PhoenixSong.net :: A Harry/Ginny Fanfic and Fanart Archive

Author: legobean

Story: Harry Potter and the Toll of Destiny

Part: 15: Christmas at the Burrow.

Rating: Teens

Status: WIP

Reviews: 24

Words: 11,120

Updated: October 31, 2007, 1:46pm

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15: Christmas at the Burrow.

Harry woke up seconds before he felt the impact of George landing on him.

"Harry, wake up. Presents!"

"Are there any Weasleys that don't go daft over presents?" Harry asked, tangled beneath the limbs of the much heavier man.

"Percy was never very excited about presents, and you are staying in his room. Have you been possessed by the spirit of Percy past?"

"Percy isn't dead," Harry pointed out.

"Pity," George said dryly.

"Now, now, you don't mean that," Harry admonished.

"You know sometimes I think I just might," George admitted. "He's been a right git most of his life. I used to think he would grow out of it, but I don't think so now. I think he will always be a git. Frankly, I'm tired of it."

Harry groaned as George finally rolled off of him. "So what did you and Ginny get up to last night?"

"You don't want to know."

"You're right, probably not, but judging by the love bite on your neck, it wasn't as innocent as you made it out to be," George snickered.

"I have a mark on my neck?" Harry sputtered in horror.

"Afraid so. Mum's going to have a very Merry Christmas," George chided with a wide grin.

"I'll take care of it."

"You can't hide it! That would be like stealing Christmas from Mum. She's been waiting for the two of you to get back together ever since you broke up. You have no idea the disappointment she felt when she found out the two of you had been an item, and she'd missed it. I thought I might have to get married just to get her over it. I dodged a bullet there, I'll tell you."

"Oh, stop exaggerating." Harry glared at George.

"Seriously, she's been waiting years and years for her two favorite children to start a relationship, get married, and make her grandkids with wild black hair. It's her fondest dream. Well that, and Fred and I getting respectable jobs."

"Don't be daft; she loves all of her own kids more than me. I do appreciate that she likes me though. I like it when she fusses over me."

"No, really? We never noticed. Seriously though, you do know that you and Ginny are her favorites, right?"

"First of all, your parents don't play favorites. Secondly, why would I be one of their favorites? I'm nothing but trouble."

"You must have failed Weasley orientation," George said sadly, shaking his head and finally standing up, much to Harry's relief. "There's a defined pecking order for favorite status. It's been nice not being on the bottom the last few years, but when Hermione moved in, it did push us down toward the bottom a bit, just for a while mind."

"Explain, please."

"Your status on the favorite list is determined by how much fussing Mum does over you, how much you can get away with without punishment, and how likely Dad is to report something you did to Mum. The members constantly move up and down, except that you and Ginny have been dominating the top of the list since the whole Chamber of Secrets thing. It's Ginny, then you, then Bill, Hermione, Fleur, Ron, Fred, then me, then Percy. Percy dominated the favorites before you came along. Why do you think he was so against including you in the family?" George asked. "Never made a bit a difference to me and Fred. We've long since been entrenched on the naughty end of the list. That's where we like it."

"He doesn't like me because your parents do?" Harry asked, flabbergasted.

"Yep. Always have, since the moment you showed up here looking all sickly and weak. It's a good racket, and you play it like a fine musician. You do a heroic deed now and again and then show up all weak and in need of mothering. Mum loves that."

Harry shook his head. "You're having me on." Just then Ron and Hermione came by and poked their heads through the door.

"Wake up, Harry! Presents!" Ron shouted.

"Happy Christmas, Harry and George," Hermione added.

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," they answered in unison.

"You know, you'd make an excellent Weasley twin," George commented to Harry.

"Wicked love bite, Harry." Ron gave Harry a smirk as Harry whipped around.

"All right, I need a mirror before the whole world sees this. Is the coast clear?"

"Do we need to give you two a chaperone in the future?" Ron sniggered.

"Do you really want to watch me get a love bite from your sister?" Harry replied with his eyebrows raised.

"Eurgh, no, that's disgusting," Ron paled, and George cackled in hysterics.

"Turn around, Hermione, and let me know when I can get to bathroom without anybody else commenting on my neck." Once Hermione turned, Harry pulled on a white t-shirt and trousers.

"I think you're clear," Hermione answered.

Harry pushed past them and into the bathroom. Sure enough, he had dark purple spot on his skin just beneath his jaw. He would have to be more careful the next time Ginny was feeling amorous.

Harry made his way downstairs, and the whole family was still dressed in night clothes except for Harry. He was the last one to sit down at the table, but somehow a chair had been left at the table next to Ginny. Harry made his way to it without making eye contact with the rather disheveled looking redhead. Her lips were slightly swollen, and her hair was tangled. She looked slightly flushed. In short, she looked amazing and Harry was having trouble concentrating as he started putting food on his plate. Almost imperceivably slowly Ginny shifted on her chair until her thigh was resting firmly against his and their shoulders were touching. The contact felt good and was very reassuring. Harry had been concerned that she might regret their activities the night before. He ate at his normal pace as the children, Ron and George cajoled him and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to hurry up. However Ginny's hand found its way down to rest casually on his leg, and his pace of eating slowed even further, to the consternation of the children.

"Come on, Uncle Harry, we want to open presents," Chantelle begged him.

He felt a severe tug on his heartstrings and pushed his plate away. "I'm done," he announced.

The table erupted, half with cheers from George, Ron, and the kids and half with laughter from everyone else. The kids rushed into the sitting room and began distributing presents. Ginny held Harry back by gently grasping his arm. When the last of the other adults had entered the sitting room Ginny leaned into Harry and whispered very quietly, "I am jealous. She has you wrapped around her little finger. That's my job." She then nipped him ever so lightly on the ear. "By the way, where's my love bite? I put a lot of effort into that."

"You did it on purpose?"

Ginny have him her most innocent look. "Of course. I had to mark my territory, otherwise how would people know you're mine?" She grinned wickedly.

"Harry, Ginny, get in here and take your seats so we can get started," Ron yelled.

Ginny sighed. "I already got almost everything I wanted, can't we just go curl up together in my bed? Then Christmas will be perfect."

"Stop teasing me," Harry growled.

Ginny blinked innocently at him. "I'm not teasing."

Harry growled and swatted her playfully. "Get in there, and behave yourself."

Ginny's eyebrows squished together, and her mouth made a disappointed O.

They walked into the sitting room and Chantelle immediately called out, "I saved you a spot by me, Uncle Harry." Fleur gave Harry a knowing look. Ginny rolled her eyes as Harry walked over and sat next to the young girl.

Ginny sat down on the couch next to George who leaned over and stage whispered, "I thought he was immune to Veela charm?"

Ginny just sighed a bit, as Harry and James started delivering her packages to her.

The family started opening packages in a controlled free–for-all. There were too many people for much organization, so the parents attempted to keep track of who had given what to each of their children. Harry tried to determine which packages were ones that Ginny had helped him give to people. Harry and James both shouted ecstatically when they opened their gift from him and found a plaque that you could hang on your wall. When they shouted out the name of any legal Quidditch maneuver, it would show an example of proper technique. They took turns calling out Wronski Feint over and over, and watching the little man in the plaque sliding back on his broom and pulling up, as the opposing Seeker ploughed into the ground behind him.

One by one, the three blonde Weasley girls came up to him and each handed him a small scroll. The first was from Jo, and she had drawn a depiction of Harry killing the Basilisk and rescuing Aunt Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets. The second picture was from Chantelle, and it was a picture depicting him rescuing Aunt Gabrielle from the bottom of Hogwarts's Lake. The third picture confused him immensely, and he called Juliet over to ask her what it was.

"That's you rescuing Aunt Ginny from Uncle Percy and the bad blonde man," she explained.

"Uncle Percy would never hurt your aunt. You realize this never happened, right?"

She sighed heavily. "I see it in my dreams all the time."

"Thank you for the picture, but I hope you don't dream about this anymore." Harry smiled in encouragement.

She nodded at him.

Harry then started in on his own pile of gifts. He got a book from Hermione on dealing with traumatic memories. He got a bottle of never-empty Firewhisky from Ron that always contained exactly twelve shots and then took a full day to refill. It had a note with it that said it was for those days when Hermione was hard on him. Fred and George gave him a one week, all-expenses-included stay at one of their resorts on the Mediterranean for him and a guest, as long as the guest was their sister. He shot George a smile of thanks when George winked at him. Mr. Weasley had got him a Muggle record of the Beatles' album, A Hard Day's Night, which Mr. Weasley assured him was quite popular, but since Harry had no way of listening to the LP he wasn't sure what to do with it. Mrs. Weasley had knitted him a green jumper with tiny broomsticks stitched into it. He put it on over his t-shirt. For the first time since he'd been back, the jumper made him want to see if he could get his possessions back from Grimmauld Place. All his Weasley jumpers were in there, and he suddenly wanted them back quite badly. Tonks had sent him a book on impossible feats of magic performed by everyday wizards. Bill and Fleur had got him a personal Wizard Wireless mini that fit conveniently in his pocket and came with wireless headphones.

He had two packages left, one that he didn't recognize, and one from Ginny. He opened the unmarked one first and inside he found a glass globe containing a spinning ballerina dancer and a note.

Harry,

I know this gift probably finds you unexpectedly as I am not supposed to know that you have been located. However, I managed to dig the information out of Fleur, so please do not be angry with her. I kind of guessed, and I would not let it go. I threatened to show up and investigate myself, before Fleur finally swore me to secrecy and admitted that you had returned. I had to say that I was most distressed that she did not tell me outright.

You said we could be friends, yet I have not heard from you since the day of Bill and Fleur's wedding. Fleur tells me that you do not remember this incident, but she won't tell me why. I fear I may have made a bit of a fool of myself. I'm grateful at least to possibly get an attempt to make a better impression upon you. I was still young, and I didn't yet understand how unlike other men you were. If you do eventually remember the wedding, please accept my apologies for embarrassing you. I'm not sorry for how I felt, but I'm very sorry that it made you feel uncomfortable. I hope that next time we meet you will feel more at ease with me. It's not my intention or my desire to make you feel uncomfortable, quite the opposite.

I would appreciate it if you would allow me to come and visit you and allow me to thank you properly. If you do not remember Fleur's wedding then you probably do not remember why exactly your rescue of me affected me so deeply. It did. Please accept this gift as a down payment on the larger thank you that I owe you.

The gift is a figurine that is modeled, somewhat embarrassingly, after me. If you tap the top of the globe with your wand I will dance for you, please do so now as it will attune the globe to your magic, and be sure that only you can use it, then continue reading the note.

Harry took his wand and tapped the globe. The dancer inside immediately began to dance to a beautiful melody, but Harry found the music slightly uncomfortable for some reason. Then he realized every eye in the room was focused on him.

"Zut!" Fleur shouted. She proceeded to give a small diatribe in French that nobody could understand. Harry noticed that Ron and George's eyes had glazed over, but everyone else seemed fine. "'Arry, could I speak with you privately please?"

"Uh, okay," Harry replied, wondering what Fleur was upset about.

"Bring zat with you."

Harry and Fleur made a hasty exit from the room, and he followed her up the stairs. They entered the room that she and Bill were staying in, and she slammed the door behind her and put up a charm to keep them from being overheard. "I am so sorry. I told Gabrielle zat you were 'ere."

"I know, she explained it in her note." Harry held up the note, as if to show the evidence.

"I alzo told 'er not to send you zat," she said pointing to the globe in Harry's hand. "She 'as been trying to send one to you since she was still a child. I thought by now she would know better."

"Why? What's wrong with it? I never finished the note," Harry asked.

"Finish it and then I will explain," Fleur answered.

Harry put the globe down and continued reading.

I hope you like the gift. It was important to me to give it to you. It will lift your spirits when you are depressed, it will heal you when you are hurt or ill, and it will make you feel wanted when you are lonely.

Happy Christmas, Harry. I hope to see you soon.

Love always,
Gabrielle

He put the note down. "What does it do?"

"It eez Veela magic. She 'as contained a piece of her magic in a representation of 'erself. Ze dancer is actually a very good representation of Gabrielle." Harry studied the little dancer carefully. "When you activate it, it will use Gabrielle's Veela charm to give you the benefits one usually feels from a Veela mate." Harry frowned and Fleur's tone softened. "It's nothing bad, 'Arry. It's actually an incredible gift. Ze kind of thing a Veela usually only gives her mate."

"Why would she give it to me? She barely knows me," Harry asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Gabrielle was quite taken with you, when you rescued 'er. She wanted very much to stay at 'ogwarts and try and get to know you, but we convinced her that you were not ready, and zat she needed to finish developing. She tried to enchant you at our wedding, even after I asked her not to." Fleur huffed. "Of course I tried to tell her zat you are unresponsive to Veela charm, but she zought zat we were lying to keep you from 'er. She was only eleven and she did not understand. She likes you very much 'Arry."

"She doesn't even know me!" Harry insisted.

Fleur sighed again. "I am going to tell you zome things about Veela, but I ask zat you not repeat zem."

Harry nodded, although Fleur was not waiting for his confirmation before she continued, she was just asking him in faith. "'ave you ever noticed zat I do not touch very many people?"

Harry blushed. "You have touched me quite a bit, way more than most people touch me."

"You, yes, Ron and Arthur occasionally. But with most men, and even a lot of women, eet is hard with zem."

"Why?"

"Eet is not widely known, but Veela are slightly empathic. When I make contact with someone's skin, I can feel what zey are thinking. The longer I stay in contact with zem, ze more I learn. If I were to hold hands with you for five minutes, I would know what you thought about me, your intentions toward me, what kind of person you were, and what your aspirations are. Ze more intimate ze contact, ze more you can tell. Eet is why Veela are so sought after as lovers. When I touch most people I feel usually only the basest thoughts for me. Sometimes if I must touch an evil person, zey can make me sick quite quickly."

"That doesn't explain why you don't mind touching me." Harry peered at her quizzically.

She flashed him an absolutely dazzling smile and walked over to him and hugged him. She pulled back and held his cheek. "You see me only as an equal. I could touch you like zis for a life time and feel friendship, and never lust, or greed, or evil. Eet is one of the many reasons I love you." Harry shuddered in horror a bit, and Fleur laughed loudly. "I do not love you like I love my 'usband, but I do love you, and there eez no one on this Earth that I trust more than you." She said this last bit while still holding his cheek and staring deeply into his eyes. "Nobody I have ever held, 'as felt the way you do. You are zo beautiful."

Harry blushed and looked away from her. "I think you may have misjudged me."

She removed her hand from his cheek. "I did once. Eet will not 'appen again." She looked at him almost sadly. "I believed what I had read about you and what others said about you. Up until the second task I thought what people said about you waz true. I'm sorry, eet was unfair and I will never question your intentions or nobility again."

Harry shrugged. "It's okay. Everybody believes that stuff."

"Eet is not okay! It's 'orrible. I 'ate it. Zose people who think ze know you." Fleur was clearly on the verge of tears now. "Zey know nothing." She stiffened as she clenched her jaw and trembled slightly, before shaking her head. "Ah, but we are off track."

She turned away from him for a moment as she composed herself. When she turned around she was her normal self again, and her smile was back in place.

"You held Gabrielle for several minutes as you brought her to shore. She is a much more sensitive empath than I am, and she felt you zat day. Feeling you like zat, almost intimately, Gabrielle learned more about you than most people probably ever know. Gabrielle finds herself very attracted to you. She wants a chance to see if you will feel the same about her. Veela become …we'll say romantically aware, when zey are much younger than wizards. I was … I'd guess you'd say mature at thirteen. Eet was a challenge going to school with boyz my own age. I wish I 'ad someone like you wiz me. For Gabrielle it was different, she was not interested in boyz. By the time she waz eleven, she knew what love felt like. In many ways eet made her life easier, in others, it 'as been difficult."

At Harry's shocked expression, she continued, "She made a clumsy attempt to woo you during my wedding. Maman and Papa took her back with zem. She was not happy, but we explained that ze war was on, and you could be distracted. She wanted to fight with you, but she did not know how." Fleur ran her fingers across the side of his face and through his hair.

"I know you have feelings for Ginny. I 'ave explained to Gabrielle that Veela or not, she will not influence you. Zat if she wants you she will 'ave to win your 'eart the 'ard way. She is determined to 'ave a chance. I will not to tell you what to do, but please be careful, you 'ave the power to break her 'eart."

Fleur hugged him agan. "We need to get back downstairs. Keep the gift, eet would be an incredible insult for you to refuse it, and eet will not 'arm you. But, I would not advertise eets effects, many men would try and steal eet from you, even if eet will not work for zem. "

Harry nodded resolutely. "Thank you for explaining things to me, I will do my best not break her heart. But I'm not interested in having a relationship with your sister."

Fleur kissed him gently on the cheek. "You are a wonderful man, 'Arry. Eet is my very great pleasure to be your friend."

Harry smiled back at her. "Always."

Harry stored the globe in his room before he headed downstairs. They made their way back into the living room to find that the Christmas presents had all been opened, except for the remainder of Harry and Fleur's.

He had saved his package from Ginny for last, and as he went to open it she cleared her throat. Harry glanced at her and she shook her head. He put the present inside one of the other boxes and Banished them back under the tree.

With a wave of his wand, Arthur cleaned up the wrapping paper and extra boxes. Fleur shot Harry a dazzling smile as she opened the necklace he had given her, which contained the birthstones of each of her three daughters. Ginny stealthily made her way over to him. "What was that all about?" she asked.

"The crystal globe was from Gabrielle, Fleur wanted to apologize for telling Gabrielle that I was here, and to explain the significance of the globe."

"Why did she tell?"

"She didn't. Gabrielle guessed, and she admitted it was true after Gabrielle threatened to just show up here and see if it was the case."

"Oh," Ginny answered. "What's with the gift?"

"I'll tell you later."

After they spent a few minutes with the family exchanging thanks and examining everyone's new gifts, Ginny cornered Harry and whispered, "Grab your gift. Let's go upstairs and you can open it."

***

Ginny was nervous as she closed the door to her room. After the latch clicked she grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him closer. She held the contact and looked up at him expectantly until he kissed her. It was nice, but gentle and without the wild passion of the kisses they had shared the night before. She still felt deliriously happy from her beautiful letter, and the intimacy they had shared after. Her head hadn't swum like this since her time with Harry at Hogwarts. This morning at breakfast it had been an unbelievable strain not to kiss him, or hold his hand. Harry pulled back much too soon, but she supposed that they only had limited time to do this, and she wanted him to open his gift.

"So…why did you get a ballerina dancer for Christmas?"

"It's a gift from Gabrielle, and it contains part of her magic."

"Oh that's nice." She didn't really understand what the big deal was. Why didn't Harry want people to know that?

"It means it contains some Veela charm. It gives you some of the effects a Veela can provide when she is charming you. It's… an intimate gift."

"Oh." Concern crossed her face. "So does this mean you're interested?"

Harry laughed. "I don't even know her. I only met her once when she was eight."

"Actually she was at Bill and Fleur's wedding, and she made quite a show of trying to woo you. If we had still been going out, she would have regretted it," Ginny said bitterly.

"Jealous, are we?" Harry teased.

"Extremely. Some things I'm not willing to share."

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in her."

"Good," Ginny replied dropping the subject. "Open your present."

Harry grinned and sat down on her bed. He carefully undid the sticking charms she had used on the paper.

"Just tear it open."

"No, you wrapped it for me."

The anticipation was driving her crazy; she needed to know how he was going to react. She watched as he finished removing her sticking charms and flattened the paper. He opened the box and pulled out a small glass ball with a needle in it. The needle was pointing directly at her.

"What is it?"

"It's a compass."

"But it isn't pointing North."

"It isn't supposed to point North. I'll give you a hint." Ginny walked to stand on the other side of him, and the needle followed her as she moved.

"It points at you?" Harry asked, shocked.

"Wherever I am on Earth the needle is pointed directly at me." Ginny nodded.

"This is amazing. Thank you." He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a slight hug. She accepted the hug, but then pulled back quickly.

"There's more."

Harry moved the paper in the box and pulled out a second orb. The needle was pointing straight up, and it did not move when Harry turned it. "What does this one do?"

"The same thing, but it hasn't been tuned to anybody yet."

"Who's it for?"

Ginny sighed, it was time to get this over with. "I want to set it to follow you, so that I can keep it."

"Oh." Harry looked apprehensive.

"I don't want to invade your privacy, Harry, and I promise I wouldn't abuse it. But, if you disappear again, I don't want to not be able to find you. I was worried sick about you--for years. I can't take that again." Ginny struggled to contain her emotions as she silently remembered how her stomach felt for the first several years that Harry was missing. She'd been so worried she'd been making herself ill, and it had taken a strong regiment of potions to finally break the hold it had on her body. As Harry came to hold her, she melted into his arms.

"It's okay, I'm not going anywhere," he cooed as he held her. She clung to him like a drowning woman clings to a life preserver. "Of course, I'll do it. I have no desire to hurt you ever again. If I'm lost, I want you to find me. How do I tune it to me?" Harry asked.

Ginny snuggled tightly to Harry for another moment, reluctant to let him go. She finally released him and sniffed just a bit. "It requires a drop of your blood."

"Okay, do you have a pin?"

Ginny nodded. She fished a pin out of her desk, and tapped it with her wand and muttered, "Sterilous," and then she handed the pin to Harry. He pricked his finger, and squeezed a drop of blood onto the glass orb. When the crimson liquid touched the ball it glowed red and the white, and the needle moved so that it was pointed directly at Harry.

"Give me your finger." Harry gave Ginny his hand and she waved her wand and tapped his finger while saying, "Episky."

There was a flash and Harry's finger stopped bleeding. Ginny brought his finger up to her mouth slowly and kissed it tenderly. Her lips lingered on his finger, and she grabbed his robes. She was filled with the need to make him understand what this meant to her. She put her hands behind his head and started to pull his to hers when there was an eruption of loud voices from downstairs. Ginny ignored it and continued to pull Harry's head towards her own, trying to express with her eyes how much she needed his mouth on hers. But the moment was gone; Harry was listening to the harsh voices. Ginny opened the door so that they could make out what people were saying. One of these days, she was going to teach Harry about moments, and how to properly have one in private.

"Well that last time I checked I was welcome in my family home on Christmas!" The pompous voice of her most annoying brother echoed up the stairs.

"Maybe you should check in more often? I could have let you know," the voice of a clearly enraged George answered.

"George, please. Percy, normally we would love to have you home, but we have guests coming this evening, and it isn't a good time," her Mum's voice came up the stairs.

"But it's Christmas."

"I know, Percival, but you weren't expected and we haven't planned for you to be here for dinner."

"There isn't enough extra for one more person?"

Ginny snickered at the prospect that her Mum would only have made enough food for the invited guests.

"It isn't the point, Percy. We have some very sensitive guests coming, and we cannot afford to have unexpected people here," her Mum argued.

"Who?"

"Who isn't the point, Percy. We would be happy to have you come over for dinner, some night this week, just give us a Floo call, and we will set something up."

"This is outrageous! How can you treat your own son this way on Christmas?"

"Would you like me to show Percy exactly where the exit is, Mum?"

"Stop it, George. Percy, you have made your feelings about the family quite clear over the last ten years. Frankly, I am surprised you even came today. I haven't heard a word from you in over a year," her mum replied. "If you are interested in reconciling with the family, nothing would make me happier, but usually your visits are filled with arguments and strife, and I can't afford that today. I'll give you a call tomorrow, and we can have you over soon. We would love to have you over properly. You're looking thin, are you getting enough to eat?"

Ginny's heart swelled at her Mum's words. Percy had been terrible to Harry most of the time he had known him, and he had been dreadfully obnoxious after Harry had disappeared, constantly stating theories that either he was dead or on the run from the law. The strain in her mother's voice tempered her happiness a bit. She knew how very much her mother desired having the whole family back together again.

"Don't bother, Mother. I shan't be returning."

She heard the back door of the Burrow slam, signifying Percy's departure. There was a general competition to see who could come up with the nastiest insult for Percy, and oddly, neither her mother or father attempted to stop it.

When she turned to tug Harry back towards her room, she saw the disconsolate expression on his face. Her flush rose immediately and she whispered as quietly as she could, considering her anger, "Harry, that was not your fault; do not blame yourself for it."

"How can you say that? Of course it's my fault."

Ginny wanted to groan, but she didn't want to let her family know they had been eavesdropping. She started tugging him back towards her room, but her mother's voice called out, "Ginny, I need your help in the kitchen please."

This time she did groan. All she wanted to do was take Harry back to her room and make him forget about Percy. Hermione or Fleur could help her mum in the kitchen just as well. Heck, even Ron was pretty good in the kitchen, if he wasn't pretending to be an imbecile, but her mum didn't like to cook with any of them. She hesitated on the landing and whispered, "It's not your fault. If you're good and don't brood or blame yourself, I'll reward you later." She winked at him.

Harry smiled in spite of the pain in his eyes, and she pecked him on the mouth, before she turned and went downstairs.

***

Harry spent the afternoon playing with Ron and the five children. They played a bunch of board games that Harry had never experienced during his own childhood. He soon became a favorite target for the kids to gang up on, since he didn't know the strategies and was a good sport when they beat him. He couldn't remember having more fun sitting on the floor playing games, even if he failed to win any of them. At two o'clock, it was time for Chantelle to go take a nap. She protested vehemently that she didn't need a nap until Fleur suggested that Harry would put her down, and her protests stopped immediately.

As Harry tucked her in, she smiled at him. When he started to leave she asked him a question. "Why haven't you come to Christmas before, Uncle Harry?"

"I have been out of touch with your family for the last few years."

"Why? Mummy and Daddy say you are part of our family."

Harry smiled at the young girl. "You have a very wonderful and giving family, and they have treated me like family since I was just a young boy. I had some problems I needed to take care of."

"Well, thanks for coming this year. I like you; you're nice," Chantelle assured him.

"Well, thank you." Harry felt himself blush at her innocent compliment.

Chantelle beamed at him. "Don't have fun without me. I'll be a big girl soon, and I won't have to take naps anymore."

"I wouldn't dream of leaving you out. Go to sleep quickly, and you will be up all that much sooner."

"Thanks, Uncle Harry."

Harry turned out the light and closed the door. He walked back down stairs, and Fleur stopped him as he walked through the kitchen. She was setting the table while Ginny peeled vegetables.

"Zank you, Arry. She hates taking naps, but she is quite taken with you. I might have to enlist you as a full time nanny." Fleur gave him a smile.

Harry smiled wickedly. "She thinks I'm nice."

"She's right," Ginny called from the sink. "You are nice, and handsome, too."

Harry stared at the floor as Fleur giggled at him. "Yes, I agree, quite nice, and 'andsome."

Harry could feel his cheeks start to burn as he made his way over to Ginny. "Can I help?"

"Sure. Do you want to peel carrots, potatoes, or make the salad?" Ginny asked.

"All of them."

"You don't want me to help?"

"I want you to enjoy your afternoon."

Despite his assurances that he could take care of it, Ginny worked beside him in the kitchen as they got the vegetables ready. It was pleasant working beside her and the constant accidental bumps and nudges made the job fun.

"Ginny, did you finish the salad? I don't want to run out of time with the Minister coming," Molly asked.

"Harry helped. It's all finished, Mum."

"Oh, Harry, you didn't have to do that," Molly admonished.

He heard a disgruntled noise from Ginny beside him. "It's really okay, Mrs. Weasley. I don't mind helping, especially if it means people get to spend more time doing what they want."

"But Ginny enjoys cooking," Molly explained.

Harry smiled. "I know she does, but she enjoys playing with her nieces and nephews even more."

Molly looked at him disapprovingly, but she dropped the subject. Ginny mouthed a silent thank you to Harry as she went and sat on the couch. She absently patted the spot next to her without looking at Harry. He made his way over and sat down next to her, but as soon as he sat down, Harry and James asked him to play Exploding Snap. "Sorry, I promised Chantelle I wouldn't have any fun without her."

Ginny snorted, and several smiles broke out around the room. Bill shook his head and asked his wife, "You're sure her Veela powers aren't developing early?"

There was general snickering around the room as Harry shook his head. "Oh sure, I'm supposed to be nice, but when I am then you think I'm enchanted."

"Eet's not because she is a Veela. She eez my daughter. She does not need Veela charm to wrap 'Arry around her finger." Fleur smirked.

Harry was embarrassed by the family's attention and he decided to make his way out of the living room and go for a walk outside. The weather was cold and cloudy, and it was raining lightly, but Harry didn't really notice. He wandered out into the orchard and sat there in the cold for just a few minutes before he heard footsteps behind him. He expected Ginny, but it was Hermione who was trudging through the orchard. She had walked by him and was walking away again when Harry called out to her, and she returned to him.

"There you are. You're going to make yourself sick if you stay out here," Hermione admonished.

"I doubt it," Harry responded.

"It isn't good for you to get this cold. It depresses your immune system."

"Hermione, I'm twenty-six, and I've never even had the sniffles. I think I'll be fine."

"You've never got sick?"

"No."

"Even when you were a kid?"

"No."

"Have you ever had dragon pox?"

"Hermione!"

"Sorry. Everybody gets sick once and a while, even wizards."

Harry just shrugged.

"So what's wrong? Did things with Ginny get away from you? Are you avoiding her?" Hermione asked.

"No," Harry replied in shock. "Things with Ginny are fine, better than ever. Why would you even ask that?"

"Well," Hermione twisted her fingers in front of her. "I know you're both adults, but don't you think things are going a bit fast?" Hermione's face fell as she looked at Harry's expression. "Look, I'm not trying to come between you, but don't you think you should be careful?"

"I am being careful, nothing happened, okay? We kissed a little, she got a little carried away on my neck. It's not like we shagged the night away!"

"Harry, I wasn't insinuating…"

"Yes, you were and you know you were. She was just happy, I wouldn't take advantage of her like that."

"Harry…" Hermione said quietly. "I don't think you'd hurt Ginny. And I don't think anything that's happening between you is you taking advantage of her, okay? I think she's probably inclined to push …"

"We're fine Hermione," Harry interrupted.

Hermione look torn. "Right, well then why are you out here in the cold?"

"I just feel out of place in there. Dealing with everybody at once is a little much. I used to love being around all the Weasleys, but it's awkward now. It's like they are forcing it. They used to let me be a background character. I was there, but they weren't all focused on me. They didn't insist on things like me being called Uncle Harry. They were always sort of indifferent to the attention I attracted; it seems like something has changed."

"Thing have changed. They got used to thinking of you as family. I don't think you fully understand. You aren't Ron's friend Harry anymore. You're just one of the family, especially to Ron, Bill and the twins, they're just excited." Hermione took a deep breath. "It's been a strain on the family ever since you disappeared. They are excited you are home, but more than that …they're relieved. I think for them…the war finally ended, and they're playful and in a mood to celebrate." She paused. "You're wrong though, they did make a big deal about changing how you interacted with the family before you disappeared. You just don't remember it that much. You told me once about how odd Bill and Charlie were being, insisting that you were included in things. I think you never really under the message; they were trying to let you know…you're part of this family. I know Bill gave me the same speech shortly after the war ended, that you said he gave you.

"The Uncle Harry thing is different. Chantelle has always been abnormally shy, doubly so being she's a Weasley. They have been worried about her, because she generally doesn't talk much, and she has trouble interacting with other children her age. But since you showed up that first night a little over a month ago, she's really started to come out of her shell. She talks about you constantly. She thinks you're the greatest thing ever. Bill and Fleur are encouraging that, because you're the only one who has ever reached her. Fleur was crying when we took the kids upstairs to bed last night after watching you and Chantelle. She was so animated and happy and talkative. Chantelle hasn't been shy with you at all, and she crawled into your lap and fell asleep immediately. She's never even let me hold her since she's got big enough to protest."

Harry felt distinctly uncomfortable.

"Don't give me that look. You don't have to do anything special, just be her friend. Just be nice and indulge her a little bit, like you already have been. If you decide you really want to help, offer to spend some time with her. Everybody thought your comment about you not having fun without her was funny, because a couple months ago she never would have been playing with the older kids in the first place. Now she doesn't want people excluding her. It's a big step," Hermione finished.

"Well, thanks for telling me. I like Chantelle, and she doesn't bother me, I just feel it's kind of disrespectful to her real uncles for her to use the title on me."

Hermione sighed. "Nobody feels that way. Fleur doesn't have any living brothers, and I don't have any brothers. The Weasley boys all think of you as a brother. It would mean a lot to my boys to think of you as an uncle. As long as it doesn't make you too uncomfortable, it would mean a lot to me if you would just accept it. I'm kind of hoping you end up there anyway, even if you don't want the title right now."

Harry squirmed. "They can call me uncle. Does that mean I have to baby-sit?"

"Not unless you want to. I think we're going to take it slow with my boys anyway. They can be a bit much, and they need to get to know you beyond what they hear at school and from their friends."

"What do they hear? The same old garbage?" Harry sighed.

"Well, so far, they hear mostly rumors about you. Some true, some not. We haven't told them very much about you, just that we were friends with you and that you were a really terrific person. We answer the questions they hear from their friends and cousins as accurately as we can, but they still get the wrong impression sometimes.

"I need to go back in, Harry. I'm cold. And you need to come with me."

Harry sighed again. "Okay."

"Harry, quit looking like Voldemort's waiting in the living room. You've wanted this your whole life. This is family. We fight, we joke around, but most importantly, we love each other. The Minister will be here soon, and everyone should be getting changed by now. I brought you some more formal robes for dinner, but you need to stay out of sight until after we talk to the Minister for a bit first. It would be quite a shock for him to walk in and just see you sitting there. We need to get him to leave his security personnel outside. Katie's been working on that part, but I don't know how successful she is going to be."

***

Harry was trying not to pace. The Minister was late, but it wouldn't do for his security personnel to hear someone walking around upstairs when all the occupants were supposedly downstairs. He was nervous. As a general rule he didn't like meeting new people. It was almost always uncomfortable. He had technically met Minister Bell once, before he had become Minister. Katie had an incident when she was in school at Hogwarts where she had touched a cursed necklace intended for Dumbledore. They had insisted on meeting Harry and thanking him for saving their daughter's life with his quick thinking. It had been a scary incident, and it had changed his friendship with Katie completely. They were still friends after the incident, but he had been forced to add Katie to the list of people that felt they owed Harry their lives.

It was a list that Harry hated. He hated it because each incident gave him attention he did not want, and the people on it all felt some compulsion to try and help Harry reach the end of his fight with Voldemort. They would do almost any foolish thing to try and bring it about. He also hated it because once he saved their lives, he felt even more responsible for keeping them alive. Why save a perfectly good life just to have it snuffed out shortly in the future? He hated the list almost as much as he hated the other list, the list of people whose deaths he felt he was personally responsible for. The thing he hated most was that the second list always grew faster than the first.

It wasn't a real list, of course; he had never exactly committed the names to parchment. The list was in his head, where it could stretch on endlessly. Some of the names on the second list were only faces or first names. People he had met only a few hours before their deaths. It was a brutally guilty business being the world's biggest bounty hunter. The memories he'd been watching with Hermione were filled with people joining one list or the other. Harry knew what rejoining the wizarding world meant. It meant the lists would grow. It was a thought that made him sick to his stomach. He couldn't remember the last time he had added a name, but sometimes it seemed it was only a matter of meeting someone and then the countdown to their name being added began. He always hoped that when the time came, he would manage to get them on the first list; the second one was too hard to think about. Almost everybody currently under the roof was on the first list. It was something he was grateful for, the fact that most of the Weasleys had made it through the war intact.

He had recently got back the memory of the day Fred and George added their names to the first list. Word had come in to Grimmauld Place that Diagon Alley was being raided by Death Eaters. It had been a frantic Floo call, and Harry was out the front door and had Apparated away before anyone could tackle him. Due to security tightening, Anti-Apparation wards had been put over almost all of Diagon Alley. Most people had to Apparate into the Leaky Cauldron and then pass through the doorway. But it was an emergency, and Harry was not inclined to follow rules or good judgment. He had made a lot of noise when he tore through the ward in front of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The smell of sulfur had been quite strong in the memory. The storefront was on fire when Harry arrived. Fred and George were pinned down inside, as the dangerous inventory of the shop began to level the building. They were fighting fiercely, but they were trapped by overwhelming numbers and the Floo was blocked. Escape had been unlikely.

Harry had made an incredible amount of noise when he landed in the street in front of the shop. He had landed without cover, while surrounded by Death Eaters. The Death Eaters were inexperienced and should have retreated, but either they failed to recognize the danger, or they thought they could try and impress Voldemort by bringing him Harry's corpse. Whatever the reason, the fight was short. In minutes, six of them were dead, and the rest were trying to flee. Harry was too busy ripping what was left of the store apart looking for Fred and George to bother trying to capture them. It was late in the war, and Harry was through with trying to take prisoners. Anybody they captured was either back on the street in hours, or poisoned by their Dark Mark if you managed to get any information out of them. You could keep them alive, if you didn't mind cutting off their arms, but the madness caused by the severed connection to their Dark Lord made them equally useless. Interrogation was generally a fruitless endeavor. Harry didn't have the stomach for torturing the wounded for information. Moody would have loved to if he'd been there. If they didn't have a Mark, it was pointless to capture them because they only knew what they had to know. Their minds were generally a jumble as Voldemort's inner circle had a tendency to regularly Obliviate those in their command. Harry didn't have time to worry about the escaping Death Eaters though. He had friends to save, and he let the survivors slink away into the shadows, knowing he would have to fight them again later.

He found Fred and George barricaded inside their office; they had decided to reinforce it as much as possible and try and withstand the blast. It had come as quite a shock to them when the wall had been ripped away. They had fired curses into the smoke and rubble that Harry deflected. They kept fighting blind until Harry's agitated face had appeared in the room and asked them to knock it off so they could get out before the building blew up or collapsed. He had grabbed them both, and soon they were standing outside Grimmauld Place, complaining that that their skin was burned, but they were alive.

Harry was shaken out of his memories by the commotion downstairs. There were loud greetings and laughter. Obviously the Minister had arrived. The voices soon quieted and left him alone with his dark thoughts once more.

Some time later there was a quiet knocking on his door. Ginny peaked inside to find the lights out. She waved her wand to flick the lights up, and she made an exasperated noise as her eyes found Harry. "Damn it, Harry! Have you been sitting up here brooding this whole time?"

"Huh?" Harry said only just becoming cognizant of the fact that he was no longer alone.

"What have you been thinking about up here?" Ginny demanded.

"Nothing," Harry replied listlessly. "Time to meet the Minister?"

"Yes, it is, but I can't let you see him like this." She shook her head, and made a frustrated noise. "What am I going to do with you?"

Harry didn't answer, but he stood up and headed towards the door. Ginny stopped him. "Harry, you can't go down there in this kind of a mood."

She waved her wand at him, performing the strongest Cheering Charm she knew. In a few moments his eyes cleared, and he looked remarkably better. "Feel better?"

"Yes! Thank you, that was wonderful!" Harry smiled broadly. "And you are wonderful! Oh, man, what a glorious Christmas this has been. Shall we go and meet the Minister?"

Ginny nodded. "Try to dial it back just a bit."

"Whatever do you mean, my good lady? It's a wonderful day to be alive!"

"Bugger it all, I hate Cheering people up magically," Ginny grumbled and pushed Harry out the door.

***

"You are a fantastic kisser, did you know?" he asked her as she put both hands on his back and moved him towards the stairs.

She giggled. "Keep that piece of information to yourself, Potter."

"Oh, of course, wouldn't dream of gossiping. Are you enjoying Christmas?" he asked her as they reached the bottom of the steps.

She was, but she didn't bother to answer his innocuous question.

"Ah, Minister Bell, how very nice to see you!" Harry blustered excitedly. "It's been far too long." Harry made his way over to the Minister and shook his hand enthusiastically, as Ginny made her way over to her seat.

Hermione leaned in close to Ginny. "What's wrong with Harry?" she whispered.

"He was upstairs brooding and was all dour and moody. I gave him a Cheering Charm," Ginny whispered back.

"Well, as I live and breathe, Harry Potter," an astonished Minister Bell gasped.

"How've you been?" Harry asked. "Is everything going well at the Ministry?"

Ginny tried to repress a giggle at the look on Minister Bell's face. If Merlin himself had shown up in the Weasley kitchen, he couldn't have looked more surprised.

"Katie said that you had an honored guest that you wanted me to meet, but this is extraordinary."

"Don't make a fuss, Dad." Katie grimaced.

"Arthur, how have you been keeping this little secret under your hat? Where have you been, my boy?" The Minister seemed unable to focus on any one person, as he looked around at all the faces. "Mr. Potter, it is an honor to meet you again. I wish I had known you would be here, I could have arranged a formal ceremony!"

"Oh, no worries, Minister. Plenty of time for pomp and circumstance later. We just wanted to have you over to celebrate with our family. I hear your daughter is getting quite close to my good friend, Fred." Harry grabbed Fred by the shoulder and shook him a bit as if to emphasize the point.

Ginny leaned over to Hermione. "I think I may have overdone it."

"Really, you think?" Hermione whispered back sarcastically.

"What are my two favorite women whispering about?" Harry asked.

"Er, nothing," Ginny answered guiltily.

"Molly, this looks lovely. I can't wait to tuck in. Shall we?"

"Are you feeling all right, Harry?" her mother asked him. Ginny was shocked, she had never heard Harry call her mother by her first name, it sounded almost foreign.

"Never better!" Harry answered happily.

Dinner was a boisterous affair, but mostly because Harry was a nonstop chatter-box, the likes of which Ginny had never seen. She didn't like this Harry. Harry was supposed to be shy and mysterious. He owned every room he walked into, because you could feel his raw power. That was sexy. This was…well, this was Gilderoy Lockhart, her first Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. All bluster, no substance.

Mercifully, dinner did eventually come to an end and after Harry complimented her mum almost to the point of nausea on her treacle tart, the important players in the room retired to the sitting room to discuss 'things.' The fact that Ginny was being left out of the discussion had caused her to turn almost purple with rage, especially considering that Katie and Fred were both in there! She was left at the table with Bill, Fleur, George, her mum and the kids. Her mum ordered her to clear the table and clean the dishes, and Ginny vowed that people would die for this.

***

After a very filling and very pleasant dinner, Harry, the Minister, Katie, Hermione, and a few Weasleys settled into the sitting room. Harry was slightly disappointed when he realized that Ginny was not going to follow them, but he wasn't going to force her to sit through this if she didn't want to. The Cheering Charm she had administered to him was waning, but he was still under its effects. However, as it wore off he was becoming slightly embarrassed at his earlier exuberance. He wasn't sure exactly what he should ask the Minister for, but thankfully Arthur took charge of the meeting.

"Minister, as you can tell we have some extraordinary circumstances at work here. Harry has finally returned to his family, and while we have been singularly pleased to have him home, it will be necessary for him to rejoin public life at some point," Arthur stated authoritatively. The Minister nodded mutely as Arthur continued. "I think that an official statement from the Ministry would do a lot to reduce the rumors surrounding Harry's reappearance. The last thing that any of us wants is the press speculating wildly on Harry's return and where he has been."

"Where has he been then?" The Minister asked.

"Grieving," Arthur answered solemnly. "At this time we are not prepared to expound any further upon his past."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come now, Arthur, if we don't give the press more than that, they will tear Harry and everyone he knows apart trying to get at the truth."

"If I may?" Hermione asked.

"Be my guest," the Minister offered.

"Well, my suggestion would be that you let people know that Harry was staying with monks in a remote monastery while he attempted to heal physically and emotionally from the war. We will simply refuse to give the location of the monastery in order to protect the privacy of the monks, who do not wish contact from the outside world."

There was a general head nodding amongst the crowd as they considered this explanation. It was simple, difficult to refute and easy to deny people more information. If fed to the proper reporters, it might hold up.

"Do you think the press will let it go at that?" the Minister asked.

"No, but I think no matter what we tell them, they will dig for more. It could be far more damaging to everyone to tell them the absolute truth." Hermione shrugged.

"And just what is the absolute truth?" the Minister asked casually.

"Sorry, Minister, but only Harry knows everything, and he won't be doing any exclusive interviews anytime soon," Arthur answered before Harry could say anything.

"You know, once you start lying to the press, you are on a slippery slope. If they find out, they will accuse you of hiding things and attack the character of those involved."

"We're not asking you to lie, Minister; we will do all the talking about Harry's past. As far as you are concerned, you know the same story as everybody else. That's why it was so important for us to leave your bodyguards outside. I trust everyone in this room, they'd do anything for Harry," Arthur explained.

All of the heads in the room nodded.

"He's right, Dad. We will all stand behind Harry, and it's not just us, Harry has friends all over the place. They will follow wherever Harry leads," Katie interjected. She took her father's hand and stared into his eyes. "There is no greater honor than answering a call for help from Harry. It means he trusts you."

The Minister nodded. "Well, Harry, I do hope this means you feel you can trust me. You have done a lot for this country and for my family. I don't know if Katie has told you this," the Minister stopped as Katie looked at him imploringly and shook her head. "Well, then let me just say thank you."

He paused for a moment as Harry nodded his head. "Tell me, have you thought about your personal security?" he asked, keeping his gaze firmly on Harry.

"No, Voldemort is dead, the war is over." Harry spoke for the first time during the meeting.

"Yes, Voldemort is dead, thanks to you. But there are still forces in the wizarding world that might seek to harm you. Not everyone was pleased by the rapid changes that swept through the wizarding population as a result of the end of the war. They might move against you for revenge. There is also the matter of the public at large. You are quite popular with the public, and while I don't think the general public would want to harm you in anyway, their enthusiasm might be a bit overwhelming. The press is going to hound you after your return is announced, and you will need some means to control the paparazzi."

"The paparazzi?" Harry asked.

"It's a Muggle term. It means the celebrity press. They can be rather, er, aggressive."

Harry nodded. "I think I can protect myself, and I have dealt with the public and the press before."

"Harry, this isn't going to be like before. The-Boy-Who-Lived was a children's story and while everyone knew who you were, it wasn't like this. People might mob you when you show up in public," Hermione warned.

Harry pulled a face. "Well, what do you suggest then?"

The Minister rubbed his hands together. "This is where we can help you, Mr. Potter. I suggest a full Ministry security detail. You would have at least two Aurors guarding the perimeter of any building you are in. Personal bodyguards would be with you at all times to ensure your safety. The full detail would encompass six people. There would be two shifts of perimeter guards, one full-time body guard, and a spare to provide days off for the perimeter guards. It's the same detail we give to all sensitive Ministry officials and diplomats."

"Doesn't this seem like a bit much?" Harry asked. "Six full-time Aurors to protect just me? I can fight my own battles, I don't need a whole herd of Aurors following me where I go," he insisted.

"Two points, if I may?" the Minister asked. When Harry nodded his approval he continued. "If you were attacked and something happened, anything really, it would look extremely bad for the Ministry not to have provided protection for you. That reason is why this is important to the Ministry. The second point is that it will not look good for your image, to be using magic against ordinary citizens, even to protect yourself. You will be seen as a sort of bully, picking on the weak. If you have an Auror guard whose job it is to protect you, it will not appear out of the ordinary or intimidating or rude. Lastly, if you are under Auror protection, and they are defending you from the advances of regular citizens, you cannot be held responsible for any injuries that might befall those citizens. Defying an order to back away or desist from an Auror means that the citizen has themselves committed a crime, but you alone would not be afforded that legal protection and may find yourself at the mercy of solicitors."

"All excellent points, Minister." Ron nodded. "It's bad enough trying to provide security for our Quidditch players, mate. And it's going to be ten times worse for you."

Harry sighed. "I don't like this. Do you all agree with him?" He looked around the room and saw nothing but solemn nodding heads. "All right, fine. Do I have to take them to the loo with me, or is that still a solitary activity?" Harry asked bitterly.

"Don't worry, Harry. It won't be so bad. You get used to being shadowed fairly quickly. You realize that I will need to let some people know you are here in order to make plans for your return. Will you be okay with that?"

"Only people you trust. You have a woman in your office, Nymphadora Lupin; her, I trust with my life. Please use as much discretion as possible with anybody else you tell."

"Nymphadora?" the Minister asked questioningly more to himself than anyone in the room. "Oh, Tonks! Yes, a fine woman she is. She tells the most interesting stories about you though."

Harry couldn't meet the Minister's eye. "Yes, well, I'll talk to her about that."

"She knows you've returned then?"

Harry nodded once.

"She can keep a secret, that one. Well, everybody, why don't we get back to celebrating Christmas? I will get back to you in a few days to discuss the announcement of your return to our world, Harry, and Tonks will be in touch about your security detail."

***

They spent the rest of the evening chatting amicably. Harry made an escape early in the evening, so that the Minister's personal bodyguard could stop standing just outside the back door to the Burrow. He waited until well after midnight for Ginny to stop by and say good night, but she never did. George had come in and gone to sleep remarkably quietly about eleven. Finally, at about twelve thirty when Harry was sure everyone in the house must be asleep, he opened his door and crept into the hallway. He walked quietly to the Ginny's door and opened it slightly before he knocked. He didn't get a response, so he opened the door the rest of the way and stepped one foot into the room.

"What do you want, Harry?"

"Sorry, I thought you were probably asleep, but I wanted to say goodnight," Harry responded cautiously.

"Goodnight," Ginny answered her voice devoid of the emotion that the two of them had been sharing the last twenty four hours.

Harry took one more step into the room.

"Goodnight, Harry."

"Ginny…what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Ginny…" Harry said with concern.

"I'm just confused. Can we talk about this later?" Ginny asked.

"Uh, sure, you know I'm just down the hall if you want to talk." There was no answer from the darkness. "Goodnight." He closed the door as quietly as possible, wondering what on Earth he'd done to cock up things now.

"Trouble in paradise?" George asked as he crawled back into bed.

"I don't know, was she okay earlier?"

"She seemed a bit off after dinner to tell you the truth, but she didn't say anything."

"I hope she's okay." Harry sighed. "Sleep well."

"You, too."

Harry punched his pillow and muttered. "Yeah, right."

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