AN: As always, my thanks go to GryffindorHealer, dumnonian, and KSummer for their kind support in giving the chapter a final checkover.
It was already late when Ginny arrived at the Burrow on Friday evening. After her shift, she had visited Mrs Winterbottom in the intensive care unit. When Ginny took the older woman's hand in hers, Mrs. Winterbottom's return squeeze could barely be felt. Her sunken cheeks fairly swallowed the small smile, and her eyes shone feverishly. The only good news was that her doctors finally suspected what the woman was sick with. It appeared to be a rare type of bird flu, but it still remained to be seen whether medication would work. Her thoughts were still on the woman when Ginny emerged from the fireplace.
"Ginny, is that you?" her mother's voice came through the door.
Walking into the kitchen, Ginny found her parents having dinner with her brother Ron and a bushy-haired girl.
"Hi. Good evening," Ginny nodded to her brother and the girl, giving them a warm smile before turning to her parents. "I'm sorry. It got a little late at work."
She sat down at the place set for her and helped herself to the roast and vegetables. "I'm Ginny, by the way," she said, smiling at the girl, probably the new girlfriend Ron had mentioned last time.
"Hermione," the girl replied, raising her glass of red wine. "Nice to meet you."
"Yep. Nice to meet you, Hermione," Ginny replied, raising her glass as well.
"Where's Bill? Did you come without him?" her mother asked, glancing at the door to the living room as if she expected her eldest son to appear there at any moment.
"Didn't he tell you?" Ginny asked, surprised. "He paid me a surprise visit this week to tell me that he had to go on a business trip for the weekend and that I had to go home alone. I thought he told you."
"No," her mother shook her head. "Not that I remember. Where did he go?"
"He didn't tell me that either." Ginny shrugged apologetically. "But he was in a hurry, so I didn't ask."
"Ron, can you please help me in the shed after dinner? It won't take long, 10 minutes at most," asked Ginny's father.
"Sure, Dad," Ron replied.
"Hermione, is this your first visit to the Burrow?" Ginny asked Ron's girlfriend.
"No, I was here last week to meet your parents," the girl replied, giving Ginny a kind smile.
"Good idea to make the first visit when the family isn't home." Ginny chuckled. "It can be pretty challenging at times."
Hermione laughed. "I can imagine that. I still know Ron's twin brothers from Hogwarts. They can be quite... boisterous. I've always kept a little distance. Otherwise, I might have gotten to know Ron earlier."
"You were in Ravenclaw, weren't you?" Ginny asked, instantly noticing she liked the girl more than her predecessor, who somehow never got off Ron's lap.
"Yes. And you work in a hospital in London, Ron said," Hermione remarked.
"Yes, but only when I'm not busy studying," Ginny explained with a chuckle.
"That's amazing," Hermione stated, clearly impressed. "How far are you with your studies?"
"I've just completed my bachelor's degree and will start my master's after the summer holidays. During the semester, I only work on the weekends."
"Oh, interesting," Hermione said. "And definitely a lot of work."
"Yeah, it keeps me busy," Ginny said, laughing.
After dinner, Ron followed his father to the shed while Ginny's mother pulled her wand to levitate the dishes into the sink so they could clean themselves. "Ginny, dear. Be so kind and keep Hermione company. I'll just head out to collect the eggs and lock the chicken coop."
Ginny nodded and turned back to Ron's girlfriend. "And what are you doing for a living, if I may ask?"
"Oh. Nothing special," the girl replied guardedly. "I work as an assistant in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry."
"Nothing special?" Ginny snorted. "As far as I know, you need at least a dozen outstanding NEWTS to get a job there. Or good connections."
Hermione blushed slightly, beaming at Ginny. "Being a Muggleborn, I had no connections. Quite the opposite. But my NEWTS grades were good enough that they couldn't ignore my application."
"And how did you meet my brother?" Ginny asked, curious.
"I first met Ron when we needed information from the Auror office," Hermione replied. "Of course, I knew him from Hogwarts. Sometimes, we even had the same classes. But we never really spoke to each other back then."
That's when Fred and George burst through the back door. "Oh. Hello Granger. So it's true? With Ron and you, I mean," George asked with an astonished expression.
"Who would've thought ickle Ronnekins would pick up the brightest chick of Hogwarts," agreed Fred.
"Anyway," George crowed, placing a bottle of Firewhisky on the table. "It's another reason to celebrate.
"What's there to celebrate?" Ginny asked and couldn't help but giggle.
"We finally convinced our boss to sell us his shop," Fred cheered, pumping his fist into the air.
"Oh, that's great," Ginny exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
Her mother didn't seem to believe it and asked again, just in case, "You want to take over Zonko's in Hogsmeade?"
"Yep. We persuaded Bilton. He only wants 20% of the annual earnings," said George.
"He was going to give up the shop soon anyway," Fred added. "Said he's too old."
"You're going to take over Bilton Bilmes' business?" Hermione asked, a bit sceptical. "20% of the annual earnings sounds like a good deal. For how many years do you have to pay?"
"As long as Bilmes lives. He has no heirs," George said with a broad grin. "Now tell me. Isn't that a reason to empty a bottle?"
George conjured glasses and poured everyone a Firewhisky, including Ginny's father and Ron, who just returned from the shad.
"What's there to celebrate?" Ron asked in surprise.
"We'll tell you in a moment, dear brother of mine. But let's toast first", Fred replied, raising his glass.
Ginny took her drink and clinked glasses with the others. One look at her mother told her she was happy for her sons but wasn't convinced it was a good idea.
"Ginny, my dear. Let's go to the living room and talk about your birthday party," Ginny's mother suggested after she had emptied her glass.
Although she wanted to hear more about the news her brothers had brought, Ginny agreed. Knowing her brothers, they would brag about their business all evening, and she would surely get the chance to hear it all again.
Ginny took her half-full whiskey glass, but Fred didn't let her go without refilling it. She sipped her glass as she joined her mother, sitting at the living room table, a notebook in front of her.
"What do you want me to cook for your party, Ginny?" her mother asked.
Ginny sighed. She could think of many things she would love to do right now. Planning her birthday was not one of them.
Twenty minutes later, after the topic of starters, which roast would go best and which of her favourite puddings Ginny wanted had been clarified, a mischievous grin appeared on her mother's face. "How is your boyfriend doing? Are you bringing him for your birthday?"
"Mum!" Ginny blurted out and had to take a deep breath. "You know very well that I can't bring a Muggle home." She grimaced and sighed. "Sadly."
"That means he contacted you?" her mother asked curiously but hopefully.
Ginny smiled dreamily. "Yes. He did. We've already dated 6, no, 7 times. He's really nice."
"And you really don't want to introduce him to us?" asked her mother, almost desperately.
Ginny chuckled, looking around the living room. "Do you really think a Muggle wouldn't ask questions when he saw our house? All the moving photographs, our kitchen clock, not to mention having to cook and do the dishes the Muggle way, and, and, and..."
Her mother looked a little disappointed. "You're right, Ginny, but I'm so excited..."
"Then you just have to visit me in London," Ginny suggested and laughed briefly. "Just let me know beforehand so Harry doesn't run away in fright when you suddenly appear at the doorstep." Ginny noticed her whiskey glass was still half full and drank it empty. "I'll see him again on Sunday evening. Yesterday was Harry's birthday, and he invited me to dinner."
"At his house?" her mother asked, giving Ginny a curious look.
"No. We're going to a restaurant," Ginny replied, chuckling when her mother sighed a little relieved. "But I've already been to his house once. He lives with his godfather and wants to introduce me to him."
"One day, we'll lose you entirely to the Muggle world," her mum muttered under her breath. "But that will probably be unavoidable."
"Nonsense. You'll never lose me," Ginny argued. "Let's head back over to the boys. Hermione surely feels lonely with so many men."
After the chaotic Friday evening, the rest of the weekend was a quiet affair, aside from her mother's constant urging to discuss further details of her birthday party. Luckily, Ginny was able to escape her mother to the pond all Saturday, which resulted in her traveling back to London on Sunday afternoon with a slight sunburn.
center** HG ** /center
"Hi, how are you?" Ginny greeted Harry, who was waiting for her outside the Muggle restaurant, giving him a brilliant smile.
"Perfect," Harry replied. "When you're with me, I always feel good. I missed you."
"I missed you too," Ginny said, hugging Harry and kissing him warmly. "I wish you a belated happy birthday, Harry. Health. Happiness. And that all your secret wishes come true."
"My secret wishes, really?" Harry laughed mischievously. "Your kiss was the best birthday gift I've ever received," he said with a broad grin.
"Oh, and I didn't even give you my present yet," Ginny replied, laughing, and pulled a small packet out of her handbag.
"That wasn't necessary," said Harry sheepishly, accepting the present.
"Nonsense. No birthday without presents," Ginny replied. "How was your birthday party?"
"Funny," Harry said, pointing to the door to the restaurant. "Let's go in. I've reserved a table."
"Good idea. I'm hungry." Ginny rolled her eyes. "My mother gave me a strange look when I didn't take a second helping for lunch."
"Actually, I wanted to pick you up at home," said Harry as they followed the waiter to their table, a little out of the way but with a good view of the hustle and bustle on the street.
"That would have been too complicated," Ginny said apologetically. "I just got back from Devon. My brother lives just around the corner, and I left my bag with him."
As they sat down, Harry gave her an anticipatory look. "And?"
"And what?" Ginny asked, confused.
"Oh. Nothing," Harry replied, looking strangely relieved.
"You may open your present," Ginny said, amused. "I want to know if you like it."
Harry carefully tried to unwrap the gift without damaging the paper.
"Just rip it open," Ginny said, laughing. "Or do you want to reuse the paper again?"
"That could be useful. It's your birthday next week," Harry replied, laughing. "Oh, a set of darts. Excellent. Shall I take it as a challenge to invite you to play darts again?"
"Yep. Unless you want to secretly practice on your own," Ginny said, chuckling, and turned to the waiter who handed her the menu.
As they perused the menu, Harry couldn't resist a teasing grin. "So, any idea what you're in the mood for tonight?"
Ginny giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Well, I was thinking about starting with something light, maybe a salad or soup. How about you?"
"I'm considering the seafood options," Harry admitted. "Maybe some grilled prawns as an appetizer."
With their choices made, the waiter returned to take their orders. Ginny ordered the soup of the day and steak and kidney pie, while Harry really went for the shrimp and a rump steak with green pepper sauce, which came with a bottle of red wine. They agreed to wait to order dessert.
"Mmm. This is delicious." Ginny moaned as she tasted her onion soup. Looking up at Harry, she smiled - and paused when she noticed Harry watching her with a look she couldn't interpret. She glanced down at herself, a bit unsettled. "What's wrong? Did I spill my soup?
"No, no," Harry blurted out, a little too quickly for Ginny's liking, and added with a wide grin, "I have a surprise for you later."
"Oh, what is it?" Ginny asked, curious.
"I'll tell you after dinner," Harry said firmly, a nervous-looking smile on his lips.
Ginny eyed him suspiciously with raised eyebrows and finally nodded, chuckling. "Okay. Let it be a good surprise then."
"I think it is," Harry replied, focussing again on his shrimp.
"So, any birthday wishes or resolutions for the coming year?" Ginny inquired, her spoon poised mid-air.
Harry took a moment to consider. "I suppose my wish is for more moments like this, together with you. And as for resolutions, maybe to appreciate the little things and not let the chaos of life overwhelm us." Harry chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Big words."
Ginny's eyes softened, and she reached across the table to squeeze his hand. "I wish that too. Many more hours together."
As Harry seemed more and more nervous during dinner and had to ask a few times what she had asked, Ginny also became more tense. What surprise did Harry have for her? It had to be something important if he was getting this nervous. She was relieved that they both decided to opt out of dessert, and Harry asked for the bill when they'd finished their bottle of wine.
Eventually, they rose from their seats and left the restaurant hand in hand. After the heat of the August day, the night air felt cool and refreshing. They strolled down the street under the moonlit sky, and Ginny waited a while to give Harry time to reveal his big surprise to her. He looked at her several times as if he wanted to say something, but then just smiled at her. Until Ginny finally lost her patience.
"What is it, Harry?" she asked. "Is it really so bad?"
"No. I don't think it's bad," Harry said. "But I don't know how to start."
"Just tell me", Ginny said, slowly getting nervous herself. "I promise I won't laugh if that's your problem."
"Ginny, I...," Harry finally started, looking Ginny in the eye, "I met your brother. Last week."
"My brother?" Ginny asked, confused.
"Your brother Bill. I met him at Gringotts when I was there with Sirius."
Perplexed, Ginny replied, "Yes. Bill works for Gringotts, but..." As the realization hit her, she stared at Harry, her eyes wide open. "That means..."
Harry nodded, his expression almost solemn. "I am a wizard, and I know you're a witch."
"No, I'm not," Ginny barked in a panic and averted her gaze, unable to meet Harry's eyes. A sob ripped through her body, and she dared to look up. "I'm really sorry, Harry." With tears in her eyes, barely able to suppress another sob, she spoke with the last of her strength. "I think I'd better go now…"
She turned and ran away.