for next term."
"Sounds a bit like my life," Harry said.
"Except your wage dwarfs mine, and beautiful women throw themselves at your feet. So you don't get to complain about anything."
"I suppose that's about right," Harry said with a laugh. "You're coming to the Championship right?"
"One month on an island in the Mediterranean with all the free alcohol I can drink, and the best Quidditch in the world? I wouldn't miss it for anything."
Harry clapped Neville on the shoulder. "That's what I wanted to hear. It wouldn't be the same if you weren't around."
"Now Harry," Seamus said. "Since you used the Floo in your bedroom, I take it that means you brought company home with you last night?"
Harry felt his face involuntarily start to heat. "Er yeah, about that," he began to say.
At that moment Ginny Weasley strode into the kitchen. "Good morning Harry," she said. "Oh look Dean, Neville, and Seamus too. If only Ron was here it'd be just like the old days back in the common room." She walked over to the kitchen counter and helped herself to some of the food Neville had laid out. "Harry, last night was a lot of fun," she said between bites of an egg sandwich. "But I need to get home. I'm honestly a little surprised Hermione hasn't sent out search parties by now. Anyway, I'll see you at training centre yeah? Nice to see you boys again," she said to the room before ducking out of the kitchen.
"Harry," Dean started to say.
"Was that," Seamus said.
"Ginny Weasley?" Neville said, concluding the question. The three friends all stared at Harry who proceeded to pour himself a cup of tea.
"I suppose it was," Harry said before taking a sip of tea.
"Details Potter, now," Seamus said. He jabbed a finger at Harry to emphasise his point.
"I do have a training session I need to get to this morning, and I'm already running late" Harry said. He turned to try and leave the kitchen.
"Sod your training!" Dean said. "That was Ginny Weasley and you are going to explain yourself before we let you leave this kitchen." Seamus stepped in front of the kitchen door, blocking Harry's escape.
"I agree with Dean and Seamus," Neville said. "That most certainly was Ginny Weasley. Start talking Harry or so help me you will not like what you find in your bedsheets tonight. There will be thorns Harry, great big nasty thorns."
Harry sighed. "All right fine, if you really must know I can tell you what happened, but honestly you're all making far too big a deal out of this."
Dean and Seamus each grabbed Harry by an arm and forced him into the one of the chairs at the kitchen table. "Let us be the judge of that, won't you mate?" Season said. "Now tell us what happened, and don't leave out any details, ow!" Neville slapped Seamus on the back of his head. "Well you know what I mean."
"As you probably guessed it all started at the team get together last night. After every else had left I made a dumb joke…"
Harry's eyes shot open in surprise as Ginny continued to snog him. When he did not return the kiss Ginny leaned back and stared at him. "What's the matter Harry?" She asked.
"Nothing," Harry said. "I just wasn't expecting that is all. I more figured you were going to hex me"
"I would've thought you'd be use to women snogging you out of the blue."
"It's usually not women I've spent the entire night wanting to snog as well though," Harry said. "You realise this is a terrible idea."
"Only if we let things get weird, and we are not about to let them get weird now are we?"
Harry let a hand reach up and play with Ginny's hair. "No, we certainly are not," he said. He leaned in to kiss Ginny, but she held up a hand to intercept him.
"You realise this is a one time thing right?" Ginny said.
"Of course," Harry said. "Anything else would be making it weird." He leaned in again and this time Ginny offered no resistance.
"Precisely," Ginny said when they finally came up for air. "So were you being serious about going back to your place?"
"I am now," Harry said.
"Good," Ginny said. Her voice came out almost as if a purr. "Just let me collect these bottles of Ogdens."
"You were being serious about that?" Harry asked. He watched in amazement as Ginny stood up and walked over to the bar.
"Of course I was," Ginny said as she started to shove bottles into her magically enhanced handbag. "This will keep me in Ogden's for ages, and it's not like I'm stealing it. I'm a Weasley Harry, we always get the most out of our Galleons. Be sure to keep that in mind."
"I wasn't aware that you were paying me for anything." Harry leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Perhaps, but I do have standards." Ginny cocked her head to one side as she eyed Harry up and down.
Harry stretched out and allowed his legs to uncoil from underneath him. "I'm sure you'll find I'm more than equal to whatever standards you might have." He flashed Ginny a confident grin.
Ginny placed a hand on her hip. "Oh is that so?"
"Of course, you didn't think Quidditch is the only thing I'm good at did you?"
"It's not that," Ginny said as she waved a hand dismissively. "It's just that I remember our Hogwarts days."
"That was a long time ago," Harry said, cutting off the rest of whatever Ginny was about to say.
"And you've learned all sorts of tricks from the slags that hang around the Tornados' locker room is that it?"
"Merlin no," Harry said with a visible shudder. "You do not want to pass on what you pick up from that lot."
"I wouldn't know, obviously, but I think I'd rather them to the blokes we get sniffing around our locker room. Creepy doesn't even begin to describe it. You don't even want to know what they've done with stolen bits of dirty laundry."
"Do you really want to get into a competition over who has the most deranged fans? Because I'm pretty sure I have you beat in that department. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are plenty of pervy blokes out there, but you've never seen obsessed until you've read what some mental housewife would like to do to you."
Ginny walked over to where Harry was sitting and straddled him. "And do you really think I want to talk about our fans right now?" Ginny asked as she wrapped her arms around him. She leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
"No, I reckon we have more important things to discuss," Harry said after he returned the kiss. He then hooked his arms under Ginny's and stood up, leaving Ginny's feet to dangle in the air.
"Impressive," Ginny said into Harry's neck. "And here I thought Seekers were scrawny gits."
"The night's still young, I'm sure I'll find other ways to surprise you," Harry said as he walked them over to the fireplace. He set Ginny down and reached for a handful of Floo Powder. "Ready?" He asked Ginny as he caught her hand in his.
"Stop stalling Harry," Ginny said. Harry nodded, tossed the Floo Powder into the fireplace then pulled Ginny after him as he dove into the green flame.
"So that's it then?" Seamus asked. "The two of you had a fling and now you're moving on?"
Harry felt his face flush again. "Er, not exactly."
"In that case keep talking," Neville said.
"Ok well the next, er, this morning I suppose.."
That morning Harry awoke to find his face nestled into Ginny's hair. Apparently at some point during the night the two of them had snuggled against each other. Harry took the opportunity to breathe in the scent that was uniquely Ginny. He had forgotten just how intoxicating he found that particular combination of flowers and broom polish.
The sudden movement from Harry was enough to rouse Ginny. She stretched languidly and gave out a contented sigh. She twisted around on the bed so she was facing Harry. "Good morning," she said with an impish smile on her face.
"Good morning to you," Harry said as he tried to re-memorise every freckle on Ginny's face, or at least as well as he could without his glasses on.
"You were right by the way," Ginny said.
"About what?"
Ginny leaned up and kissed Harry on the nose. "Practice really does make perfect. Last night was outstanding."
"You were pretty amazing too," Harry said with a chuckle. He planted a kiss on Ginny's forehead. "It's almost a shame this is just a one time thing."
To Harry's relief Ginny worked herself closer to him and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. He noted that before she fell asleep, Ginny had pulled on one of his tatty old t-shirts. She buried her head against his chest. "What if it's not?" She asked in a quiet voice.
"How's that?"
Ginny pushed herself away from Harry and sat up in the bed. "It's just, you saw the code of conduct Cabbock handed out for while we're on the island right?"
"I might have glanced at it," Harry said.
Ginny rolled her eyes but continued. "It says we're not allowed to sleep with anyone we meet on the island."
"What, is he afraid another country will try to sabotage us?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"So you did read it," Ginny said. "That is exactly what it says. Now the other blokes on the squad are all bringing their spouses so no big deal, assuming they're the sort that doesn't stray. You and I on the other hand."
"It's a bigger deal, yeah I get that."
"And I don't know about you, but for me after a match the only thing I want more than a nice hot shower is a good shag. Actually no, shower, then shag, then long soak in the tub. With some drink thrown in for good measure."
Harry chuckled. "That sounds about right, so what's your point?"
"Obviously we can't import a stable of people, or harem, or what have you. And inviting one person to tag along would send entirely the wrong signals. They would probably wind up being clingy and think there was some future in the relationship."
Realisation dawned for Harry. "Ginny are you suggesting what I think you are?"
"If you think I'm offering to shag you for the duration of the European Championship then yes I am suggesting what you think I am suggesting."
"And after that?"
"We go our separate ways, obviously."
Harry stared at Ginny for a long moment. All of his common sense told him this was a terrible idea, but he wasn't ready to let Ginny go. Not yet, not after the night they had just had. "Ok let's do it."
"Oh there is one other thing," Ginny said. "We probably shouldn't be very public about this arrangement. The press would just turn it into a distraction for the team."
"But we don't have to keep it a total secret right?" Harry asked.
"You have met Hermione correct?" Ginny asked with a wry grin. "It's impossible to keep secrets like this from her. I'm sure Neville is the same."
"They'd figure it out right quick even if we tried," Harry said.
"Along those lines though, the whole lot of them: Hermione, Neville, Luna, Dean, Seamus, Ron are going to absolutely insufferable," Ginny said.
"They'll have some choice words for us that's for sure. Just thinking about the lecture Nev is going to deliver is giving me a headache. He's started to sound like a teacher you know."
"So he's caught up to Hermione then," Ginny said, causing the two of them to burst into giggles.
"We're really going to do this?" Harry asked after they had settled down.
"Yes we are, but remember, the moment we leave that island things go back to normal. I'm not looking to get back together with you."
Harry nodded slowly. "I know, I had my chance and I blew it right?"
"Yes you did."
"Fair enough," Harry said with a sigh. "I think I'll go see what there is for breakfast now that we've got that settled."
"So let me see if I have this right," Neville said after Harry finished speaking. "You and Ginny are going to spend the European Championships shagging in secret?"
"Harry you're a genius!" Seamus said only to be shushed by Dean.
"That's about it," Harry said. "So go ahead, tell me I'm an idiot."
"You are only an idiot if you let this chance get away from you," Neville said.
"Er wait, what? I thought you were going to yell at me."
"Harry, you and Ginny are perfect for each other. Even Dean agrees, and she broke up with him to date you."
"That's not exactly how it went," Dean said. "But yeah, the two of you make too much sense not to be together. Hell if you hadn't been such a prat at the end of our sixth year you'd probably be married by now."
"Now Harry, listen up. No matter what else happens you have to persuade Ginny to take you back," Neville said.
"And what would you say if I told you Ginny explicitly said she didn't want to get back together with me?" Harry said.
"I'd say she's still irate about you giving her the broom all those years ago," Seamus said.
"Yes thank-you Seamus, that is a big help," Harry said.
"I never said it would be easy Harry, just that it's what you have to do."
"And what if I don't want to get back together with her?" Harry said. "Yes we dated, yes it was amazing, yes I loved her. But that was a long time ago, and I'm going to be late for practice." Harry shrugged out of his friends' grasp and stomped out of the kitchen.
Author's Notes: And like a well-oiled trap everything springs into place. People with a passing familiarity of the song this story is based on probably saw where this was headed. That all being said, I promise you this now, there will be no sitcom shenanigans wherein Ginny and Harry concoct elaborate and implausible lies to cover up their affair. That's trite, hacky and done to death. Thanks again to everyone who takes the time to read this silly little thing.
-sam