Chapter 3: The Burrow

—

"…and then Ron fell flat on his arse!" Hermione said in between tears, tugging on Ron's forearm. He was laughing, too - he hadn't taken his eyes off of her the whole night. At this, he reached out to pinch her sides to shut her up. It only got her laughing harder. They settled into a loose embrace with Ron's arm around her shoulders. He placed a tiny kiss against the top of her head, when he thought his family wasn't looking. Hermione's smile grew wider.

Ginny watched this interaction from across them. They had all been invited for dinner by Molly and Arthur, to welcome Ron and Hermione back from their honeymoon. They had been gone for two weeks, traveling across France. They were regaling the room with stories from their trip.

She smiled, heart melting at the sight of them. She looked at Harry, wondering if he noticed them being so comfortable with public displays of affection. Hermione was usually a little shy around the family, but tonight she was glowing under Ron's eyes and welcoming his playful nudges. Harry looked back at her, smiled and winked.

"So you two clearly fucked like bunnies on your trip," George dropped in the middle of their display.

Ron snorted loudly into his glass. Hermione tittered nervously and didn't know where to look.

"George Weasley!" Molly said sternly. Arthur couldn't control his amusement.

As Molly continued to scold George about the way he spoke about his brother and his wife, the rest of the group broke off into smaller ones and chatted. Angelina joined Ginny and Harry in a discussion about quidditch and how this season would turn out.

Fuelled on drinks, they feasted on Molly's dinner spread. Ron and Hermione chose seats next to each other, and it wasn't lost on Ginny that there was something clearly going on under the table. There was no way Ron was so distracted by the food in front of him, and Hermione couldn't carry on a conversation for longer than a sentence. They kept exchanging secret glances at each other, and you could see they couldn't wait to get home.

Ginny felt like a creep for noticing these private interactions between her brother and best friend. But, she couldn't help it. That very familiar ache in her heart was back.

After dinner is done, Ginny escapes to the backyard to catch some air when everyone is refilling their drinks inside. The night is chilly, and she likes the cold on her skin.

—

Harry looks around the room twice. Ginny is nowhere to be found.

When she disappeared earlier, he assumed she'd gone to the loo. But, she hadn't been back in a while.

He got up to check in the kitchen once again. Not here. That's odd. He's about to turn back, when he notices a lone figure out in the yard. There she is.

He silently shut the door to the house behind and stepped out. She was standing a bit further away, and looking out towards the treetops in the distance. It was a chilly night, and her shoulders were bare.

She must be cold. Harry walked over till he was right behind her, and slipped his arms around her waist.

"Hi."

She sank back into his chest, and hummed her approval. They stand like that for a while listening to the crickets chirping.

Harry turns her around. Ginny's eyes are glistening, but she's not hiding from him.

He looks at her questioningly. She stares back at him, quietly defiant. He knows what's on her mind.

"I want that for us," she says, her chin sticking out stubbornly.

"I do, too."

"I feel like I'm constantly waiting for you to make the first move. But, you never do."

"That's unfair."

"Is it?"

"Gin -" Harry opens his mouth to speak, but they are interrupted by the kitchen door opening.

"Oi, get in! We've got pictures of Ron in a teeny-weeny swimsuit - wouldn't want you to miss that sight," George calls out to them.

"Coming," Ginny says and starts walking towards the house.

"Hey, wait a minute," Harry grabs her hand.

Ginny shakes his hand off. "Let's pick it up later."

She goes back inside without looking back at him.

He waits a beat, mutters "fuck" under his breath and follows her.

—

Dessert was a rich chocolate pudding which didn't last even 20 minutes. The lamps were turned down, the music was softer. After Molly yawned for the 5th time, Arthur slapped high thighs and got up. "Right then, we'll be off. Remember to lock up when the last of you heads out. Come on, Molly." He held out a hand for her and dragged her up.

As they petered off up the stairs, Ginny turned around to face the rest and tipped her head towards the yard. George winks at her, and starts heading towards the door with Harry, Ron, Angelina, and Hermione in tow.

Ginny hangs back a little to hear her parents' bedroom door shut. Out of all the siblings, it was always her job to go last, after confirming her parents had really retired for the night. She pours herself a glass of water while she waits. The bathroom door opens and closes, then opens and closes again. Footsteps from the bathroom to the bedroom. The door shutting close. Now they weren't coming down. Ginny puts her empty glass in the sink, grabs her bag from the counter, and goes out to where the rest are.

The group is settled around the base of a tree a bit away from the porch. Ginny can hear Ron and Hermione giving George tips about planning his and Angelina's post-wedding travel. Ginny reaches them and settles down next to Angelina, who has possession of the joint being passed around. Ginny gestures for it and Angelina hands it to her.

Ginny blows out some smoke and observes her brothers arguing about the merits of France as a holiday destination.

"How did you know?" Ginny asks Angelina, in an aside.

"Oh, I didn't really evaluate it like that - it just sort of became our reality. You've seen how he is with my family, and how much he willingly wants to spend time with them. There simply was no other option but to."

Ginny smiles.

"Have you and Harry…talked about it?" Angelina asked, her volume lower so that the rest couldn't hear.

Ginny gives her a sidelong glance and sighs loudly to show her frustration.

Angelina laughs and puts her arm around her neck in commiseration.

Hermione scoots close to them and asks, "what are you laughing about?"

Ginny passes her the joint and says, "how stupid boys are."

Hermione takes it and adds loudly, "I can second that."

"Oi, I don't think wives are allowed to speak ill of their husbands," Ron pipes in, reaching out to steal the joint from Hermione's hand. She tries to lean back to keep it away, but loses her balance and falls backwards- with Ron across her lap.

"There they go with their PDA again," George says while plucking the joint out of an embarassed Hermione's hand. He stood up, finished the last drag, and stomps the stub under his feet.

"Let's go, Angie."

"Don't call me that."

"Why not, Angie?"

"Why are you so annoying?"

"Because I wuv you, Angie."

—-

Ginny snickers, now on her feet, and looks towards Harry as he approaches her. He smiles at her and grabs her hand.

"Come over?"

She can't find it in her to say no. She nods and keeps eye contact. He squeezes her hand, and starts leading her towards the house.