Chapter 17

Morning After

Bill led Harry back to his office. "Drink?" he offered as they took seats.

"Something on ice. Perhaps just the ice."

Bill poured two highballs of fire whiskey, one with ice for Harry. "This should take the edge off the pain too." He paused for a moment. "Harry… have you drunk before?"

"Ya, with your dad, after the battle." Harry replied as took the drink, but actually put the cold glass to his scar.

Bill smiled, "When you get to it, sip that, don't slam it. I don't want you staggering home drunk."

"Pretty sure I can handle one. In fact, I think the drink with your dad was more ceremonial than anything."

"Dad likes to make memories when he feels there is something important to talk about."

Harry just shrugged and took a sip. "Any ideas on … what the hell is going on?"

Bill started calculating in his head. "I know the locket was something extremely dark, in the necrotic school of magic. The cup had the same reaction to your scar as Riddle generally does. It is not a stretch to think there is a connection. Regulus was a supporter for a while, though at a low level. Lestrange is a more likely source. I'd need to examine the cup more, but I would like to do more research before I do." He sipped his drink. "Something as powerful as I found the locket to be yesterday, is no simple charm. That would have required some significant research. Grimmauld would be the best place to look for information on either of them… tomorrow though. I do need to do some work here for once."

"Sorry, if we've caused any trouble for you."

"Oh no, management is quite happy actually. They see it as me wooing you with the greatness of Gringotts. Especially with all of the Executive features I've 'convinced' you to purchase work is fine."

"Alright, we'll sus this tomorrow then, I'll get out of your hair. Thanks for the drink."

Harry left Gringotts at 11:00. Though his morning had a surprise, he was determined to keep up his plans. He headed on to Fantastic Flowers. Now, Harry wasn't surprised to see other customers at Flowers. But he was surprised at who he found, He'd recognize that shade of red anywhere. And what made it even better, Harry was approaching from directly behind them. Harry slipped in line, quietly stood looking straight ahead. Their focus was with the cashier and finishing their purchase, and Harry could tell it was roses. He smiled. Harry waited for them to turn around.

"Hey Ron,"

"MERLIN!" Ron jumped about a foot, then landed with a smile. "Harry mate! Scare a bloke have to death why don't you, ya bastard."

"Sorry, just the timing was too good to pass up."

Ron looked around and shrugged. "True, I would have done the same. What are you doing here?"

They took a step off to the side to let other patrons in. "I imagine the same as you." he answered with a grin. "Seriously, I figured giving Gin seven hours of worry yesterday, flowers would be the least I could do. You and 'Mione?"

"Oh, well you struck a nerve with her yesterday. Not your fault, don't apologize. You know just, when your mate is down and she's supposed to be the smart one-"

"Hermione's brilliant."

"You and I know that, but you being down and she not knowing any practical healing, it really hit her. So figured on my lunch break, flame around, grab a cheer up. Try to do the boyfriend thing. "

"Shite, you're on your break, I'm sorry man, don't mean to hold you up."

"Harry, it's been an odd month, don't worry about it. Happy to run into you."

"Alright, I'll see you tonight.

"Exactly, I know where you live." Ron pretended to threaten, and they left on a laugh.

Harry picked up a dozen roses and slipped them into his pack. He loved magic.

Finally, he made it to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, he slipped in normally because he honestly did want to disturb Ginny working. But it was slow so her attention came to him instantly as the latest patron. "Harry? What are you doing here? And in the suit!" she said as she greeted him with a hug and peck.

"Two reasons, I wanted to talk business with your brothers briefly. But after that I wondered if I could buy you lunch. Yesterday I gave you a fright, today I get you a bite."

"Mmm, lunch date sounds great. Twins are in the back, and as a founding investor, you are welcome to go on back. "

"Thanks, back in a bit."

Passing the door, he walked into what worked as a combination back storage as well as workshop testing area. As the twins were no stranger to projectile spells he was cautious coming around the corner. Peaking shelving he say the pair poring over some papers, something comparatively safe. He rapped loudly on the wooden shelves. "Any time for a professional visit?"

"Harry!" they both waved him over.

"What brings you back here?" Fred asked.

"Ginny's handling the front." George said.

"I know guys, I actually wanted to commission a piece."

The Twins smiled. "What did you have in mind?"

A few minutes later Fred was walking Harry back out. "Give us a couple days, but nothing about that is new or hard, creative thinking, Harry."

"Thanks," Harry said.

Ginny came up. "Hey Fred, Taking my lunch break back in an hour."

Fred looked at her oddly. "Hour? Gin, you were only scheduled for the morning."

Ginny second guessed that. "You sure? Let double check the-"

"Ginny, I'm sure. Get out of here," with a wink.

Smiling, "Thank you, Fred"

As they left the joke shop, Harry pulled the bouquet out.

"Flowers too? I'm feeling spoiled today," she said, taking his arm.

"Good, that's the point. Figured if I gave you a scare yesterday, I would cheer you up."

"So what were you thinking for lunch?"

"Frankly, Fortescue'"

"Harry, you can't have ice cream for lunch."

"Why not?" Insert cocky grin.

Ginny was about to retort any number of logical reasons that she was certain that her mother would have said. Then she realized, "You know what, why not?"

They grabbed their sundays, mint chip for him and Chocolate chip cookie dough for her.

"Okay so, Gin, medium news."

"Medium?"

"Not nothing, but still not something to worry about."

"Okay? she said, puzzled.

"You know I went to Gringotts to secure that locket in the vault. When we opened it, there was a 2nd similar item in there already. Triggered my scar headache and everything, hence the idea for Ice cream. Bill and I found it, contained it and both are locked in the vault."

"Okay, not what I planned our date talk to be but… okay. Are you alright?" clearly that was the biggest concern.

"Yes, fine, mild leftover headache but nothing to fret about. I mention it because it happened and we're partners, so…"

"You're really trying to respect that aren't you?" she said with a smile.

"You mean the four fundamentals we agreed to to actually get us together? Damn straight I am."

"Anyway, seems like the Black family may be connected to them, so I think I at least and anyone interested are going to be going through the papers at Grimmauld Place for any records. Bill's confident there would be some records of ritual or something to give us a clue."

"You got me. Hermione? Books are her thing."

"I'm talking to you first, but I plan asking her."

Ginny let the quiet reign, but finally had to ask a question. "So this morning… my books have a drawer?

"Ya, seemed like a good place to keep them."

"Why?"

"I thought we agreed it best to keep them on the downlow for a bit."

"No, I understand that, but the way you said it made it seem like you had already predetermined and set aside a drawer for me."

"Because I did," again straight faced and matter of factly.

Ginny blushed. "Thank you but… why?"

"Don't worry about, Gin." and Harry's cocky grin actually broke. He couldn't keep it up. No sly, no arrogance. It was a full on smile of happiness.

"Harry, you can tell me, please."

"Hope and preparedness. Now, in honesty I thought this would be more like when class started up. But I admit I hoped that you would want to stay over sometimes. And it just made sense to me to plan for that and you have a drawer to keep a change of clothes or whatever you would want or need for that. I am certain this sounds ridiculously stupid, but it gave me great happiness in prepping a GInny drawer. For whenever you want it. We said for keeps. I'm planning ahead with you in mind."

"Harry, I think that is one of the sweetest things I've even heard of."

Harry shrugged.

"Confession time: This morning after my shower. I did throw a change of clothes in there with last night's pajamas. So the Ginny drawer is already set."

"Brilliant." And with reference to it Harry's grin came back with vengeance. "I suppose I should ask if YOU are okay from last night?"

She reached out and took his hand. "Actually, Harry, last night was the best night sleep I've had since my first year. Thank you very, very much. If anything I feel like I owe you an apology."

Harry paused and thought for a moment. Looked around for a moment. "Wow, so this is what it's like?"

"I'll bite, what?"

"When I apologize for nothing," he said with a smile. "But for the sake of hearing you out, what do you feel you need to apologize for?"

"Well… are you really okay with actually just sleeping and my dumb comfort limit?"

"What is dumb about it?" he asked honestly.

"I'm supposed to be … like fearless. I totally admit to being a flirt. Our first kiss I grabbed you by that very same tie with both hands.. I'm known for anything's possible if you have enough nerve. I have known and loved you for years and yet… moment comes Crimson Witch chickens out! Argh."

"Ginny, " he waited till she was looking at him. "First date, you said all you really wanted was time. In all honesty, I'm not that different. Straight honesty, this morning I woke up a few minutes before you. So I took advantage of them and I enjoyed the view. Shoot me. But you were gorgeous. Somehow this fantastic girl who is fearless in anything that matters, but also is wicked smart, and damn funny. She actually chooses to risk getting in trouble just to sleep with me. I woke up and you seemed to just like radiant peace and looked more relaxed and comfortable than I've ever known you."

"Because I was." she admitted brushing a loose hair behind her ear.

"Me too, Gin, me too. Look…" His grin faded as he took a courage breath. "You're not the only one who gets Riddle nightmares. My subconscious has a nice little variety pack of events to select from. Starting from my parents death all the way up to Sirius's. So, I suppose that is another reason for the Ginny drawer. Because if the two of us can't be supportive to each other during the long nights, we are messing up some core relationship things. And I'm smart enough to know this likely is some sort of echo effect from life under the Dursleys, but if you're wondering how I can be so relaxed about a your comfort limit set, at what I see as a mile down the road, it's because I am far more appreciative of the basics of a relationship, than the high level rewards."

Harry took a breath. "Sorry, didn't mean to go on a tangent."

Ginny just looked at him with a combination of pure tenderness and just a touch of sadness. Once Harry finished she didn't even bother with talking. She got up, walked around the table, leaned down and kissed him full on the lips. After she looked him square in the eyes. "I don't deserve you, but I'm sure as hell not letting you go"

"Feeling is very much mutual, Gin."

After ice cream, They went over to Potions for All Occasions, with a warning to Gin. "This one is going to be a larger order."

"Thanks for the warning."

The clerk greeted as the others did. Harry gave them the list. "I'd like a liter or more of each, please."

"Healer, sir?"

Harry had actually anticipated that question. "Myself no, but setting up a healer's station in a new location."

"Ah, yes, very good sir." and they set about putting the order together. Harry and Gin browsed the aisles.

"Where is this station being set up, sir. "Gin asked, attempting subtly.

"Same location you visited last night, " Harry replied without missing a beat.

"Are you expecting a high number of treatments?"

"Unfortunately, we alway seem to, and I think this would be logical to augment the staff with supplies. Especially if both our lead healer and lead broom flyer have incidents the rest of us have something to assist with. If nothing else I would rather have it and not need it than vice versa."

Gin smiled, and Harry found a leather portable potions kit. It opened like a book and held 16 single dose glass vials. He picked up two. By then his order was prepped. In the bag it went and out the door they walked.

"Lead broom flyer?" Gin repeated with a smile.

"You better believe it.""

"Why the story?"

"Just feeling like keeping a low profile, but wanted to pick up a decent medical potion supply. Tell me I'm not going to need it. "

"No arguments… unfortunately."

Ron was a man with a plan and was hustling. Mr. Diggory even commented. Regardless he was able to get work done early which, combined with his hustle lunch, he made enough free time, to prep everything, get cleaned up and catch Hermione in the living room studying Molly's copy of The Healer's Helpmate.

"'Mione, care for a walk?" his smile was a dead give away, but he wasn't really trying to hide much.

But the smile was contagious. "What are you up to, Ron?"

"About 6'3" these days, but that's not really the point." as he put out his hand.

Hermione put the book down, so Ron knew he had won, but he could see she was enjoying playing this game. "What would the point be then?"

"Do you trust me?"

Remembering the last time he said those words, she replied the same, as she got up. "I do."

He took her arm and led the way back through the orchard lane.

"Stargazing again?" Hermione asked with a bit of a smile.

"It's a bit early. I mean if you want, more than happy to, but not what I invited you out for."

"Oh really?"

"What, do you think that's the only trick up my sleeve? The entirety of the Burrow and you think all I have is stargazing." he tutted his tongue. "Miss Granger, what am I going to do with you?"

Hermione laughed. "Okay fine, I'll let it be a surprise."

"In all honesty, this is just me trying to not be as thick a git as I can be. You did not have the greatest of days yesterday and I wanted today to be better for you."

"Ron, you were wonderful to me yesterday. You were there for me, held me when I broke done. Didn't joke at the wrong time. True proper boyfriend and everything."

"Yes, but just because I was there for you yesterday doesn't mean I can't be here for you today. They are two separate days. I may not color coordinate my schedule like you, but I can figure out, 'bloody well be kind to 'Mione' two days in a row."

"Language." she genuinely laughed.

"Sorry, Hermione." he 'corrected'.

"Merlin, you love that joke don't you?"

Ron stopped, kept smiling, took both hands to caress her cheeks, and looked straight in her eyes. "Eh… not really. More, I love you. I admit I damn near said it yesterday. Wanted to. But you were in such a state that I was more concerned in getting you feeling better. I knew neither of us were going anywhere. Which brings us today."

Hermione was already smiling and had a tear down her cheek. "I knew it," she whispered. "I love you too," she cried and kissed him. She wrapped into a hug. "Thank you."

"Well, thank you for putting up with my thick headedness."

"You're worth it, and we're both idiots." she sniffed through it.

"So… dinner?" Ron invited.

"Actually, would you mind staying out here for a bit. I do appreciate your family but I would like some time by ourselves."

"'Mione, I asked you to dinner. I never said go back to the house. Follow me."

"What have you done, Ron?"

Ron led the way past the Old Oak and further down, to a clearing where in the middle Ron had set up a table with nice white cloth, a pair of chairs. There was a set of candles on the table and a few lanterns hanging from tree limbs.

"Ron, you set this all up!?"

He smiled and shrugged, "You're worth it." He pulled a chair out for her. "Now, I admit it's just takeaway but I hope what I lose in that, I made up for with the atmosphere."

"This is delightful."

"Well you are a London lady, I figure you might enjoy the country charm."

"Absolutely, Thank you."