Dangerous Love - Harry and Ginny's life

Chapter 3 Just a Duo

Ginny (continued)

Ginny Weasley screamed herself awake. Kicking off the covers that seemed to be suffocating her, she leapt up and ran to the bathroom. She locked the door behind her, slid down the wall and cried. A few tears at first, then the sobs wracked her body, shaking her, choking her up.

"Ginny?" Harry's concerned voice floated through the door. "Ginny, are you all right?"

"Y-yeah, f-fine,"

"No you're not," Harry persisted, "unlock the door, I'm coming in."

"No, I'm fine," insisted Ginny, not wanting to be seen like this. She caught a glimpse in the mirror, she looked like an escaped prisoner; tired, red eyes, her hair straggly and her face pale.

"Fine," she heard Harry's voice say, "I'll unlock it myself. Alohamora."
Ginny felt the bolt moving and the door unlocked, Harry pushed it open and then he was standing over her. He took one look at her and a strange expression crossed his face. Was it sympathy?

"Oh, Gin," Harry sighed, helping her up, "what happened."

Ginny fell into his arms and melted into his embrace, "it was just a dream," she whispered, "just a bad dream, that's all."

Harry released her and took her hand, "c'mon, let's go back to bed." He led her through into the bedroom and they lay down, Harry wrapped his arms around her and Ginny fell asleep like that. Safe and sound.

"Is Lily enjoying Hogwarts?" Asked Molly Weasley, as she bustled about in the kitchen, preparing the evening's dinner to celebrated George's birthday.

"Yes," Ginny replied, "she sent us a letter last night telling us all about her first evening. She's in Gryffindor."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Enthused Mrs Weasley, "has James been in trouble recently?"

"No, surprisingly," Ginny gave a light laugh, "and Al hasn't written yet." She watched for a while as her mother tried to cook the pie and cut the vegetables at the same time. "Do you want a hand, mum?"

Mrs Weasley shook her head, "it's fine, dear, I can just-" she flicked her wand and the knife began to cut up vegetables by itself. "You can, however, set the table and decorate the garden."

"I won't do it as well as Hermione, but I'll try my best." Ginny got to her feet and wandered out into the overgrown garden. She waved her wand and everything on the table fell into place. She swished it again and the trees were draped with streamers and banners, balloons filled the air and apples turned golden.
Ginny stood back and admired her handiwork, she rather thought she'd done well.

Footsteps made her turn around sharply; her father stood behind her. Tall, thin and balding, but what little was left of his shocking red hair was slowly going grey.

"Just setting the garden up for Fr-" Ginny caught herself quickly, "George's birthday."
Mr Weasley made to say something, but Ginny moved hastily into the house and back to the kitchen, not wanting to face the awkwardness. She walked up the stairs to her old room, it was exactly how she remembered it; small but bright, with a poster of the weird sisters on the wall. She smiled as she saw her bed was still made and that the covers had been changed. All the pictures that belonged to her were missing, but she saw that they had been replaced with family ones. Tears prickled her eyes...home...she lost her train of thought for a moment and was brought back to attention by a noise coming from overhead. Someone was crying. Really crying. George.
She took off at a run, taking the steps two at a time. She emerged on the second floor landing, the first room she saw had a plaque hanging and on that plaque, engraved in gold was 'Gred and Forge'. She smiled slightly, remembering the remarks they made about the jumpers every year. She peered through the crack in the door and saw George sitting on Fred's bed, sobbing uncontrollably, holding what looked like a Jack in the box.