Chapter 10 - Secrets and Lies
While Harry read a bedtime story to Lily, Ginny was sitting in her bedroom, flipping through her scrapbook. The scrapbook contained press clippings of her days with the Holyhead Harpies and her courtship and wedding to Harry. In terms of press attention, their romance was like the Wizarding equivalent of Charles and Diana.
She looked fondly at the picture of Harry and herself on their wedding day. Harry looked so handsome in his green dress robes, and Ginny remembered how beautiful her white dress was. She remembered fighting with her mother that day about her hair. Molly wanted her to wear it up but Ginny insisted that she wear her long flowing hair loose that day, since Harry always loved it that way.
Ginny looked in the mirror and what she saw did not please her. She was no longer the petite beauty with the long flaming hair. She had gained at least two stone since her last pregnancy and her hair was now a short bob. With three children, Ginny didn't have time to pay attention to her hair, so she cut it years ago. She remembered overhearing her husband compliment Hermione that evening on her hair. When was the last time Harry paid her a compliment, other than about her cooking?
Ginny did not consider herself a jealous person. She was always aware of her husband's close friendship with Hermione. She had witnessed it firsthand growing up at the Burrow, whenever Harry and Hermione came to visit.
As a young girl and then as a teen, Ginny looked up to Hermione. She was nearly two years older and the brightest witch of her year. She always had advice to give her, some of it unsolicited, but Hermione always seemed to have Ginny's best interests at heart.
It was Hermione who told her to move on with her life and try dating other boys at Hogwarts, as it seemed that Harry would never notice her. Ginny always wanted to be as close to Harry as Hermione was, to be one of his best friends. She followed her example and tried to be a friend, while discovering Witch Weekly's beauty tips to make the most of her assets.
It seemed to work, and then suddenly during her fifth year he started noticing her. Ginny was thrilled to finally become Harry Potter's girlfriend. Although he willingly left her behind that last year of the war, Ginny waited for him, ignoring advances from her male classmates at Hogwarts.
After the war, she and Harry continued their romance, and her brother Ron was finally with Hermione. Everything was perfect and she married Harry two years later, right after her 19th birthday. He was officially hers and no witch could take him from her.
But now, Ginny had her doubts. When she married Harry sixteen years ago, she assumed that his close bond with Hermione would diminish and that she would become her husband's best friend.
While Harry was a devoted husband and father, he never really let her in. Whenever she could tell that something was bothering him, he would tell her that everything was fine, and then he would disappear to Ron and Hermione's house for a couple of hours.
At first, she thought he was just talking to Ron, who was his best mate, but sometimes she would spot Hermione with her husband in the backyard. They were usually just talking but they always stood so close and their body language had an intimacy that she could only envy. And she couldn't help but notice that Hermione was always taking Harry's hand or vice versa.
She tried to reason that Hermione was one of her husband's dearest friends and that was just the way they were with each other. Hermione used to grab Harry's hand all the time when they were growing up, so why should it bother her as adults?
Ginny tried to ignore her doubts and never confided in anyone about them. This was just something that she would have to accept. Hermione would always be his best friend but she was Harry's lover and the mother of his children.
That thought comforted her for a while, but now Harry wasn't even her lover anymore. It had been months since they had made love and ever since Ginny announced her desire to have another child, Harry refused to touch her. It had to be because he didn't want her anymore and wanted Hermione.
She doubted they had done anything yet, but now that Hermione and Ron had split, she was sure that they were planning some sort of tryst on Sunday, while she was having her reunion brunch.
She had dropped the subject of a new baby because it was clear that Harry did not want another and she didn't think she could change his mind. The only way to get what she wanted was to somehow get Harry in the mood and conveniently `forget' to use her birth control charm.
She had to move quickly. Ginny went to her closet and pulled out her most seductive nightgown. She hadn't worn it in awhile and hoped it fit. As she put it on, it was a bit snug but it shaped her breasts so she had some nice cleavage. She grabbed a hairbrush to try to style her bob into something sexy. She then grabbed her wand and used it to create a lighting scheme that would put Harry in the mood.
Ginny sprawled out on the bed in what she thought was a seductive pose, lying on her stomach with her rump slightly elevated and her head propped up by her elbow.
At that moment, Harry came into the bedroom, ignoring his wife. He went to the dresser to grab his pajamas and then disappeared into the bathroom.
When he came out a few minutes later, Ginny was still in that silly pose.
"Gin, isn't it a little dark in here?" Harry asked as he sat on his side of the bed, grabbing a book off the nightstand.
"Did you do something to the lighting?"
"Hey sexy wizard," Ginny pouted. "Why don't come here and give your wife a kiss?"
"A kiss?" Harry asked, incredulous. "A couple of hours ago, we were yelling at each other and now you want a kiss?"
"Well, I want to apologize for my behavior. Why don't we kiss and make up?"
"Ginny, I accept your apology but I'm not in the mood right now. I wanted to read the next chapter of my book, which I can't do with this lighting, and then go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow with Lily and I want to be sure I'm awake for it."
Ginny wasn't about to be deterred. She got up from her pose and sat behind Harry and started to rub his shoulders.
"Ooh, your tense. Let me relax you a little."
"Gin, could you stop, please?" Harry flinched at her touch, his voice irritated. "I told you I'm not in the mood."
Ginny stopped massaging Harry's shoulders and got off the bed. She grabbed her wand and pointed it at the lights, returning them to their normal wattage.
"Fine! Read your stupid book, I'm going to sleep in the guest room!"
Ginny slammed the door and ran across the hall to the guest room. She flopped onto the single bed, tears of anger and frustration in her eyes. There was no denying it, her marriage was falling apart, just like Ron and Hermione's had. She wondered if Harry knew it, too. There was only one way to find out.
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The following day, Harry and Ginny did not speak of what occurred the night before. This was Lily's day and they put aside their differences so their daughter could enjoy her first Quidditch game.
The Potters sat with Ginny's old teammates; most were now married with kids themselves. Lily was having a ball, making new friends and telling them all about her new broomstick. Ginny also enjoyed catching up with her friends as they watched the game. Harry mostly smiled and nodded as Ginny talked.
During the middle of the game, the commentator made an announcement.
"We have some special guests with us today. We have some former Holyhead Harpies in the stands with us, including former MVP and Chaser, Ginny Weasley Potter. She is accompanied by her husband, the great Wizarding hero, Harry Potter and their beautiful daughter, and future Harpie, Lily Potter."
Embarrassed by the attention, Harry waved at the crowd sheepishly while Ginny and Lily stood up and took in the adoration of the crowd.
"What a perfect family!" The commentator gushed.
"Yeah, perfect family." Harry muttered under his breath, while Ginny turned and gave him a sad look.
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Later that afternoon, the family walked home from the game. Ginny was disappointed as the Harpies had lost, but Lily didn't seem to care as she excitedly showing her dad all of the autographs she had gotten, from both teams.
"Harry, I spoke with my teammates, there is still room at the brunch if you'd like to come. Most of the Harpies are bringing their husbands, so you won't be bored by a bunch of girl talk."
"No thanks, Gin. I already have plans for tomorrow."
"Plans? With whom?" Ginny asked innocently.
"Um, just myself. I'm going to take my Firebolt out and go flying."
"Flying, really?" Ginny raised her eyebrows. "You never do that anymore."
"Well, you bought me that broom for Christmas and I'd like to use it." Harry shrugged.
They didn't say anything else as they headed home. Harry felt a twinge of guilt for not mentioning that he was going flying with Hermione but he had a feeling that her name would just cause another argument.
Meanwhile, Ginny knew that Harry was lying about his plans, after witnessing the goodbye between Hermione and her husband last night. In her mind, this confirmed that Harry was having an affair with his best friend and that their marriage was ending.
TBC
A/N: I some of you are sick of Ginny, but I wanted to spend a little time inside her head. Things will come to a head soon, as you might've guessed.
Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate all of the feedback!
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