Chapter 8: Disappointment

AN: I intended to upload this on Monday, but my revisions got delayed after watching the Once Upon a Time finale. I've been a useless lump in a drunken daze ever since. But now here it is, and I hope you enjoy :D

"That was an excellent meal," Hermione complemented as she finished her first serving. Ron was beside her scarfing down his second.

"Thanks, Hermione." Ginny smiled back. "Always happy to have you lot over."

Al and Rose were sitting together engaged in a lively discussion, while Lilly was talking Hugo's ear off, and James was transfiguring his fork with a bored expression.

"Are you ready for your sixth year of Hogwarts, Rose?" I asked my niece.

"I think so." She took a long calming breath, and then smiled. She bore a striking resemblance to Hermione when she did so.

"Do you know what you want to do after school?" Ginny asked.

"I'm thinking the Department of Mysteries."

"Oh that's cool!" Al said. "Didn't you work there for a while, Aunt Hermione?"

"Assisted more like, and for a short time at that." She replied. "It was very enlightening, though still more confusing."

"I didn't like you working there," Ron spoke up, grimacing. "You spent all of your time with that Alden character."

"Oh please." Hermione rolled her eyes. "It was twenty years ago! We just worked together."

"Well he had different ideas."

Ginny and Hermione shared a look before rolling their eyes. James suddenly looked up, his face lit.

"Dad has been telling us about how he and mum got together," he said to his aunt and uncle.

"Oh really." Hermione looked at Ginny and me. "What a nice idea."

"Pretty dull story so far," James continued, now looking at Ron. "Except for a few things I never wanted to know."

I shot James a warning look, and he smiled back smugly.

"Oh?" Ron was confused. "Like what?" He was clueless as ever.

"Well a bunch of things they did as a couple that no one, especially their children, want to hear about."

Ron still looked confused until he caught on. Hermione was staring transfixed at the wall as if it was the most interesting thing she'd ever seen. Al and Lilly looked at the table in embarrassment, and Hugo and Rose gazed around looking for an explanation.

"These things..." Ron was looking at his sister fiercely now. Ginny just smiled innocently. "Are we talking about while you two were dating?"

"You want to hear the truth?" Ginny asked now somber.

Ron just glared.

"The truth," Ginny said, "is that Harry and I never even kissed out of wedlock."

Hermione burst into giggles.

"No way!" Hugo said. "Are you serious?"

Ron looked less fierce now, but still unhappy. "Ginny, I saw you two kiss plenty at Hogwarts alone." Hermione continued to laugh, I joined in a little too.

"You calling me a liar?" Ginny mockingly demanded.

"You're all bonkers." Lilly rolled her eyes.

Ron didn't say anything else about it, but he kept shooting me these looks, like I was a traitor. It was hard not to roll my eyes and laugh back.

...

When they left I immediately turned to James. "Son, I'm not surprised - which is sad."

James gave a cocky smile. "I didn't actually tell him anything."

"To think we wanted a son so bad before you were born!" Ginny huffed looking skyward.

"What a mistake that was," I agreed.

"Hey!" Al protested.

"Well we didn't succeed the first time," Ginny explained. "So we decided to try again, and we got you dear." She smiled at Al. James looked very unaffected by all this.

"Daddy." Lilly reappeared from her room. "Won't you tell us more of the story?"

I looked at Ginny, she sighed. "I suppose there's time for more tonight."

…

The next few months after that were better, but still awful. It's hard to describe to someone that's never experienced it, but breaking up is really terrible in so many ways.

If I didn't have Ron and Hermione, or the visits to the Burrow, I have no idea how bad it would've been. Those months were full of top secret Auror business I really can't share with you.

…

"Oh come on dad!" James said. "It was over twenty years ago! Couldn't you tell us now?"

"No," I answered firmly. "Not a chance."

He groaned in protest.

"Dad." Lilly wanted to change the subject. "If you can't tell us anything about the rest of the school year, maybe Mum can?"

I looked at Ginny. She wore a sorry expression.

"I don't have much to say about that last year at Hogwarts." She shuddered. "It was terrible. I had to work so hard, while feeling terrible the whole time."

The kids looked unsatisfied.

"I really don't want to talk about it." Ginny sighed.

I spoke up, gently taking Ginny's hand. "So I'll continue." She gave me a grateful smile.

…

Not much happened during those few months that I can tell you about. That is, besides Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey getting engaged. That happened in April, I believe. And they set the date for November.

Uncle Ron was just as impatient for the school term to be over, and just as stressed by auror life. To unwind, we began spending a lot of time at the Leaky Cauldron, and Neville soon joined us. Back then he was an auror too. Every Saturday night we found ourselves there sharing a pint or two, to unwind.

"What about her?" Ron nodded to a blond witch drinking over a large novel.

"She's pretty," I agreed giving Neville a thumbs up.

He looked down in embarrassment. "Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"Trying to hook me up with random witches."

"Oh come on, you're the only one here not hung up on some bird!" Ron chuckled.

"So you'd like me to join you in your misery?"

That shut us up.

"Terms almost over, and then we'll see who's miserable," Ron muttered into his cup. Neville smiled.

Moments later a grey barn owl fluttered in, and dropped a letter into my lap. Ron recognized the handwriting right away.

"Why'd Hermione send you a letter instead of me?" he asked.

"Try not to get too jealous." I smirked and ripped it open.

It said: "Harry, I know you've been patiently awaiting the end of term, but I'm afraid your efforts have been for naught. Ginny has signed up for a four month trip to Russia with some of her pupils. She's leaving as soon as the term is over, and wont return until Percy's wedding.

In addition, she's not in a much better state. I really don't think she's ready to see you at all. The good news though, is that I truly believe this trip of hers will do her good. She could really use a holiday, some distance and fresh air will profit her greatly.

I know it's hard for you, but this is really for the best.

You'll have to wait longer, but it should be worth the wait.

I'm sorry, Hermione."

"What does it say?" Ron asked.

"Nothing." I shoved the note into my pocket. "Ginny's going to Russia."

"Oh." Neville winced. "Tough break."

"Yeah." I sunk into my chair, and stared blankly at the table.

After a long depressing pause, Ron slapped me on the back. "Hey! You know what we should do? We should play Knuts."

Knuts was this great drinking game we used to play where we'd take all the knuts we had handy and-

...

Ginny gave a shove and a protesting look.

I looked at the kid's. James leaned forward eagerly with a mischievous grin, Lilly looked surprised, and Al bewildered.

"You know what." I realized this was a bad idea. "I'll save that for another time."

"Great." James leaned back in disappointment rolling his eyes.

…

Anyways, I said, "No thanks, I think I'll head home." I rose from the table.

"Oh come on!" Ron said. "Moping won't make it better."

"See you on Monday." I turned away and apparated out.

I couldn't believe it. Once again I would have to wait.

I wondered if the wait would ever be over. It appeared that I'd be chasing after a lost cause for the rest of my life.

I wanted to be hopeful, I really did. But it was getting more and more difficult.

I was beginning to wonder if Ginny knew she was torturing me and wanted to keep it up as punishment.

…

"I most certainly did not," Ginny piped in.

"Well I know that now." I laughed.

"Ugh, how long is this going to take?" James whinned.

"Quite a while longer," I admitted.

"Oh, shut up," Al said tohis brother, as the elder groaned. "It's not like you have anything better to do."

James shot him a nasty look.

"Well, I can go ahead and skip to Uncle Percy's wedding, if that's what you'd isn't much else that happened that summer," I said.

"Yes, please." His eyes were mockingly urgent.

"Alright, November fifth, nineteen ninety-nine."

AN: Reviews are always answered :)