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Author: MyGinevra Story: The Hog's Head Rating: Teens Status: Completed Warning: Extreme Language, Sexual Situations, Violence Reviews: 19 Words: 426,278
At breakfast the next morning Ginny noticed that two people kept looking at her. One of them, Ron, had a crease in his brow and didn’t speak to either herself or Harry. The other, Fleur, kept smiling at her and spent a lot of time pushing food at Harry, saying he needed to keep up his strength. Ginny thought that what Fleur didn’t know might surprise her, but she said nothing. Maybe Harry’s yawns were giving the wrong impression. As for Ron, the two–faced git could go stuff it, as far as Ginny was concerned. If all he did was throw looks at her and Harry, then things might be alright. But if he went any further, she would have it out with him, even though she sincerely hoped that he would not say anything during the next few days; neither she nor her parents nor any of her brothers, especially George, needed a family row at the present time. But these unpleasant thoughts didn’t linger. Harry was sitting next to her, and even though his head kept drooping, he glanced at her often, offering to fill her glass from the pitcher of pumpkin juice, and not letting her serve herself; it was sweet, and also a little annoying, but he had never behaved with such determined chivalry before, so she let him do it. Her brothers and parents definitely noticed, and she saw whispers behind hands and quick smiles sent her way. There was one other thing that especially kept Ginny from stopping Harry’s attentions: it really seemed to please her mum. She smiled at Ginny for the first time since the battle, and ate a normal breakfast, not leaving most of her food on her plate as she had been doing. Ginny just hoped that she wouldn’t find out about last night. The plan for the day was to Portkey to the Burrow as soon as everyone could get ready. Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Hermione went back to their rooms after breakfast and packed whatever they would be needing for the next day or two, since there might be a delay in getting their trunks home because most of the house–elves were still so busy repairing the castle. Ginny said goodbye to her roommates and hugged her friends, and there were more than a few tears, not only because of the deaths of Fred, Colin, and all the others, but also because some of them were graduating and would not be back at school next year. She gave Dean Thomas a special goodbye hug. “Maybe we’ll run into each other in Diagon Alley,” Ginny said to him as she was about to leave the common room. “Or maybe we’ll have a DA reunion at the Burrow.” “That would be fun,” he smiled. “Good luck, Ginny. I’ll see you around.” As she was climbing out the portrait hole she looked back one last time, and saw him sit down with Parvati, Lavender, and Seamus; Parvati had her arm around Lavender who had been weeping again over Colin Creevey. She hadn’t seen Neville in the common room, and she kept a lookout for him and Luna on her way downstairs. As one of the moving staircases swung into a landing, Neville appeared around the corner with the Hufflepuff girl who had spoken to him at lunch yesterday. “I’m glad I saw you!” Ginny exclaimed. “We’re leaving soon. I wanted to say goodbye. I don’t know when I’ll see you again.” Neville stood awkwardly, his hands jammed into his pockets. “Well, I guess...” “I’m Keesha Baker,” the girl held out her hand. Ginny shook it and the girls grinned at each other. “We’ve been in a few classes together, but we never talked, I guess.” “Maybe we can next year,” Ginny said. She turned to Neville. “Take care, Neville. I’m sure we’ll run into each other. I told Dean we should have a DA reunion some time. Think your Gran will mind?” she laughed. Neville also smiled. “Not any more. ‘Bye, Ginny.” They stood looking at each other. Ginny threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She was not surprised to notice that they both had watery eyes. “You were my first date,” she whispered to him. “But not your last,” he laughed. Ginny gave him a quick peck on his cheek, squeezed Keesha’s hand, and hurried down the stairs before she started bawling. She didn’t see Luna, but she knew that she and her father would be at the funeral. Many other families were also leaving, and there was a large pile of traveling bags in the entrance hall. Ginny went outside and found the Weasleys gathered around Fred’s coffin in the tent; Harry and Hermione were also there. Ginny gave Harry a quick kiss with all of her brothers watching. Harry glanced around, and they all looked away except for Ron; he just stared at Harry. Ginny’s mouth was about to open when Bill stepped between her and Ron; he looked at Ginny and put his finger to his mouth and shook his head. George led the family out of the tent with the coffin floating before him, directed by his wand. Arthur and Molly came next. Ron and Hermione were behind them, and then Charlie and Percy, followed by Ginny and Harry; Bill and Fleur brought up the rear. It seemed to Ginny that Charlie had deliberately put himself between Ron and herself. When she looked at Harry he was staring ahead at Ron. She took his arm and he put his hand on hers. The Department of Magical Transportation had set up tables on the other side of the drive where families could place the coffins; officials from the Department were processing them and scheduling Portkeys, and as each family Portkeyed away, a coffin would also blink out and disappear. George set Fred’s down, and they all walked to another table on which lay dozens of battered old shoes, dust bin lids, dented pots, and other assorted objects. An old witch with yellow teeth sat behind it; a sign next to her read, “Portkey Office. Please Form A Single Line. Thank You.” The Weasleys joined the queue. When they reached the front they saw that Professor McGonagall was also there, and she hugged both Molly and Arthur. “We’ll see you tomorrow,” she said. “Harry,” she turned to him, “Professor Flitwick asked me to tell you that he will be there and you can discuss the matter with him then.” Ginny looked questioningly at Harry. “I wanted some private tutoring,” he said under his breath. “We missed a whole year.” Ginny was puzzled. “But how will you do that? He can’t leave Hogwarts just to teach you, can he?” Harry shook his head and smiled. “I’ll tell you later.” The Portkey Office witch greeted them as she shuffled through a pile of parchments. She placed an old rabbit–ears antenna in front of them. They all put their hands on it, and as Hermione was trying to explain to Arthur exactly what a television channel was, they were all suddenly in the yard of the Burrow, and Fred’s coffin was on the ground next to the door. As soon as Molly saw it she stumbled over to it and collapsed, holding her head against it and sobbing. The entire family rushed to her side. Harry and Hermione hung back, a little uncomfortable as they watched Bill and Arthur help Molly to her feet and lead her inside. The rest followed, leaving them alone in the yard. Hermione was wringing her fingers, and Harry noted the nervous twitch. “It’s going to be hard,” he said. Hermione nodded. “Yes, I can’t imagine what it’s like, burying a...” She stopped and looked at him. “But you can imagine it, can’t you, Harry? I mean, your parents and Sirius all died.” “Yeah, I can.” He frowned. “Look, Hermione, what is it with Ron? Ginny and I did the exact same thing you and he did. He’s starting to get on my nerves.” Hermione’s hand–wringing tempo increased. “I’m sorry, Harry. I’ve talked to him, but he’s got this thing about his baby sister. He was always treated like he was the baby. You’ve seen F–Fred and George tease him and ridicule him. So Ginny was the only one he could be, you know, higher than. He means well, he just wants to protect her.” “From me?” “No, no!” Hermione was close to tears. “That’s not it. Oh, please, Harry, don’t get angry with him, not after everything we’ve gone through. I’m so happy that you and Ginny are together. Give him some time to get used it. Please?” She had started crying, and Harry put his hand on her shoulder. The door opened and Ginny and Ron walked out. “Sorry,” Ron muttered. “We kind of forgot about you. Are you okay?” He took Hermione in his arms and held her, patting her back as she sobbed on his shoulder. “I know, I know. We all miss him.” Harry turned away and shook his head, but only Ginny saw it. “So what’s going to happen now?” Harry asked her. Ginny shrugged. “We have to get the house ready. There’ll be a big crowd tomorrow. And we have to dig a grave.” Harry thought of the other grave he had dug only a few weeks ago, although it seemed like years. “It’s not really my business,” he said, “but I think you should dig it without magic. That’s what I did for Dobby, and it felt good.” Ginny giggled in spite of herself. “Dad would get to use a Muggle spade.” Harry smiled also. “That’s not a bad idea,” Hermione sniffled; she had stopped crying and was wiping her face with a handkerchief that Ron conjured for her. “I’d like to help, if that’s what you decide to do.” She looked at Ron. “Sure.” He regarded the cluttered yard. “But I don’t even know where they want to put it.” “Beyond the garden, next to that big oak,” Ginny said. “I heard Dad talk about it this morning.” “Sounds like a good spot.” Ron looked back at the house. “I wonder what’s for lunch?” Ginny laughed and took his arm and they all went into the kitchen. To their amazement, Molly was bustling about the room with her wand out. Dishes and utensils were flying in all directions, and a delicious–smelling stew was bubbling on the stove. The rest of the family was seated at the table. Molly’s wand flashed, and a large loaf of fresh, hot bread soared out of the oven and onto a cutting board, where a knife started slicing it. “Hey, Mum, that’s a killer wand you’ve got there,” Ron called. He froze as his mother whirled on him, her face red and contorted, her wand pointing at him. “Ronald Weasley, you will not joke about that, not if you know what’s good for you.” Her voice quivered with anger, and Ron took a step backward. “Molly!” Arthur said sharply, “He was only joking. Put your wand down, for goodness sake.” She quickly lowered her wand and slumped into a chair. The bread knife clattered to the floor. “I’m sorry, darling,” she blurted to Ron; she held her arms out. “Come here, I’m sorry.” Ron walked slowly around the table and bent down as his mother hugged him. Then he just as slowly walked back to his seat between Hermione and Bill; his face was white. Bill patted his arm. Charlie got up and finished setting the table and putting out the food. They ate, mostly in silence. Molly left the table with her meal uneaten and went upstairs without speaking. Arthur followed, and the rest of them all looked at each other. “I never saw her do anything like that,” Percy finally spoke. “No one’s ever died before,” George said quietly. Again there was silence. Ron stood and also left without a word. Hermione jumped up and followed him upstairs, and then Harry also rose. He glanced at Ginny and followed Hermione. When he entered Ron’s attic room, Hermione was sitting on the bed next to Ron with her arms around him. Ron looked up as Harry sat on his cot, but said nothing. “It’s all right, Ron,” Hermione tried to soothe him. “She said she was sorry. She loves you, you know that. You just startled her.” Ron bowed his head; he looked miserable. “I can’t take much more of this," he muttered. “Everything’s all a disaster.” “Not everything,” Hermione squeezed his shoulder. “Voldemort’s dead, you and I are here together, and so are Harry and Ginny.” Ron looked balefully at Harry. “Well, maybe that’s part of the disaster.” “Ron, no!” Hermione cried. Harry stood up, then Ron did. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” Harry glared at him. “You know damn well what it means, mate,” Ron spat out the last word. “She’s underage. I know you spent the whole damn night in that room with her. What did you think, no one would notice?” “Ron, no!” Hermione shouted again. “I’m sure it wasn’t what you think!” “Yeah, right,” Ron shrugged her hand from his arm. He scowled at Harry. “It was bad enough your leading her on before we left. What if you hadn’t come back? Where would that have left her?” Ron was shouting over Hermione’s cries of protest. “And then, right into the sack as soon as you could get your hands on her! You didn’t waste any time, did you?” Harry pointed his finger at Ron. “You’re over the line, mate, so watch it. And Ginny makes up her own mind, just in case you haven’t noticed after sixteen years.” “And you helped her along, didn’t you?” “Yeah, I did, because we love each other. What’s your excuse?” “Harry!” shrieked Hermione. Harry put his hand up. “I’m sorry,” he said to Hermione, “I didn’t mean that.” He took a breath and let the scowl drop from his face. “Look, Ron, Ginny and I are together, whether you like it or not, so why don’t you just accept it?” Ron gritted his teeth. “I told you. She’s too young. She doesn’t know what she’s doing.” “Oh, come on!” Harry scoffed, his anger rising again. “She knows what she’s doing better than I do, and sure as hell better than you do.” Ron took a step toward Harry, his face was livid. Hermione grabbed his shoulder, even though she was crying hysterically. “Please, stop it, both of you!” she shouted. “You’re both acting like babies!” “Fine,” said Harry. “I’ll stop.” He pointed his finger at Ron again. “You just leave Ginny alone, understand? If you have any more problems, come see me. You know where I am.” “She’s my sister!” Ron yelled. “I’ll do whatever the bloody hell I want —“ The door was flung open and Charlie and Bill strode into the room. Ron stepped back from Harry. “What in the name of Merlin is going on here?” Bill demanded. “We can hear you all over the house. Mum is in tears again. What are you trying to do, Ron, destroy her?” Before Ron could answer, Charlie took Harry’s arm. “Ginny’s down in the parlor, Harry. Why don’t you go?” Harry turned on his heel and stomped out of the room. He heard Hermione follow, and then the door close. He could hear Ron start to speak and Bill’s voice cutting across him, but then the voices became indistinct as Harry descended. He passed Ginny’s room and heard that door open and close as Hermione went in. Percy was sitting alone at the kitchen table and stared at Harry as he went through into the parlor. There he found Ginny standing in the middle of the room, an angry look on her face. Fleur was sitting on the sofa. They both looked at him. “‘Arry, what is wrong?” Fleur began, but Ginny was crossing the room. She took Harry’s hand rather firmly and, ignoring Fleur, pulled him out the back door. She continued past the garden and into the woods, and didn’t stop until they were well out of earshot of the house. “What happened?” she turned to face him. “Why were you yelling? Mum’s hysterical again.” Harry looked into her eyes and remembered how much her mother’s had reminded him of Ginny. “I’m sorry. Ron said some things, and then I said some things I shouldn’t have. He’s furious that we spent the night together.” Ginny’s nostrils flared slightly and her eyes flashed; Harry had to suppress a smile, knowing that she had just validated everything he had said to Ron. Then she grimaced. “Harry, tomorrow is Fred’s funeral. Please don’t let Ron get to you. It’s making it hard on everyone. We don’t need this.” “I know. I’m sorry.” He put his hands on her shoulders and Ginny came into his arms. “I won’t let it happen again. But he’s obsessed. We weren’t even talking about us and he started yelling.” Ginny sighed. “That’s why Bill and Charlie went up. If they can’t talk sense into him, then at least they’ll make him shut it off until after the funeral.” “But?” Harry could tell that she wanted to say more. But... I don’t know... He’ll get over it, I’m sure he will.” “I hope so. He’s my best mate. And my girlfriend’s brother.” She smiled up at him. “I like the sound of that.” They kissed, then Harry absentmindedly ran his finger along her neck and inside the collar of her blouse. Ginny stopped his hand with hers. “What is it?” she asked. “Is something bothering you?” “Now how do you know that?” “You’re trying to say something, aren’t you?” Harry put his hands in his pockets and started walking back and forth in front of her. He put his fist over his mouth and coughed “I, uh, I wanted to ask... about last night.” Ginny put her hand on his arm and stopped his pacing. “What about it? Harry, it doesn’t matter to me what Ron thinks.” “No, that’s not it. I mean, I do care what Ron thinks, but... I want to know what you think.” Ginny had a coy smile. “Couldn’t you tell last night?” “Ginny, that’s not what I meant, either. I never did anything like that before, and I guess I need to know if it was the right thing to do.” “I repeat, couldn’t you tell last night?” Harry had a slight frown on his brow, but then he smiled. “How do you know so much? No, no! I don’t mean it like that! I mean... how do you ...” He stopped. “I’m saying this all wrong.” Ginny laughed. “No, you’re not. It’s all right. Do you think I would have sat down in that hammock if I thought it was wrong? If I had the slightest doubt? Did you have any doubts? You didn’t act like you did.” “No!” Harry almost shouted. “No, I didn’t. And I don’t now. Damn, I don’t know how to say this. It’s just that your family were all watching us at breakfast, so maybe they know, or they figured it out. And now Ron...” Ginny walked to a nearby tree and sat down next to it; Harry followed. “Well,” mused Ginny, leaning against the trunk, “Fleur knew, and maybe Bill, and obviously Ron did, too. But I didn’t get the impression that anyone else knew. They all thought you were adorable, though.” She laughed as Harry blushed. “What do you mean? What did I do?” “You were very attentive to me. It was sweet.” “Did you mind?” “Well,” Ginny traced his face with her fingers, “I liked it, but don’t start smothering me.” Now it was Harry’s turn to laugh. “How could anyone smother you? Isn’t that what Ron’s trying to do?” “I guess you could say that. But, Harry, my whole family loves you. I don’t think it would be good if my parents found out about last night, though.” He kissed Ginny. “You’re beautiful. Let’s go back,” he said. They walked back to the Burrow holding hands, and just as the house came in sight they saw the back door open and a parade of the entire family emerge, except for Molly and Fleur. They were all carrying either a shovel or a pickaxe. Arthur was holding his spade straight in front of him like a flagpole; the others held theirs at their sides. “They’re not using magic to dig the grave,” Ginny exclaimed, “just like you said!” They followed the procession to the foot of a huge oak tree about fifty yards from the house. When Harry and Ginny got there, George was taking up the first shovelful of sod. They all stood back and watched him dig methodically and without expression, until they all saw that tears were streaming down his face. Percy joined him, and then the others took turns two at a time, and the grave deepened. When Charlie and Ron stepped into the hole, Ron began wielding his spade ferociously. He glanced up once and Harry caught his eye, but Ron looked quickly down again. Harry walked over to the grave and stood as close to Ron as he safely could, but Ron still didn’t look up. When the hole was about two feet deep, he paused and wiped his forehead. Harry moved closer. “Ron,” he said quietly. Ron looked up and Charlie stopped digging; all the others turned toward Harry. Ron stared at him, his face red and sweaty. It was very quiet; Hermione had her hand to her mouth. “Ron, I’m sorry,” Harry said. Ron nodded. “Me too.” He spoke just as quietly as Harry, then he resumed digging, but not as violently as before. Hermione let out her breath with a sigh that everyone could hear. Charlie cleared his throat and went back to work.
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