Requested Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has read and/or reviewed my little story. Please be assured that this will become H/Hr. It is critical to the plot for Harry to date Ginny first, however. I tried for a long time to write this with an OC or another character. I even went as far as writing the first few chapters with "___Name___ " rather than hers. A ditsy Ginny just felt right no matter hard I fought it. Please bear with me for a bit.
Changes
Chapter 3
Changes
Arriving back in London, life returned to normal for Harry. He took a few days off to rest from the trip, not to mention giving the deep cuts on his abdomen and side a chance to heal after the skirmish. There was, however, one major difference. Ginny dropped by his flat regularly. Harry wasn't sure why, though he didn't mind. He wasn't over her "freak" comment. That still rankled, but he was willing to bury the thought. Maybe she felt guilty about his injuries. Maybe she understood about the Final Battle, he didn't know. She either made him a meal or brought food with her. He was, he thought, a decent cook. He'd had enough practice playing house elf to the Dursley's. He just didn't often bother for only himself.
"What's up with Ginny lately, mate?" Ron asked as he handed Harry a pint.
"What do you mean?" Harry responded.
"She's always here," winked Ron. "I thought she was angry with you over something."
"No idea." replied Harry. "She's your sister. You would know better than I do."
"Personally, Harry, I think she might fancy you again a bit."
Harry snorted. "That'll be it, wouldn't it? 'I blame you for my brother's death', but fancy a snog? You're mad, Ron."
"We'll see." Ron snickered.
After listening to Puddlemere United pummel the Chudley Cannons yet again, Ron left.
Ginny stopped by later. Harry was in a jovial mood, in part with the aid of the ale he'd drunk with Ron during the game. She had brought a delicious meat pie from the Burrow. When she left, to Harry's surprise, she gave him a quick kiss right on the lips.
Harry was confused. How did she go from "I don't like you, Harry Potter" to kissing him? Would he ever understand this stuff? He should talk to her, he knew that. He sort of liked her taking care of him lately. It was great not having to worry about what to eat. "I'll ask her out and we can talk," he told himself. "Then maybe I'll know."
When Ginny stopped by the next afternoon, Harry wasn't home. He knew she'd been there by the stew left warming on the stovetop. Harry was about to take the first bite when a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in" he responded and leveled his wand at the entrance.
"Hi, Harry" Ginny said. "I see you found the stew. Mum thinks you need feeding up, so I volunteered to bring it over."
"Thanks" he responded. "Say, Ginny… you don't have to do this. It's not that I don't want you to come by, I do. You just don't have to bring something every time, if you don't want to. I mean..." Harry knew he was rambling. "Just say it!" he told himself.
"I thought maybe…I could…er…take you out…someplace…er…next time." Harry could feel the heat rising in his cheeks.
Ginny smiled brightly. "I'd like that. Tomorrow, then?"
Harry smiled back. "Yeah. Okay."
"And, Harry, Mum wants to see you. You are expected at the Burrow on Saturday. Mum wants to see for herself that you're okay. Anyway," Ginny went on, "how was your check up at St Mungo's?"
Harry's face dropped. He didn't want to think about that. He sighed and said grumpily, "Out for another week and behind a stupid desk for two more after that. I'll be a nutter by the time this is done."
"I'm sorry."
"Why?" Harry asked. "Did you curse me? Was it you I dueled with in that alleyway?"
Ginny shook her head.
"Then it isn't your fault." replied Harry.
"I was so very wrong about you." Ginny said softly. "After what Draco said…"
"I don't want to hear about Draco or anything he's had to say. He's not worth it." Harry charged.
"So…" Ginny started with a wink. "What can I talk about that you'd want to hear?"
Harry sat on the heavy leather couch, his head down. "I don't know." He responded shyly. "Er…how about your work? How's that coming along?"
Ginny sighed. "I don't know if weddings are really my thing. Maybe I should try something else." She walked behind the couch and started rubbing Harry's tense shoulders. With her hands still on his shoulders, she went to his side. With only an arm rest separating them, she went on, "I know you don't want to talk about 'feelings'. Why don't you try to just 'feel'?" Ginny whispered as she casually laid herself across his lap.
Harry woke early the next morning to drink tea in his usual spot at the doorway of his balcony. "First" he told himself aloud, "I asked Ginny out. Two, she kissed me again. What about that? I liked kissing her. I could get used to that. What if we started seeing each other seriously and it didn't work out? What if I did something and all of the Weasley's started hating me? Can I deal with that? Is it worth that risk? When did I start talking to myself? I've got to get out of here." Harry apparated to Diagon Alley. He had no destination in mind. He just ambled about, lost in thought, enjoying the mild spring weather. He stopped to watch a group of children jump about in a water puddle. He fought the urge to join them.
"When have I ever done anything like that?" he asked himself. He knew Aunt Petunia would have killed him for even thinking about daring to do such a thing. He heard that little voice that sounded like Hermione. "You need to learn to relax, Harry. Have some fun. Play some quidditch. Go on holiday. Voldemort is gone; the Death Eaters are slowly being captured; take some time for you."
He'd been watching his back for so long he was sure he was turning into Moody. "I wish I could talk to Sirius. He'd know what I should do. Maybe after dinner tonight, I'll just know."
His date with Ginny was thankfully uneventful. No attacks by Death Eaters. No arguments. Dinner was lovely. The conversation was a bit stilted as they cast around for a topic that would interest them both. They had decided to keep this new relationship between them quiet for a bit.
When he had kissed her goodnight, he got the impression she was waiting for something. He had no idea what, though. "Surely she wasn't waiting for him to ask to come in! Not on a first date! I wish I knew about this relationship stuff."
Harry arrived home to find Pigwidgeon fluttering around waiting for him. Harry took the letter, read it and smiled.
H,
Thanks for a lovely dinner. Can't wait to do it again.
G
"At least there's going to be a next time" Harry chuckled to himself.
Harry went back to work the next week. He hated being stuck behind a desk. He felt like he was in school again. He decided that since he'd never really gone on holiday, he would take a couple of weeks for himself.
"Hey, Ron…" he started "Practice doesn't start again until next month, right?"
"His next practice is the first of April" Hermione answered. "Why?"
"What's up?" Ron asked.
"Well…" Harry began. "I was thinking about taking a holiday and …"
"YOU?" Hermione exclaimed. "Is everything ok, Harry?"
"Fine. Fine." Harry responded quickly. "I just can't go back in the field yet and hate the paperwork I'm stuck with. Can you get time off, Hermione?"
"The 'Trio' on holiday." Ron said laughingly. "Who'd ever have expected that? I'm up for it, mate. Where should we go? I mean I'd have to come back for meetings, of course, but I can manage"
Hermione smiled to herself. "I'll see if I can take off, too. I think Blaise will be too busy to notice, anyway."
Ron grimaced. Even though he and Hermione called it quits years ago, he wasn't certain he approved of her seeing that Slytherin or any Slytherin for that matter.
"See if he wants to come along, if you want." said Harry.
"We'll see," said Hermione. "Tell me where you want to go and I'll make the arrangements."
Harry met Ginny back at his flat. "Ginn" he began. "I want to talk to you about something. Ron, Hermione and I are thinking of going on holiday…"
"Oh, Harry, honey," she moaned. "I can't possibly go anywhere now. I've just started my job at Madam Malkins. I don't dare."
"Oh." Harry muttered. He hadn't thought of bringing her. "That's alright. It would be hard to keep us a secret if we were together all the time anyway."
"You haven't told them about us?" Ginny asked.
"No. Should I have? I thought we were going to keep this between us." he explained.
"From everyone, yes, but it is common knowledge that you three have no secrets between you. You should tell them at least." Ginny looked as if she was explaining a very simple connection, although it didn't really make sense to Harry.
"I thought you wouldn't want me to. And there are things that I don't tell them. Loads of things. Anyway, Hermione is making the plans and we'll be gone from Thursday until a week from Saturday. Then hopefully I can get back to my job"
"My hero!" Ginny teased. She wrapped her arms around him.
"Yes, Ma'am," kidded Harry in a low voice. "Got to keep the streets safe for women and children everywhere."
"I'll miss you." She breathed.
"Me, too" he responded and leaned down to kiss her.
"Harry," she started hesitantly. "Want me to stay over?"
"You don't know how much I want that, Ginn. It's just not right yet. Not with all of this secrecy.
"That's so sweet" she said. "Just know that I'm ready whenever you feel the time is right. It has to be right for both of us."
The Trio left on Thursday morning and arrived in the Virgin Islands. After checking in, they lounged about on the beach, went for a swim, and then made their way to the bar for drinks.
"This place is great, Hermione. You can make my travel plans anytime." gushed Ron.
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry added. "This is brilliant."
Hermione smiled at the praise. She sipped her wine slowly while appraising Harry. "What's new, Harry?" she asked, sharing a glance with Ron. "You've supposedly been on the injured list at the Ministry, however you're hardly ever home."
"Oh, you know, the usual, running errands" Harry lied uncomfortably. "Taking care of things a person never has time for while working, that sort of thing."
Hermione wasn't convinced, neither was Ron, come to that, but after a shared glance with Ron, she let the subject drop.
The next morning Harry had his head in the fireplace, talking by floo to Ginny when Ron came into his room. Harry bumped his head in his haste to end the floo call. While Ron couldn't have known who he was talking to, Harry was sure Ron had detected he was talking to a girl.
"So…"Ron began. "Who're you talking to so early?"
"A friend" lied Harry. "Er…a friend from work."
"Spill it, mate" Ron demanded as Hermione also entered. "Who is she? What's her name? Has she helped you out with that little problem?"
"RON!" shrieked Hermione. "That's none of our business."
"He was talking to someone by floo, Hermione." Ron teased. "He was using his mushy voice."
Harry wished he could disappear. "Wait" he thought hopefully. "I'm a wizard. I can disappear." Ron knowingly grabbed him by the arm.
Hermione replied expectantly "Well, if he doesn't want to tell us, he doesn't have.."
"It's nothing" Harry insisted. "Just drop it, okay?"
Ron and Hermione shared a smirk and let it go. They had their suspicions about who Harry was seeing. They knew Harry kept secrets with the best of them, but always told them eventually. They would have to be patient. It was not exactly Ron's strong suit to have patience, but he knew pushing Harry made him clam up even more.