Tuesday evening found Ginny studying up on Muggle girl's field hockey in the kitchen when she heard Harry grumbling from the lounge. As he entered the kitchen, he looked tired and cross.
Ginny didn't look up from her book, "Dinner will be ready in 5 minutes."
Harry grunted, removed his cloak and grabbed a Butterbear from the icebox. He sat down at the table and glanced at the book his wife was reading.
"And why do you care about Muggle field hockey?"
"For my cover story for our dinner with Christine. I coach girl's field hockey at an exclusive all girl's school. Though field hockey seems mental."
"I still think this dinner is a mistake," Harry said sourly.
"Really? You haven't mentioned that." Ginny responded, clearly annoyed.
"I know you think I am making too much out of this but we shouldn't be encouraging this relationship. And we shouldn't be going behind Hermione's back."
"Harry," Ginny sighed, "I know this is tricky and I hate not sharing this with Hermione. But Ron needs our support."
"And Hermione doesn't?" Harry shouted.
"Don't shout at me, Harry Potter," Ginny responded acidly, "I understand you disagree. I understand you think we are wrong and I understand you are frustrated that the case has stalled. But you will not take those feelings out on me."
Harry stayed silent, he knew he was wrong to speak to Ginny that way and he knew he had been a real bear since his conversation with Ron Monday morning.
"Sorry," he uttered quietly. Ginny nodded and went back to her book until her wand shook. She flicked her wand and 2 plates full of sausages, peppers and onions appeared in front of them; flicked her wand again and glasses of pumpkin juice appeared as well.
"Thank you," Harry said with a slightly louder voice. They ate in silence for a bit but then Ginny broke the quiet.
"I don't like keeping this from Hermione either, you know. And I have been considering telling her but after the fact."
"Why wait?"
"Because Mum said that conversation with Ron yesterday really upset her and I don't think it's the time to pile on."
"How does your Mum know?"
"Mum brought food over to Hermione on Monday and they talked. She convinced Hermione to join my parents, George and Angelina for dinner at the Burrow on Wednesday. And I think that will help."
Harry nodded, "It will probably make her feel less alone."
"Exactly," Ginny said, "And if she's feeling a little better, she might be able to take this news better. Agree?"
"Yes," Harry agreed, "But I don't want to wait too long. Why don't we send her an owl and invite her for dinner here on Thursday and then we can tell her?"
Ginny grabbed her husband's hands from across the table, "I think that's a great idea."
After that, dinner was a much warmer affair.
"Gin, you're sure you know enough about this sport?" Ron asked anxiously.
Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother as she put her lip gloss on in the hall mirror in Grimmauld Place, "Yes Ron. I know enough. And I'm prepared to say that I can't tell her the name of the school because the students are children of high powered Muggles. I got it. I don't think we'll spend too much time talking about me anyway."
Harry joined the siblings in the hall, "Ready to go?"
"Yup," Ron said, "We're taking a Muggle cab."
Ginny and Harry looked shocked at Ron, "I know, I usually hate taking Muggle transport but I don't want to risk anything tonight, ok?"
"Fair enough, bro."
Within 30 minutes the trio arrived at the restaurant and started to head inside when they heard an excited, female voice call.
"Ron!" Christine called.
"Hi there love," Ron said. They hugged and she pecked him on the cheek.
"Christine, this is my sister, Ginny and her husband, Harry, also known as my best mate."
Christine smiled and hugged Ginny, "I've heard so much about you, I'm so thrilled to finally meet you." Then she hugged Harry.
Ginny was a little shocked at how affectionate Christine was but plastered a smile on her face, "It's so nice to meet you, Christine. We've heard so much about you too."
"Come on," Ron said, "Let's head inside."
When Hermione arrived at the Burrow on Wednesday evening she was greeted with the delicious smell of chicken cordon bleu, her favorite. She walked into the kitchen,
"Hello," she said.
"Hermione, my dear," Arthur rose from his seat, where he was reading the paper and hugged his daughter-in-law, "So good to see you. I'm glad you're joining us tonight."
"I'm thrilled to be here Arthur. Molly, is that your chicken cordon bleu I smell? It's not my birthday."
Molly turned around from her work and crossed the kitchen to hug Hermione, "It is and I'm just so thrilled you're here, I thought we would have your favorite." She patted Hermione's cheek and headed back to her work.
"Wine, Hermione? Fleur brought us some wonderful wine back from France recently." Arthur asked.
"Yes, sounds lovely."
"Count us in too, Dad." George announced as he and Angelina entered the kitchen from the garden."
Everyone said their hellos, got their wine and then Molly said, "Dinner is served."
The food was, not shockingly, glorious and Hermione enjoyed every bite much to Molly's pleasure.
"So, how's business George?"
"Smashing, Granger, just smashing."
"We've launched a few new products in the last few months and they are selling out constantly," Angelina chimed in, "It's been hectic; exciting but hectic."
"And since we like hectic," George looked at Angelina who nodded her head, clearly giving him the ok to share something, "We have decided to open a third shop. In Paris!"
Arthur clapped his hands, "Well done George!"
"That's wonderful, dear." Molly smiled.
"Wow, that's amazing you guys," Hermione said.
"Yup, we've noticed a large number of our mail order business is coming from France so it seemed like the natural next spot." Angelina said.
"When Fred and I started the shop, we thought we'd be lucky if we could keep the Diagon Alley shop afloat let alone Hogsmeade and now Paris."
A short though emotion filled silence filled the room as it often did when the family mentioned their fallen member.
"Granger," George continued, "You speak fluent French right?" She nodded, "I may need a bit of help along the way, especially since you understand contracts, etc."
"I would be happy to help, of course," she said, "But you have another sister-in-law who might be even more helpful." She laughed.
"Yes, well, Fleur might have her hands full around the time we're ready to open." George said.
"Hands full?"
"George, we don't anything for a fact," Angelina hissed.
"Angelina is right, George," Arthur chimed in, "They haven't confirmed anything."
"Wait," Hermione was putting the pieces together, "Is Fleur pregnant again?"
"We don't know for sure," Molly answered, "She looked a little fuller at our last family dinner. But we are just waiting to hear from her and Bill."
Hermione smiled, "Well if that's the case, that's wonderful. Maybe I'll pop out to Shell Cottage this weekend and visit her."
"I'm sure she would love that." Molly added.
"And congratulations, you two, this new shop is very exciting. Anything I can do, count me in."
George put his arm around Hermione, "Thanks Granger, I knew we could count on you."
"The food here is wonderful, Christine," Ginny said.
"I know, isn't it," the beautiful blonde said, "A former co-worker introduced it to me. She was one of the few females in my office so we would come here to blow off steam sometimes."
"I would imagine finance is rather male dominated?" Harry said. It was one of the first questions or even full sentences he had uttered since they sat down. Maybe it was the fact that he was on his third glass of wine.
"You can say that again, Harry," Christine smiled, "It can be a bit complicated to navigate but we muddle through. Nothing like what you and Ron do; at least my line of work isn't dangerous. Ginny, how do you handle the worry?"
Ginny shrugged, "I suppose I've gotten used to it. When he's gone for stretches, I usually find myself at my parent's house or anywhere but the empty house to keep my mind off it."
"And I supposed working with those entitled young women keeps you on your toes."
"Oh yes," Ginny responded almost convincingly, "The girls and their demanding parents keep me busy too."
Harry didn't know he was scowling until Christine mentioned, "Oh Harry, you don't like where Ginny works?"
Ginny kicked him under the table, "I'm sorry, what?"
"You just made a little scowl when Ginny mentioned her students and their demanding parents."
"Oh, right," Harry stumbled, "Well, they cause her such headaches sometimes and I don't like to see her stressed." Good save, Potter, he thought.
"That is so sweet." Christine replied.
"Well, if any of those blokes at your firm give you trouble, just let me know." Ron said with a smirk as he wrapped his arm around Christine's shoulders. Harry's jaw clenched and Ginny stomped on his foot.
"I think I'll head to the loo," Ginny said.
"Oh, I'll join you." Christine gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek and headed to the ladies' room with Ginny.
When the women were out of ear shot, Ron glared at Harry. "Why are you being such a wanker? Christine is trying so hard and you barely speak and if we so much as touch each other you tense up like you're ready to punch something."
Harry sighed, "I'm sorry Ron but I don't think you appreciate how bloody hard this is for me. You are my best mate and you are married to my other best mate but I have to sit in a restaurant and pretend you aren't married and enjoy an evening with your new girlfriend. I have to pretend that this isn't painful and awkward and downright wrong. And I know you need our support and Ginny will hex me into next month if she heard me saying this right now but that's why I'm being a wanker. It's brutal, Ron."
Ron just stared at Harry, not sure what to say because if he is honest, he didn't think enough about how hard this could be for his best mate.
Meanwhile, in the ladies' room, Ginny and Christine are reapplying their lip gloss in slightly uncomfortable silence.
"Look, Ginny," Christine turned to Ginny, "I know Ron just ended a long-term relationship and he mentioned you are friendly with his ex. So, I know this is probably uncomfortable for you. I just want you to know, I really like your brother. He's smart and kind and funny. He's such a gentleman and though I know you'll find this gross, he's totally gorgeous."
Ginny couldn't help but laugh at that, she always did when anyone mentioned any of brother's looks.
"I care about him and I want to take this relationship at whatever pace he wants to. I respect the place he is in his life right now. I just want you to know that you can trust me with your brother. I don't intend to hurt him."
Ginny smiled; it would be so much easier if this Muggle girl was annoying like Lavender had been in school or a total bitch, easy to hate. But Christine was not. And against her will, Ginny liked her.
"That is incredibly sweet of you Christine. And I'm glad I can trust you. Ron's been through a lot lately so it's good to know he's in safe hands."
Christine hugged Ginny and they headed out of the loo, "Now, let's get the boys to buy us some dessert."
Ginny agreed and they headed back to the table with genuine smiles on their faces.
"Well, considering, I think that went ok. What do you think?" Ginny asked as Harry pulled her along the London streets, looking for a safe place to apparate.
"I guess." He said with no elaboration.
"I think Ron was pleased," Ginny continued, "And that was the point."
"Yup, he's pleased. Of course, he's pleased. His sister is best friends with his Muggle girlfriend, like he wanted. He's probably snogging her in the cab as we speak." Harry said in a rude and a bit drunk tone. Ginny pulled her hand out of Harry's and stopped walking.
"Harry, stop it!" She huffed. "Stop acting like you are the only one who is hurting in this situation. My stomach is in knots right now. I feel guilty for getting along so well with Christine and I feel even more guilty because I actually like her. I like her but I want her heart to be broken because I want Ron back with Hermione. So, you aren't the only one who finds all this hard." She looked around her, saw it was empty and apparated away, not bothering to wait for her husband.
"Bloody hell," Harry mumbled.
When Hermione arrived home after dinner at the Burrow she felt deliciously full of yummy food and happy from being with people she so cared about. She tried to ignore that voice in the back of her head that said, it won't last, they'll forget about you once Ron has moved on. No, she wanted to hold on to this happy feeling for as long as possible. So, she went upstairs to her bathroom and filled her tub, she was going to luxuriate in a bath before bed, that will help her hold on to this feeling.
"Ginny," Harry knocked on their bedroom door before opening it. She was in their bed, reading and barely raised her head when he entered.
"I know I was being a wanker tonight. And I didn't appreciate it was just as hard for you. It's just so hard to see him with her; he supposed to be with Hermione. It should have been her at that table, like it has been countless times."
"You don't think I know that," Ginny said as she placed the book on the bed. "Of course, it should be Hermione. But that's not Christine's fault. Hell, it's not even Ron's fault. I don't know what to do, Harry." Tears started to fall and Harry crossed and held his wife in his hands.
"Me neither," he admitted.
"How do we tell her tomorrow night? I know that was the plan and she accepted the invite but bloody hell."
Harry stroked Ginny's hair, "I think we're just honest. As the Muggles say, 'honesty is the best policy'."
Ginny giggled, "You are tipsy, Harry. You only use silly Muggle quotes when you are."
He smiled, "Maybe I am." He nuzzled down into bed with Ginny and held her tight. "Knox."
The next morning, Ginny was making the morning tea and breakfast when the owl with the morning editions of The Daily Prophet and Quibler were delivered. She gave the owl a treat and took the papers to the table. Just then Harry walked in looking a bit worse for wear.
"Maybe you were more than tipsy, love," Ginny smirked.
"Yea, yea, maybe."
"Here, have some tea." She chuckled as she poured him the tea. She sat down to look at the Quibler and Harry grabbed the Prophet.
"For fucks sake!" Harry shouted.
"What?" Ginny shrieked, shocked by her husband's outburst. He handed her the paper, the headline read:
"Ron Weasley quickly moves on from Hermione Granger and Harry Potter approves!"
There are photos of the Ginny and Harry hugging Christine, whose face is obscured. Then Ginny and Christine walking out of the restaurant arm in arm and Harry patting Ron on the back. It all looks very happy and cozy.
"Oh no," Ginny cried, "OH NO!"
