A/N: Yes, Ginny is continuing to dig her heels in. At least they're having fun...
I have started using Scrivener but had some difficulty exporting. I think the lay-out is okay but if something is wonky, let me know. I will try to figure it out by the next update!
Let's see what Hot Fudge and Sugerplum are up to today.
Ginny got to the Three Broomsticks early and asked for a private room She ordered butterbeer for them and sat down. When Neville walked in, she stood up and hugged him tightly.
They sat down across from each other.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Good, good. Grading papers, you know how it goes," he said with a smile.
She returned his smile. "I really don't."
"They constantly ask if I really am your friend," Neville asked with a shake of his head. "The dull herbology professor evidently can't have such cool friends."
She laughed. "To be fair, if you had tried to convince me Professor McGonagall was friends with Gwenog Jones I wouldn't believe it either."
"That's a bad example," he muttered. "That definitely isn't the case."
"I wonder why," she wondered out loud jokingly. "They both have such warm personalities."
Neville chuckled. "Now, I did get some information in your letters, but I am going to need more details. Seems like you are getting up to a lot."
She nodded. "Yes, but I need you to absolutely not pass judgement for a minute, because I need that. Between management, the papers, my parents... there is a lot of that going around."
"Did you tell them yet?" Neville said.
"Yes, I came clean to my parents," she admitted. "Both Harry and I are still allowed in the house. Though we can't share a room anymore."
"You think?" Neville replied. "Merlin, Ginny."
"You are starting off great with the no judgement part," she said with a frown. She pulled a tankard of butterbeer to her and sipped it.
"I am so sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "Okay, so give me the full story now."
She started talking, telling him all of it. He remained silent for the most part, only nodding or humming in reply.
After a few good minutes, she stopped and looked at him. "Well, say something."
He breathed out. "It is difficult to comment without judgement."
"You can judge, okay." She leaned back.
"First of all, I think you're under a lot of pressure," he said calmly. "You want to go into Quidditch to be a Chaser. You didn't sign up for all this extra stuff and you have to play by their rules while you get no freedom at all."
She nodded. "True. It's not... the attention is manageable but it's not nice having to think about it all the time and it has gotten so much worse. If Harry and I go out together..."
He nodded in understanding. "I've seen the photos."
"It used to be about my achievements as a player and now it's about my relationship, which isn't even real!" she let out.
"But you are fucking him," he said bluntly.
She blushed. "Yes. At least there's that."
"The photos are telling, you can tell you're definitely"—He cleared his throat—"comfortable with each other."
"I actually suggested having sex to sell the whole idea. He agreed to only have sex once but," she smiled. "Guess I won him over."
He looked a bit unimpressed. "I am sure he was difficult to convince."
She frowned. "Actually some, you see he was worried he was going to develop feelings for me. So I invented a fun game called 'Do you have feelings for me yet', that I'd ask after sex."
"Ginny..." He took his butterbeer back up, shaking his head. "You're playing with fire, you know that right?" He took a sip of his butterbeer and set it down on the table. "What about the memory wiping?"
She sighed. "I kissed him and I had a concussion, I was on potions and I overreacted." She still couldn't quite believe that had happened. "Harry didn't know me enough yet to know it was probably a bad idea. So he did it but kept the memory, and he gave it back to me. I was embarrassed of course, but what can you do."
"You've been really putting him through it," he commented.
"A bit, but he handles it pretty well." She bit her lip. "In a way... he is the only other person who really understands what I'm going through. We are in this together."
Neville remained silent for a moment. He glanced out the window and back at her. "And there are no feelings involved?"
She groaned. "That is the part I don't need judgment on."
"I see I have found the sore spot."
"Of course it is," she complained. "It's what we need to sell. And even now my parents know, they still think... and my brothers too. Everyone is on my case about it."
"I can see how that can be annoying," he said quietly but she could tell he was thinking it over. "You do seem to get along great."
"We do," she said.
"But... there is nothing more?" he pried gently.
At least he wasn't being insistent. "Neville. If I was in love with that man, wouldn't I know?"
He blinked. "Sure."
"And then wouldn't I just tell him how it is?"
"That does sound like you," he said with a nod.
She smiled at him and patted his hand. "Do you understand what I am saying?"
Neville grimaced and shifted uncomfortably. "I understand what you're trying to say. But having feelings and knowing they're there can take some time. You have made your mind up from the start that you were not falling for this man."
"Exactly!" she let out excitedly.
Neville didn't match her excitement. "That's not how it works."
She slumped back in her chair. "He is a great guy and a great friend. We get along and the sex is great and I do not have feelings for him. Is that clear enough?"
"Yeah, fine," he gave in.
Neville looked at his watch. "I have to head back; I have a meeting in a bit."
She stood up. "Yeah, I have to go on a date tonight."
He smiled. "Right, of course. It was nice seeing you."
"You too," she said. She pulled him into another hug. "Thank you."
He patted her back and released her. They walked outside together. Reporters had gathered and they all had their cameras out, lights flashing.
She stopped in her tracks. "I was going to walk you back but I'll apparate from here. Sorry about this."
He shook his head. He hugged her again. "Don't worry about it. Glad we could catch up." He released her.
"Me too. See you!" As soon as she was sure no one was gone, she disapparated to The Burrow.
She didn't move, rubbing her eyes, waiting for her vision to adapt again after the flashes. She shook her head and walked inside. "Got to invest in sunglasses. This can't be good for my eyesight, can it?" she mumbled.
"And you have to go out again tonight," her mum said.
Ginny looked up to find her mum reading a magazine. She moaned. "Mum, if you believe anything that magazine says..."
Molly offered her an unimpressed expression. "There is an interview with Celestina Warbeck," she commented. "I do think I know my daughter better than some reporter..."
Ginny wasn't sure if that was a snide comment or not. She decided not to ask. "If it says I have any tattoos, don't believe it."
"You know my opinion on that matter," her mum said, her eyes already returning to the magazine.
"Yes, I do."
Her date with Harry went great. The restaurant she had picked had a terrace by a pond. Great for a view, but impossible for reporters to come in too close. When it had gotten later and the night had turned colder, Harry had offered her his vest and wrapped his arm around her as they looked over the water together. All in all, it had been a good day.
Or so she thought. She woke up in Harry's bed as usual. She was about to get out of bed when the door flew open. Harry was red in the face, carrying the newspaper. It must have been bad if it had angered Harry, he usually laughed along with her about the absurd things they wrote.
He threw the newspaper at her and it landed in front of her. She made the front page, but not only with Harry.
TWO DATES IN ONE DAY: Chaser Weasley spotted with Hogwarts Professor Longbottom, date with boyfriend Potter only hours later
She groaned and rubbed her face. She had been outside with Neville only a minute but it seemed they had taken a hundred photos of it, from every angle.
"I hope management doesn't buy into this," she said. "I can't believe this!"
"Said you took a private room in the Broomsticks," Harry commented.
"Yeah, I did, to avoid things like that."
Harry looked so angry and upset about it, it started to dawn on her this wasn't about what the rest was going to think, he was hurt. She got off the bed, keeping distance between them. "You can't possibly think I went to fuck someone in the Three Broomsticks."
His eyebrows raised incredulously.
"What the hell, Harry? I told you I wasn't going to date, do you think I'd just change my mind and not tell you?" she shot at him. "What does it matter to you anyway?"
"Don't you think if you have other sex partners, I ought to know?" he asked, not backing down either.
"It's not like I am cheating on you if I did," she told him. It would have been a better course of action to assure him no such things were going on, but she thought he was overreacting.
"Do you know what kind of questions I am going to get on Monday on this?" He gestured to the paper.
"No," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I have absolutely no clue what kind of reactions happen when they write junk about me in the Prophet." Her arms folded. "I don't think it is about that."
"Did you even think about what they were going to say?" he asked her angrily.
"Yes! I got a private room to meet up with a friend. I told you I was meeting him." She took a deep breath. "I tried not to meet him out in the open, because I know.. and then I just wanted to walk him back, but upon seeing the reporters, I decided not to. I did everything right and yet..." She closed her eyes. "I can't win."
"Screw the reporters," Harry said dismissively. "What about me?"
She had no reply. She stared at him, confused. She wasn't really sure which part he was upset about. "I don't get what your problem is."
"So you think I am making a big deal about this?"
She scoffed. "Aren't you?"
His jaw set and he looked away for a moment. "What about things like STDs?"
"I'm not a muggle, I am not all that concerned about STDs, quite frankly. If I had any, the Healers would have told me about it." She walked closer, forcing him to look at her. "So unless you gave me one..."
"That's not what I meant." He stared her down, but she didn't flinch.
Her eyebrows raised; her gaze unwavering. "Do enlighten me."
His posture deflated as he huffed. He shook his head slowly. "I think I don't like the idea of you having sex with other men as long as this goes on."
She stepped back to the bed, looking away from him. "I am not, I told you that." She glared at him. "And you have no right. I do what I want." She resolutely sat down on the bed, her back turned to him.
She pulled the paper to her, reading to know how much damage control she would have to do on Monday. She knew Harry was still standing, silently. She ignored him as her eyes danced over the article.
The mattress dipped and then she could feel Harry settle beside her. She didn't look up.
"I am sorry, I know it's not my place to..."
He trailed off and she looked up, her expression blank.
"I don't know what came over me. I hadn't realised yesterday your friend was a man, which was my mistake."
She set the paper down again. "I told you I had never had a fuck buddy before you. And Neville sure as hell isn't my boyfriend." She shuddered at the thought. "He is an old friend. One I've known so long the thought of having sex with him is repulsive."
"Something about that article just set me off I guess." He shrugged, blushing ever so slightly. "And maybe I've grown used to knowing I am the only one having sex with you."
She nodded, frowning slightly. "I didn't know you had a jealous streak."
"I don't."
She cocked her head. "You clearly do." She patted his cheek, only mocking him slightly. "It's okay, I get it."
His eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. "You do?"
"There is a certain... appeal to know you're the only one making someone feel that way." Her gaze dropped to the paper again. She expected him to get back up and go downstairs again now that this conversation was over, but he stayed right there.
He moved her hair out of the way to kiss the nape of her neck. "Have sex with me."
She didn't say yes, but she didn't move away. She wasn't sure yet if she was in the mood, but Harry may convince her.
He placed another kiss on her neck. He sighed against her skin as his free hand landed on her back. She leaned into it, showing him it was okay to carry on. He adjusted his position so he was facing her properly.
Her hand came to his neck and slid up to his jaw, guiding him to her lips. He pulled her into his lap, holding her tightly. His tongue teased her lips and she opened them to let him in. Every moment she gave in seemed to encourage Harry. She knew she would need to let him take his time. It would be his way to apologise.
His hand slipped over her skin and his lips pulled away. His eyes tracked the movements of his hands as they uncovered her skin. The pad of his thumb pressed into the skin by her hip and she almost begged him to speed up. She bit her lip, keeping the comment to herself. Instead she closed her eyes and gave herself over to him.
"You know what we should do?" Harry said from his position on her chest.
She glanced at him. "What?"
"Remember the magic hands charm?" he suggested. He lifted his head to look at her. "What if you charmed my tongue?"
She frowned as she considered it. "Interesting premise. Suppose... there is no harm in trying. You would have to figure out how to channel magic through your tongue though."
"It's worth a try," he said.
She ruffled his hair. "If you hand me my wand."
"Oh, and you're just going to lie here?" he retorted, though he sat up to pull her wand out of her trousers.
"If we're charming your tongue..." she said, taking her wand from his hand.
He nodded and shifted closer to her again. "Will I feel anything?"
She shrugged. "Maybe a slight tingle? I don't have any knowledge about this charm on tongues." She took his chin with her left hand. "Open your mouth."
Harry stuck out his tongue and she placed her wand against it. "Magnificare titilatio."
She put her wand on his nightstand out of the way. Harry pulled on her leg and dragged her back to the middle of the bed. She only mildly objected.
"Before we start, just know if this doesn't work that's okay." She eyed him.
Harry looked far too determined. "I'll make it work." Harry went straight for her neck, his nose pressed into her skin as he kissed her neck and then licked it softly. He looked back up for her reaction.
"Not yet," she told him.
Harry scooted down her body, making a trail with his tongue. His tongue swirled around the nipple of her left breast. He took it into his mouth. He quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Nope," she said. Her fingers tangled in his hair. "Don't get me wrong, it's nice but not..."
His head lifted. "Not magical." He seemed to think for a moment and then he adjusted her position, so she was lying flatter. "Can you close your eyes?"
"Fine," she mumbled. She closed her eyes, her fingers continued to tease his scalp.
It was silent for a moment longer, she had no clue what he was doing but his mouth wasn't on her and he hadn't moved. She waited.
"Ah!" she let out when his tongue licked her other breast and pleasure ran through her intensely. Her eyes opened and her head shot up.
He looked immensely satisfied. "That's more like it." His mouth lowered again. "Shall I continue?"
"I dare you not to," she threatened.
He laughed, his lips against her skin. "No worries, Weasley."
Then she let her head drop back as his tongue traced a delicious trail down her body. She was moaning, egging him on. She was already incredibly aroused by the time he reached her core. He didn't immediately put his tongue on her clit. She looked to see why the hell he wasn't continuing. Then his arms moved, pinning down her legs.
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," she agreed.
The moment his tongue touched her again, she was no longer in charge of what her body was doing. She was moaning, writhing, bucking into his mouth, the pleasure more intense than anything she had ever felt.
She sucked in more air. Her hands searched for something to hold and settled on Harry's head, grasping the strands. She moaned his name, begged him to continue. Then she was pulled over the edge with such an intensity she forgot to breathe for a moment. Harry didn't stop until her final strained moan.
He released her legs and leaned his head on her thigh. She breathed in deeply a few times. She felt slightly light-headed. After she had caught her breath, she attempted to fix his hair.
"It's always that messy, don't worry," he told her.
She smiled. "I assure you it isn't. I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Harry moved up her body. "No. I did think I'd be smothered for a moment but it's all good." He met her eyes.
"Sorry," she said. "Couldn't help it."
"I knew what I was getting into it," he assured her.
She nodded. "I'd kiss you but you and your tongue..."
He smiled. "Doesn't it reflect back then?"
She thought about it. That was indeed the case when she charmed her hands. "If I can figure out how..."
He shrugged. "If I can figure it out..."
He leaned into her and kissed her softly. The moment his tongue touched her lips, she felt it again. She pulled away and he looked expectantly at her.
"I can't focus like that," she said. "You lie down."
He moved and lay down on his back. He beckoned her. She sat on top of him. She hovered over him, her hair falling down like a curtain.
"Better?" he asked.
She nodded. She leaned down and kissed him. She didn't think she was managing, the feeling didn't change for her. It was pleasurable but she wanted to balance it out. She leaned away. "Anything yet?"
He shook his head. "No. You need to focus."
She snorted. "Excuse me!"
He grinned at her. "I didn't mean it like that. Kiss me."
She locked lips with him again, trying to kiss him harder but he just pulled back.
"Ma'am," he deadpanned. "This isn't tongue wrestling."
She leaned her forehead on the pillow beside his head. He licked her jaw. She moaned. "You are enjoying that way too much, you know."
His hand moved, guiding their mouths back together. She kissed him gentler this time, but nothing changed.
She leaned away the tiniest bit. "Help me out here."
"Do you know how you can sometimes feel spells in your fingertips?" he asked.
She pushed her nose against his. "Nope," she told him honestly.
He laughed. "Okay. How about accidental magic?"
She thought about it for a moment. "Ooh. I turned Charlie's pasta into worms once."
"Charming." He shook his head. "Remember how that felt?"
She nodded. "Got it." She leaned back in and kissed him but before their tongues could meet, he stopped her.
"I am thinking about worms now." He sighed and closed his eyes.
She took his hand and lead it to her ass.
He opened his eyes again and smiled. She leaned on her elbow for a moment. "Do you know how gorgeous your eyes are? You should really use it to your benefit."
"Then I don't know why I haven't won Witch Weekly's gorgeous eyes award." He widened his eyes to emphasise his point.
"They should invent that," she said. "You'd win for sure."
Harry put their foreheads together. "You should be honoured you get the close-up. It's an exclusive."
"Drowning in them," she commented lightheartedly. "Alright, let's try again." She leaned in before he could reply. She remembered it, how she had felt the magic surge. She now focused that feeling on her tongue.
Harry's moan told her it worked. She leaned away but he shook her head and pulled her back in. What followed was an intense make-out session that only barely led into sex. Their mouths and hands were enough to make them cum, but she had guided him in, rocking back and forth softly, lips locked until they both came.
Ginny stared into his eyes some more as they relaxed against each other. Harry softly caressed her back.
"Why worms?"
She smiled at him. "He wouldn't stop talking about dragon excrement and what the colours mean, like mothers with their babies. Apparently purple dragon poo isn't as uncommon as you would think."
Harry nodded. "During dinner?"
"Yes. So I just felt an overwhelming amount of rage. After the worms, everyone's appetite was gone. I was sent to my room..." She shook her head at the memory. "I threw a big tantrum." She moved out of his arms to take her wand. "We're undoing this spell. You're very dangerous with it."
He shook his head and closed his lips. "Nope."
"Fine, I can do it like this. If I aim wrong then..." she trailed off.
Harry abruptly showed his tongue. She undid the spell.
"I still don't understand what your problem with Neville was," she said.
He looked away from her, showing regret about his outburst.
"Livvy and I joked that when I had a boyfriend in the future, I'd have to invite you to give the guy pointers."
Harry looked right back up, intrigued.
"Because you clearly know what you're doing."
His cheeks darkened. "If I am there, I may as well do it myself." He grinned cheekily.
She laughed. "I have the slightest inkling that may lead to problems." She bumped against him. "And you're clearly not good at sharing."
"Aren't you hungry? You haven't had breakfast yet," he tried.
She wasn't impressed by his transparent attempt to distract her. "I could eat," she agreed. "If you want to share some of your food."
Harry groaned. "I thought I apologised profusely," he said. "Extensively, between your legs."
She rolled closer to him. "Oh? I didn't notice you spelling 'I am sorry' with your tongue?"
He shook his head and pulled the sheet down. His fingers traced the letters over her stomach. She squirmed. "Stop it, that tickles."
"Right here?" he said, wiggling his finger over a spot left of her belly button.
Her eyes widened. "No."
She held her breath as he tickled again. As soon as her laughter burst past her lips, he started a full-on tickle attack on her. She wriggled against his hands and tried to retaliate, turning them into a scrambling pile of limbs, naked and laughing.
Harry ended up pulling her with her back against his chest, gripping both her hands crossed over her chest and held it there. She blew her hair out of her face.
Harry's grip softened. "Huh. Did you just sneak me into a cuddle again?"
"No, silly." She shook her head, almost headbutting him in the process. "Cuddles are for nighttime."
He hummed. "Okay, then let me go."
"You first," she tried.
"No, you first," he insisted.
She poked her elbow to his ribs. "I have many siblings; I can do this all day."
"You are half on top of me, you have me trapped. If I let you go..." he objected, not moving.
She suggested a countdown, and he agreed.
"Three... two... one." She gripped him tighter, and he didn't release her either.
He shook his head. "I fucking knew it..." His whole body stiffened. "Boy, I sure hope that is Arnold walking up my leg right now."
They both let go of each other at the same time, reaching for the pygmy puff. Harry's hand appeared from under the covers, holding Arnold.
"Where did you come from, little one?" Ginny cooed, petting him.
Harry set him down and Arnold tucked between them and closed his eyes.
"I think your little boy thinks cuddles are for daytime." Harry leaned his head on his hand and softly petted the happily humming pygmy puff.