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adenei · 11 months

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Maroon

Second and Final Submission for the Debut/Midnights Era of @cruelsummer-ficfest !!

Song: Maroon

Album: Midnights

Ship: Romione

Summary: DH Missing Moment/Slight Canon Divergence. In the darkest days of the mission, Hermione must find a way to move forward, to keep fighting. Ron is gone, but she finds solace in his memories and the smell of his sweater to help her get through the sleepless nights.

And I wake with your memory over me

That's a real fucking legacy to leave

—-

Of all the colors Ron Weasley brought to her life, it’s the reds that stand out the most.

His hair, of course, and the Gryffindor scarlet that dominated so much of their wardrobes over the past six years. The dark pink that starts at his ears and spreads from there when he’s even the least bit embarrassed. The awful burgundy dress robes he wore to the Yule Ball.

Then there’s the metaphorical reds of anger and affection that she feels for him, sometimes simultaneously. Pretty much always simultaneously since the night he left.

But it’s one particularly technicolor night that haunts her now that he’s gone, leaving nothing behind but a warm woolen jumper and a hole in her heart.

Harry had already gone to bed, so it was just the two of them, alone in the drawing room of Grimmauld Place playing an ill-advised drinking game with a cheap bottle of Muggle wine that Seamus had gotten from Merlin-knew-where, that had somehow made it home in Ron’s trunk and then somehow into the beaded bag Hermione had packed for the mission.

There were any number of more productive things they could have been doing instead, but planning for the Ministry break-in had stalled, and Hermione wanted to think about something else for a night. Anything else. And Ron had suggested a game.

They were sitting on the floor—neither of them could quite articulate how that had happened either, though Hermione suspected the rosé—and she had plopped her feet into his lap about three drinks ago, when she was already about three drinks beyond caring how the gesture would be perceived.

Ron’s thumb had managed to find the one sliver of skin that was exposed on Hermione’s ankle between the top of her socks and the bottom of her leggings, and the rhythmic caress as he pondered his next challenge had lit every nerve ending in her body on fire.

“Okay, would you rather…have detention with Snape every day for a month, or spend every Christmas with Filch for the next five years?” Hermione shook her head and emptied her glass, an obnoxious crystal goblet with the Black family crest that they’d pulled out of a cupboard for the occasion, and Ron laughed at her response. “You can’t just drink on every question.”

“Sure I can,” Hermione argued. “It’s right there in the rules.”

“You and your damn rules.”

Ron took a swig straight from the bottle before reaching over to give Hermione a refill. He poured until the frosty pink liquid sloshed over the rim of Hermione’s cup and splashed onto her t-shirt. “Shit, I’m sorry.” Ron made a quick grab for his wand and aimed it at the wet spot, but paused as he took her in. “Is that my shirt?”

Hermione smirked. “I stole it from you in fifth year, and you’ve just now noticed?” The golden yellow Gryffindor Quidditch shirt couldn’t have fit him for more than a week after he got it, as fast as he was growing that year, and she’d had no qualms about taking it from his trunk.

“Is this a habit you have, then?” Ron asked with a laugh as he siphoned up the wine with his wand. “Stealing my clothes?”

“Maybe. Is that a problem?”

Their eyes locked and the teasing mood faded as Hermione realized just how close they were. She caught the flicker of Ron’s gaze to her lips just an instant before he leaned in and kissed her.

There had been no extravagant declarations of love, no other outward displays of affection before or since. Only an understanding that had developed over the months since Ron’s poisoning that their feelings were reciprocated, and that said feelings would have to wait until after the mission. But what good was constant mortal peril if it didn’t challenge them to be young and dumb and reckless just once?

Their lips met in a frenzy and their hands roamed as if they wanted to devour each other while they had the chance. Instinct told her this would be their only opportunity to be like this, at least for a while.

If only she had known how true that would turn out to be.

Hermione tosses over in her bunk, unable to sleep despite her constant state of exhaustion. She lights her wand and looks down at the burgundy splotch on her shirt, the only physical reminder she has of that night. She would almost think she had dreamed it, if not for a stubborn wine stain that they had been too preoccupied to treat in the moment.

There are spells she could use to get rid of it, even now, but at this point, she cherishes the color, and what it reminds her of. A shiver travels down her spine, and she plucks Ron’s jumper from the end of the bed where she tossed it earlier, pulling it on for the meager comfort it provides in his absence. The whole world’s been black and white without him.

Well, black and white and maroon.

#romione #ron weasley #hermione granger #cruel summer fic fest #ron x hermione #ron weasley x hermione granger #hp fic inspired by taylor swift

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blouisparadise · 1 year

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Do you rec anything if Louis has ever previously topped in his life, but not with Harry. If the premise of the fic is that he used to top but realise he is a bottom and never tops in the fic, but there is a discussion that he only had previously, is that rec'd? I know it wouldn't qualify for the ficfest which is completely fair, but asking about this account in general. Thank you!

We do recommend fics where top Louis is mentioned! We just try to add a note so people know. We're okay with recommending mentions as long as there is no actual scene where he tops.

#asks

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sparklebootsandvans · 5 months

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Mia (brightgolden) made a new blog for the bottom-Harry-ficfest, please boost !!

It’s a continuation for the authors that were left

OH AMAZING!!! that is so so nice 🥰🥰

definitely boost!!

#BOOST #bhficfest

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theroomofreq · 3 years

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change of pace

Hinny FicFest !! :') happy hinny kiss day, don't mind me showing up late to the party. thank you to the wonderful @clarensjoy for organizing the fun!

Here is a little OOTP missing moment, because I always need more of these!

prompt 50: "you were pressing on your scar again."

Harry stands at the top of the staircase, his knuckles are white as he holds a grimy rag in his hands. Mum’s put everyone up to cleaning Grimmauld Place. It doesn’t seem likely that they will ever get the house up to Molly Weasley standards, but her mum’s determined. Ginny didn’t think she’d see anything as dejected as this house, at least not until Harry showed up.

He came around differently this summer, taller, but his muggle clothes hang loosely on his body, large and worn. His eyes are still deep green, but not as bright. The dark circles under his eyes seem to be a permanent fixture on his face now. Ginny hopes the changes aren’t permanent. Even though the hearing is over and he can return to Hogwarts, he’s still miserable. And angry. He’s spent a lot of time shouting lately. His fury builds until he lets it out with a good yell.

Ginny feels that way too, especially when she thinks about Tom. He’s back now, but she doesn’t like to think of him as Voldemort. That’d be giving him what he wants. She won’t do that, not anymore.

Harry rubs at his scar, he’s been doing it more frequently. Ginny folds her filthy rag in her hands before she walks up beside him.

“You were pressing on your scar again.” She keeps her voice quiet, so she doesn’t rattle him too much.

“Err,” he tries to hide the motion by brushing some hair away from his face. “It’s nothing really, stings a bit is all.”

Ginny nods. “Looks like it might be worse than a bit.”

Harry looks at her with weary eyes, opens his mouth to respond, Ginny cuts him off.

“I won’t say anything to them, Ron and Hermione.”

Harry releases a small sigh, and his eyes soften.

“I especially won’t say anything to my mum.”

Harry ducks his head, and the corner of his mouth turns up slightly.

“Thanks, Ginny.”

Ginny nods again. Harry looks down at his rag and his smirk slides off his face. Ginny’s stomach sinks, he can hardly keep a smile up these days. She racks her brain looking for a topic that will cheer him up again.

“Only a week left here, it will be nice to go back to Hogwarts.”

Harry’s lips quirk up a bit. “I can’t wait to go back.”

“Me too. I’m really excited.” Ginny says, biting back a smile. “I hope those are the only terrifying things we have to deal with this year.”

Ginny points to the shrunken house-elf heads mounted to the wall behind them. Harry sends a glance toward the wall before letting out a low chuckle.

“That would be a really pleasant change of pace, honestly.” His face rests in an easy smirk, and Ginny smiles back earnestly.

It’s a slight moment but a nice one, Harry hasn’t smiled much lately, but it brings the light back in his eyes. Before she gets any longer to enjoy it, a loud yell from downstairs breaks the peace.

“GINNY, DEAR?!” her mum calls.

“COMING, MUM!”

Harry’s fiddling with the scrappy rug now, their time has run out. Ginny lays her own dirty cloth on the banister next to him.

“I better go see what she needs. Bye, Harry.”

Harry mutters a small goodbye and Ginny steps around him. As she reaches the bottom step Ginny wishes their moment hadn’t ended so quickly. She looks back up at him, the lines on his face back in place.

“Harry?” she whispers, cautious of Walburga’s portrait.

He looks up from his busy fingers to make eye contact with her, and Ginny presses on.

“Best watch your back now that you’re up there alone,” she says, and gestures again to the shrunken heads.

Her comment brings the smirk right back to his face, and a hint of mirth glints in his eyes.

“I should be able to handle it from here, thanks.”

#hinny ficfest #hinny fic #hinny #roomie writes

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booksforevermore13 · 3 years

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The Mystery Girl

This is my too late entry to the Hinny Ficfest. I just got to know about it a few days ago, and I just loved the concept of something solely being for Hinny fanfiction. I haven't been writing very long, but I just had to participate.

Thank you to @clarensjoy for organizing this!

Also written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition.

Huge thanks to my QLFC teammates for beta-ing this!

Prompt 68: "Are you just `going to stand there and gawk?" / "Yes." / "Well stop it. You look stupid." Prompt 23: "I'm not afraid of your sister, you're afraid of your sister." Prompt 29: "Do you even know what a whisper is?"

Summary: "I swear, if you're Draco Malfoy or another one of his cronies, I'll hex you where it'll hurt. Badly."

"I'm not," Harry replied hurriedly, though he suspected even Malfoy would answer no to that.

Missing moment in HBP between Harry and Ginny.

Read it on Fanfiction if you prefer.

...

"She's crazy," Harry heard Ron moan, "and just when you think you've reached the bottom of her craziness, there's a crazy underground garage," and winced as the latter banged his head on the table.

That morning, when the sky was barely blue with a chorus of greys, Harry had heard Ron scream bloody murder and shot up off the bed, only to see him behind a huge oval mirror — courtesy of Neville's grandmother — and went back under the covers. He'd figured that if Ron was potentially being threatened by a crazed homicidal maniac, he wouldn't have been screaming about it while standing behind a century old mirror. So he'd gone back to bed and been woken up an hour and a half later by a snickering Fred and George on a visit to Hogwarts, who'd informed him of a very distraught Ron in the Great Hall.

Of course, he'd rushed out, slipping on a shirt backwards, and scrambling towards the Great Hall, heedless of the beautiful day outside and how perfect the wind was for a game of Quidditch, closely followed by the twins, who snickered all the way there. It was only when he reached it did he fully grasp that the situation couldn't have been too bad if the twins were snickering.

Worst case was, there'd been a prank gone wrong. Ron being on the opposite side of it.

Harry squinted as he walked forward, eyebrows furrowed as he tried to discern the misshapen blob on top of Ron's head. For a second there, it did look like a spell gone wrong and Harry felt a twinge of panic as he walked faster. It was red from what he could see, and he came to a stop as he realised that it looked frighteningly like a poorly knit hat.

"Why," Harry said, still squinting, "are you wearing that?"

Ron didn't answer, instead wailing as he buried his head in his hands. Harry shared a look with a still snickering Fred and George who'd taken a seat on either side of Ron while Harry took the seat opposite.

"Beautiful hat eh, Ronniekins?" Fred said, in a vaguely condescending tone. "Though, if I might say, a poor choice for impressing darling Lav-Lav."

Ron didn't answer and let out yet another sound of anguish which sounded more like a distraught sob than a yell.

"Are you…. okay Ron?" Harry asked a second later, out of necessity more than concern.

"No I'm not okay!" Ron wailed, "I'm not bloody okay! Do I look okay? No! I'm wearing a bloody woolen hat in the middle of May!"

"We've noticed," Harry said, as he took small sips from his mug. "Why though, are you wearing a woolen hat?"

"Oh, let us," Fred said, a sly grin on his face as he bent forward and ripped Ron's hat off.

George howled in laughter as Harry choked and spluttered out his pumpkin juice, coughing violently as Ron lunged forward at Fred, who dangled the hat at arm's reach.

"You've got pink hair," Harry laughed at the same time Ron yelled at Fred to give back his hat or go and do something he dared not mention in front of Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, Ronnikins," Fred laughed.

"you look so awfully good —" George quipped.

"— have we mentioned?"

"Suits your brows," which were also pink.

"— and your eyes —"

"— not to mention the lips." George puckered his lips slightly, making a popping sound that only managed to anger Ron even more as he looked fit to murder.

"Mind your own bloody business," he yelled at anyone who looked twice at him, or more specifically, at his head.

"It's pink!" Harry giggled again, covering his mouth as Ron shot him a glare, before dissolving in hysterics again.

"It's lavender, I'll have you know," he grumbled.

Harry laughed harder, before finding it in himself to sober down. Fred and George, though, paid no heed as they continued laughing hysterically, Fred even going to lengths to ruffle Ron's lavender hair, met by a glare and a well-placed curse word.

"What were you trying to do?" Harry said, glancing at Fred as he bit back a smile. "Match with Lavender?"

"Sure, yeah Ron," Fred added, "it'd be even more fun to stick your tongue down her throat with that head full of hair of yours. Imagine her hands tangled in your lavender hair, her lips —"

Ron punched Fred in his side, cutting him off as he doubled over laughing, while Harry drew his legs in as Ron's flung over to kick his.

"Ginny did this, not me," he defended. "And I'm going to have it out with her, I tell you. I'll dye her hair purple, or green, or-or black —"

"Wait, Ginny did this?" Harry gaped. "Wow, I mean, bad wow, very disappointed wow," he said quickly as Ron shot him a look.

"You underestimate her," Ron grumbled, "she's the devil's spawn, that one, even worse than these two gits here." He pointed at a smirking Gred and Forge.

Harry smiled to himself, his cheeks reddening rapidly as he spotted George looking at him with a suggestive grin. Fred joined in, wiggling his eyebrows, and Harry ducked down in embarrassment.

"Won-won!" he winced as heard a shriek cut through the silence, "ohh, my precious Wonnie-boo!" He cringed as he heard Lavender making kissing noises as she ran over to where they were sitting.

"Murder me, Harry," Ron muttered.

"Yeah, no," Harry replied, "you're doing a pretty good job yourself," he shook his head as he picked up a piece of toast, quickly leaving as Lavender threw herself over Ron.

…

He was screwed.

His assurance of his screwed-ness became even stronger as he heard Filch hurrying down the corridor and calling out for Mrs. Norris. The dastardly cat was going to die a horrible death, Harry was sure of it, and he cringed as he heard another pair of footsteps right outside the broom cupboard.

The small space was cramped, just high enough for Harry to rise up to his full height, and it was dark. Pitch dark, and if this was the metaphorical colour black — as Luna so wisely commented time and again — he didn't like it very much.

Harry held his breath as hurried footsteps stopped in front of the cupboard and turned around to hide his face as the door opened, eyes blinded by the light outside. He heard the door close again.

And then the blackness resumed.

That was until he felt a hand push him backwards roughly and he shrieked, his hands going up in mock defence.

"Who the hell are you?" the person demanded, and Harry discerned it to be distinctly feminine, and familiar. Very familiar, he thought.

He stayed silent though, wary of giving his identity away to a girl in a broom cupboard. Perhaps, he thought, she'd get the memo and leave, though he couldn't for his life guess why she had been hiding there in the first place.

The girl stayed silent for a second, probably waiting for a response before she said fiercely. "I swear, if you're Draco Malfoy or another one of his cronies, I'll hex you where it'll hurt. Badly."

"I'm not," Harry replied hurriedly, though he suspected even Malfoy would answer no to that. But the girl seemed satisfied as she humphed and turned around. There was a soft mellow in the mystery girl's voice and he knew he'd heard it before, he just couldn't place where.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, before cursing under his breath. Normal conversation generally required a 'who are you?' and mutual knowledge of their identities, but clearly, that wasn't the case here, and anyway, Harry had a slight feeling that the girl wouldn't disclose her identity even if he asked.

He waited. And then sighed as the girl remained silent.

"You're talking too loud," she said finally. "Obviously, you're hiding in here from something, or someone," she snorted there and Harry smiled, "so if you don't talk softly, then you're going to get us caught."

"Filch's cat," Harry said.

"What?"

"I'm hiding from Filch's cat."

"Oh," the girl gave a humorless chuckle, "bloody thing's going to have a miserable death. I'm sure of it."

"So I take it you're hiding from her, too?"

"Filch actually," the girl said, "and I suppose that includes the cat too."

"What did you do?"

"Set off fifteen dung bombs in his office," and Harry could swear she had a tinge of pride in her voice, and for a moment, marveled at the nerve of this girl who'd threatened to hex his parts off the first minute they'd met, now claiming to have thrashed Filch's den. There were very few in the school who had the guts to do that, and Harry felt himself flushing as he wondered whether the girl in front of him was Ginny.

Before he could say anything more though, she stepped forward and pried open the door, peeking out to look for what Harry knew now was Mrs. Norris and her owner.

He caught a glimpse of her red hair as the door opened, and his suspicions about her identity grew and almost the very next second, the girl shut the door close, and he could make out her leaning on it.

"Bloody hell," she cursed, and Harry for the second time was flooded with how familiar that sounded, and how he had heard Ginny curse like that before as he felt her push him against the back wall of the cupboard and shuffle in behind him, so that now they were just barely touching, yet not, her body shielding his. Harry felt himself smiling at how the girl, who he had now deemed about a foot shorter than him, was trying to shield him from whatever came knocking on the door. The feeling felt almost foreign for him, for nobody before the Weasleys and Hermione had ever so readily provided a shield so unanimous and here was a girl, who could very well turn out to not be Ginny, shielding him from a petty predator.

However trivial that sounded, Harry felt a warmth blossoming in his chest.

"Just remember, if we get caught, you're deaf and I don't speak English."

"Huh?"

"I think Filch's coming our way," she explained.

"What?"

"Do you even know what a whisper is?" the girl hissed, and Harry's instincts went into overdrive as he clamped his hand on what he could hope was her mouth, pushing her backwards as he shielded her petite body with his, so that he was now between her and the door.

He waited for the footsteps to pass, completely aware of how close the two of them were, and he waited with baited breath as he heard Filch's grumbles get softer. The moment the sounds became distant, Harry yelped and snatched his hand away. She'd bit him!

"Lumos Maxima," the girl whispered and her wand lit up. Harry blinked as he saw her features come into view and her bright brown eyes glare fiercely up at him before they softened.

"Harry?"

"Ginny?" Harry said, more like a fact than a question, because he'd already known who it was all the way. He just couldn't believe he hadn't recognized her the second she'd entered the cupboard. It was hard not to.

Ginny laughed, and Harry turned red, satisfaction brimming in his chest as he took in her illuminated face. Her chuckles died down as she looked up at him.

"Are you just going to stand there and gawk?" Ginny asked, a smile playing on her lips, and Harry had an unexplainable urge to just bend down and kiss her. They were just a few inches apart, probably the closest they had been since forever, and it would take him to bend just a few inches to capture her lips with his.

"Yes," Harry found himself answering truthfully.

"Well stop, you look stupid."

And Harry laughed, and Ginny joined him, and Harry found himself just looking at her and thinking how beautiful she was. And not just beautiful, she was… radiant.

His hand was still pressed beside her head and she slipped out underneath it, the light in her wand dimming as she made her way to open the door.

"Aren't you coming?" she asked as the door swung open. Harry squinted, his eyes adjusting from the dark to the light as he, for a brief second, noticed how her red hair seemed to light up against the sun, making it seem as if it was on fire.

So he followed her out, and they smiled as they met each other's eyes.

Ginny noticed him before he did.

"Shit," Ginny cursed. "We're screwed."

Filch glared at them as Mrs. Norris purred, and Harry couldn't help but agree.

…

"Oh there was a time when they used to hang students by their thumbs in the dungeons," Filch said darkly. "Those were the days."

"I suppose you were hanged like that a lot," Ginny said sweetly, and Harry nudged her, sending her a warning look.

"What did you say?"

"They probably used your toes. Seeing your thumbs weren't large enough."

"Two months scrubbing the toilets with a toothbrush," Filch screamed shrilly, and Harry pushed Ginny backwards as the man advanced on her, Mrs. Norris following him.

He stopped as he saw Harry's menacing glare. "You, boy," he said, glaring at Harry, "you're going to spend a month in the dungeons. Scrubbing the floors till they shine."

"That's not fair," Ginny bellowed, and Harry pulled her away before Filch could open his mouth. He suspected if they stayed there for a second longer, there'd be murder committed. Or at least a heinous crime.

"Two months in the toilets," she muttered darkly as they walked down the corridors, "that lying, cheating piece of scum," she growled. "And his cat—oh, I hope that cat rots in hell."

Harry laughed, and then stopped as Ginny shot him a look, both of them lapsing into silence.

"Seeing your thumbs weren't large enough," Harry chuckled, seconds later. "You don't take things seriously sometimes, you know?"

"Never take life seriously," Ginny said, and Harry looked at her, glimpsing a side of her he hadn't seen before. "No one ever comes out alive anyway."

And though those words were too crude to be true, Harry agreed with them wholeheartedly.

…

"Wait," he said as they neared the Gryffindor common room, before laughing, "you dyed Ron's hair pink."

"Lavender, actually," Ginny replied, "thought it'd match his girlfriend."

Harry chuckled, shaking his head as Ginny grinned an impish grin. "You're scary, you know." The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Amazing, but scary."

Ginny laughed as she leaned against Harry's shoulder. "That's one of the best compliments I've ever received."

"One of the best?" Harry asked. "What's the best?"

"Oh. I don't know," Ginny shrugged, "probably on the lines of crazy ass she-demon who hides under children's beds."

"Really?" Harry laughed, "who said that?"

"Ron. I think Charlie agreed too."

Harry laughed and flushed as his hand brushed against hers. Instinct took over as he interlocked his fingers with hers and Ginny looked up in surprise, before relaxing into his hold, smiling happily. She was beautiful, Harry couldn't help but notice again as she swung their hands to and fro like two children.

But, he supposed, it probably wouldn't hurt being a child once in a while.

He'd never been one before — he'd at least never felt like one, even with Ron and Hermione. Like the entire world, they expected things from him, however few they might be. Ginny never expected; she'd always been the one to give without expecting anything in return. Never once, looking at him in pity or with a look that showed she understood everything he was going through.

She didn't, and she knew that and she made sure everyone around her knew it too. She tried to understand though, but if she wasn't able to, she didn't try further. Never pressed for more. Ginny, Harry had seen, was as open as he was withdrawn. What he saw was the truth — at least to him — and she was fiercely proud of that,almost daring anyone to oppose, but nobody ever did. He liked that.

Harry looked at her once again, smiling as he saw her glance at him through the corner of her eye.

"Oi, Harry!" He heard Ron's voice break through his reverie and felt a surge of disappointment as Ginny spotted her brother and let go of his hand. Ron was wearing that hideous woolen hat again, and Harry and Ginny exchanged glances, looking away to hide their grins.

"Heard you got into detention with Filch," Ron wheezed, "and you too." He pointed at Ginny.

Both of them nodded and Ron looked at them suspiciously before asking, "Were you two together all afternoon?"

"Yeah, well —" Harry looked at Ginny.

"We kind of fell in trouble together."

Harry smiled.

"Can't imagine why," Ron replied snarkily. "And you," he said, looking at Ginny, "don't think I haven't let you off the hook for this." He pointed at his hat, slightly grimacing.

"Didn't know I was on a hook," Ginny said cheekily. "I think you've lost your bait."

"Just taking pity on the number of toilets you have to scrub."

"I'll ask you for help if necessary."

Ron shook his head, exasperated. "He didn't do anything, right? Filch?" he asked, moments later.

"Relax, Ron," Ginny smiled, "I can take him any day."

They watched her walk away, a spring in her step, Harry with a smile on his face before Ron turned to him.

"I'm not going to see you with green hair tomorrow, am I?"

"I'm not afraid of your sister, Ron. You're afraid of your sister," Harry said and he grinned.

I think I'm in love with her.

...

#hinny ficfest #harry/ginny #missing moment in hbp #fluff #romance #humour #harry potter #ginny weasley #ron weasley #fred weasley #george weasley #gred and forge #written for the quidditch league fanfiction competition #hinny fanfiction #hinny prompt #the mystery girl

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runningtwiceasfast · 3 years

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I’ve Never Not Wanted You

This is my contribution to the Hinny Ficfest organized by the wonderful @clarensjoy - Thank you for organizing and for the fantastic contributions. I haven’t published a fic in awhile and this one is very not proofread and rough but I wanted desperately to contribute something. I hope you don’t mind this one is under the wire! Eventually I will post a cleaned up version on AO3, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy!

Prompt: “I’ve never not wanted you”

“You have to come to dinner tonight. Mum has invited another suitor and we are all going to want to watch the bloodbath.” Ron’s mouth was full of curry, so it was hard to make out exactly what he meant, but the gist was an invite for dinner.

Harry scowled in response and pushed his food away from him, suddenly having lost his appetite.

“When will Molly stop? After Ginny has killed someone?”

Ron gave a barking laugh. “Maybe. It’s hard to stop a determined Weasley though.”

“So, who is more determined? Molly to marry Ginny off or Ginny to resist?” Harry wondered out loud, still staring at his noodles as if they had offended him.

Shrugging, Ron reached over and helped himself to Harry’s discarded lunch. “Mum just wants Ginny to be happy. Wizards marry pretty young in our world and everyone else has mostly coupled off,” Ron pointed his chopsticks at Harry. “Well, except you mate.”

Harry frowned.

“I’ve been busy,” he finally said, and Ron gave a series of nods.

“Of course. Ridding the world of unstoppable evil and what not. I’m sure that’s why Mum is focused on Ginny and not you.”

“That’s a bit of a double standard, isn’t it?” Harry asked, irritated at the way the conversation had changed. The last thing he wanted to talk about was his sorry dating life. Or Ginny’s for that matter.

“The entire wizarding world is a double standard innit? Best to just make the best to just make the best of it and enjoy the show.”

Harry merely gave a small noise of assent, turning back to his noodles to find them completely gone. He looked up at Ron’s sheepish look.

“I thought you were done.”

_*_*_*_*_*_*_

Avoiding the floo network entirely, Harry opted to apparate to the Burrow, pausing outside the familiar door to collect his thoughts.

Using his free hand, he smoothed down his shirt and jeans, his other hand grasping the bottle of red wine Arthur had mentioned he liked the last time they had dined together at Grimmauld Place. He rose his hand to knock, but the door swung open before his fist even made contact.

“Harry! You’ve come to save me!” Harry was rather unprepared for the sight of Ginny, fresh faced and beautiful, greeting him at the door and found himself unable to say much of anything other than a grumbled hello as he shoved the bottle of wine at her.

She was wearing a simple black cotton dress that hugged her waist and flared out at the bottom. Her hair was down and bouncing around her shoulders. He gestured stupidly at his ears.

“You are wearing the earrings.”

She gave a tinkling laugh and pushed her hair behind her ear so he could see more clearly the diamond studs that he had given her last Christmas. “I’ve practically never taken them off. They are gorgeous. Probably one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten.” She smiled at him sincerely and he felt his heart rate accelerate uncomfortably.

“I’m glad you like them so much.” He smiled back at her and they remained that way, smiling at each other silently before Ginny was called rather abruptly from the other room.

She gave a grimace in response. “She’s invited Ernie Macmillan over can you believe it? Him and Hermione are currently fighting over some horribly boring historical fact in the other room and she expects me to marry this man?” She rolled her eyes and Harry gave a weak laugh in response.

Learning up, she gave him a light kiss on the cheek, her hand resting on his arm. “It’s so lovely to see you, Harry. Please feel free to rescue me from inane conversation as you see fit.”

She floated away and he stood there struck rather dumb for a few moments.

Following the trail of voices from the entryway, Harry entered the living area to various greetings. It appeared he was one of the last to arrive and he grabbed a butterbeer and joined in where Ron and George were huddled together by the fireplace.

“I think the formula is off. People shouldn’t be incapacitated. Just unconscious for a short while.”

George shook his head. “They are fine if you just poke them—Harry! You’ve come to join us!” George gave him a broad smile that Harry couldn’t help but reciprocate.

“Is this for something you’ve already invented, or you have created something else to wreak havoc on the wizarding public?”

“Harry my dear boy, I’m not sure why it can’t be both,” George said sincerely causing Harry to snort into his bottle.

Ginny’s laughter brought their attention to where she was standing in the center of the room with Ernie.

Ron frowned. “Maybe mum actually found a winner.”

They watched as Ginny laughed again at something Ernie said, her hand placed on his arm.

“Apparently he works with Percy. Probably in the Department of who has the biggest stick up their arse,” George laughed to himself.

Harry frowned as he watched Ernie with his patrician features and pedigree push a tendril of crimson hair behind Ginny’s ear causing her to blush.

“What did that bottle do to you mate?” Ron joked and Harry looked down at the tight grip he was maintaining on his butterbeer. He loosened his grip and stretched his fingers.

Molly’s appearance in the room quieted most conversations as she herded everyone into the dining area where amazing smells were wafting. It required gymnastics in order for everyone to get into the magically enhanced room.

“No no Ginny. Don’t sit there. Sit over here by Ernie,” Molly smiled warmly at the tall boy. Ernie smiled back in a way that made Harry’s hand flinch towards his wand, imagining all the new curses he had recently mastered in his second year auror training.

“Mum it took me straining my hop to even get a seat. I’m going to stay right here,” she turned to Harry who suddenly realized how close she was. “You are ok with that right Harry?” Her eyes widened slightly and he managed to cotton on.

“Er yes sorry Molly. Ginny is fine here.” She gave him a brilliant smile and nudged his shoulder with hers.

“I think I’ve lost some of my brain cells.” Harry had to resist flinching as he felt her breath brush his hair as Ginny leaned over and whispered to him.

He gave a tight-lipped smile. “You seemed rather fond of this one,” he whispered in return to her causing her to wave a hand at him dismissively.

“I’m just trying to be nice. If I hex this one she will just bring in someone worse. I heard Malfoy was keen,” she gave a dramatic shiver, her impish smile telling another story.

Harry felt a rush of relief he tried not to analyze. “Molly can keep on bringing by all the unsuitable young men of the English wizarding world if it means I get to sit next to you.” The words are soft and filled with way too much feeling and for one frightening heartbeat he wished he could take them back.

She remained silent, grabbing a dinner roll form the passed tray and fidgeting with it between her hands. “Harry, you shouldn’t say such things to me,” she finally said mildly, refusing to look at him. “I might start getting ideas.”

Impulsively he reached for one of her hands, forcing her to drop the bread. He pulled her hand under the table and squeezed it gently.

They sat with hands clasped under the table, but otherwise ignoring each other, answering direct questions but otherwise staying mostly silent. Harry thought he saw Ginny’s face was rather shiny and he wondered what he looked like. Probably pale white and sickly.

“Ginny, how goes the season? Should I be placing my Harpy’s bets now?” Ernie asked Ginny directly causing her to drop Harry’s hand and inhale shakily.

“Oh, I’m just reserve for now. But a bet on the Harpies is always a safe bet,” Ginny gave a wicked smile causing the table to collectively give a ruckus laugh.

“Ernie, you know Ginny is the youngest reserve chaser in the league,” Molly boasted, and Harry noticed Ginny resist rolling her eyes.

“Mum, I’m so glad you support my career choice now.” The words were biting but the soft look in her eyes made Harry think Ginny actually meant them.

Harry stole a look at Justin. To his disgust the boy was looking at Ginny rather starry eyed. It isn’t like Harry could blame him; a similar look frequently graced his own face.

He was rather sick of it all though. The constant parade of unworthy men being thrust at Ginny.

The rather petulant thought that Molly had never asked him to be one of those unworthy men flew through his brain unhelpfully. Perhaps everyone had given up on the possibility of him and Ginny ever making it work.

They had made it work though. For a few blissful months they had been something new and delicate and untouchable. Frequently Harry thought back to some of those times. Of walks around the school, hands clasped and of breathless goodbyes leaving them both wanting and late for class.

Ever since the war Harry had been trying to pick up the pieces, but it had been hard and often he had found himself rather aimless. Without even realizing it, he had found that he had pulled back on all the ties that bound him-rarely coming by the Burrow, never seeing friends other than around the office and busying himself with work and tracking down rogue Death Eaters.

He had finally looked up and while he had stayed in the same spot, everyone else had moved on. Ron had ditched the aurors and found his calling with George in the joke shop. Hermione had proven herself immensely capable apart from him in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

And Ginny had graduated from Hogwarts and immediately absconded to Harpy training camp.

Unfortunately, in all his chosen one lessons with Dumbledore, the wise wizard had never told him what happens after the bad guy has been slain. What happens to the chosen one when he’s done being chosen?

In this instance it seemed as if Harry was doomed to sit there and watch as everyone he loved moved on without him. Bitterly he looked down at the roast on his plate, moving the discarded pees around with his fork.

“You gonna finish that?” Harry looked up to find he was almost done at the table, Ron leaning over him, fork in hand.

Scowling, Harry pushed his plate towards Ron who tucked in happily. “Ernie left a bit ago,” Ron said, in between bites. Harry’s eyes snapped up at that.

“Why would I care whether or not Ernie had left?” Harry snarked at him, frowning when Ron paused his eating to give Harry a knowing look.

“Either way, Ginny is in the backyard if you want to talk to her,” Ron scooped up some mashed potatoes. “Or not.” He shrugged.

Harry pushed away from the table and paused in front of the living room. He could hear the rest of the Weasley’s making their normal noises and he hesitated before joining, his eyes straying to the backyard where Ron had said Ginny was.

Whatever gravitational pull Ginny had made the decision for him as Harry turned and slipped out the door.

She was silhouetted against the starry sky, the light of the moon reflecting off her hair in a way that made his throat dry. He approached her slowly and she turned at his footsteps, giving him a warm smile.

“I came out to get some fresh air,” she told him unnecessarily and he plopped down next to her, his arm brushing hers. “These family gatherings can be a lot,” she said, her voice so quiet he could barely hear her, but that’s probably more to do with the quick sound of his heartbeat in his ears.

Feeling that same impulsive urge he had felt during dinner that let him hold her hand, he lifted his arm up and over her shoulders. They both froze at the contact, but before he could regret it, she leaned in, setting her head on his shoulder.

“Where did Ernie go?” Harry asked eventually, that familiar monster roaring in his chest.

Ginny leaned even further into his side. “He got an owl, had to go into the office.” Her hair brushed against his neck and he caught a whiff of her comforting flower scent that hadn’t changed since sixth year.

“Did you want him to stay?” He asked her, the darkness giving him some sort of courage.

She shook her head. “Not really. He wasn’t as bad as the other’s, but he’s not really who I want,” she said, voice low and husky.

Finally, she sighed deeply and pulled away, pulling her knees under the skirt of her dress and into her stomach.

“At least he seemed to want me,” she mumbled, and Harry took a deep breath, tired of always waiting for the right moment.

“I’ve never not wanted you, Ginny.”

Amazingly, the words didn’t sound weak or pathetic out loud like they did in his head. Instead, all he felt was relief.

The sound of a sharp intake of breath was the only indication that he had been heard. Summoning his Gryffindor courage, he looked up at Ginny. She was staring at him, eyes wide.

“You want me?” She asked finally, incredulously.

He ran a hand through his hair nervously. “Watching your mum parade those boys in front of you has been a special kind of hell for me Gin. I miss you.” They aren’t the most eloquent words, but they are the ones he had.

“Then why didn’t you say anything, you stupid arse?” Ginny finally spit out and Harry let out a choke of laughter.

“I’m an idiot?” He told her helpfully and she shook her head, a fond smile on her face.

“Can you come closer Harry? I need to smack you,” she laughed, and Harry obliged, scooting back towards her until there was no space between them, his body tingling in anticipation.

“So no more set ups from your mum?” He asked, moving his face toward hers so close he could feel each breath she took, could count the freckles on her face from just the soft light of the stars.

“Harry I can confidently tell you I will no longer let my mum dictate my romantic life from here on out,” she giggled and Harry fought the smile that threatened to climb up his cheeks.

“Harry,” she said, drawing his attention back to her and her lips.

“Yes?”

“I’ve never not wanted you to kiss me,” she said before closing the small gap between them, her soft, sweet lips under his. Suddenly all the pining and scowling became worth it as he rolled them over, her body under his, molding to each other as if reminding him that they’ve done this before.

As he kissed and kissed her, lips trailing down her neck, he sent a silent thank you to whatever work emergency had claimed Ernie’s attention. Tonight and forever Ginny was his. And he set about showing her over and over.

_*_*_*_*_*_*_

“Ernie Macmillan? Really?” Ron took a noisy bite of his biscuit.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Ronald,” Molly tutted, waiving her wand so the corresponding feather duster would wipe down the windows properly.

“I just want you to know that I know what you did,” Ron shrugged, gesturing out the window Molly was cleaning to where Harry and Ginny were clearly engaged in some unwholesome activities.

Molly smiled at the image the pair made before closing the curtain and turning back towards her youngest son.

“Don’t you have your own home?” He lifted his hands in surrender before leaving the room. Molly watched as he disappeared from view. Really, what was she supposed to do? Let them pine away for each other forever? No, she did the right thing. She did feel a little bad poor Ernie would have to go all the way into work to find that emergency cauldron bottom situation wasn’t quite the emergency that ministry owl had made it seem. But the boy had gotten a home cooked meal for dinner so he surely made out alright.

Smiling one more time to herself, a very satisfied Molly Weasley set about cleaning dishes, brainstorming how she might next get Percy to dinner along with that nice young man Oliver Wood.

#hinnyfic #hinnyficfest #runningwrites

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romioneficfest · 3 years

Text

2021 Final Masterlist

Greetings fans, readers, voters, and everyone else. The time has come - to close the curtain on the 2021 Romione FicFest. 39 stories were submitted and published by an amazing list of authors.

I wish to thank each and every one of them for their hard work, their courage to hit send, and the fact that they had to keep quiet while awaiting positive feedback for their works. (And if you've held off giving rave reviews on their works, please please please do so now for their benefit. I beseech thee!)

I applaud every single one of you, yes I do.

Every single story submitted has been enjoyed, appreciated, and cherished. The more, the merrier, when it comes to more fic, and more writing.

So, without any further ado,

2021 Masterlist:

Bottom of the Bottle Author: @ballerinaroy Summary: He’s been searching for the answer in Firewhiskey but it’s never been there.

And I’m in love with every colour of you Author: @ballerinaroy Summary: He fills her rainbow. Every colour is made better because of him.

Before and After Author: @ballerinaroy Summary: It’s hard to remember before.

The Curious Case of the light switch Author: @aprofessionalprotagonist Summary: Why can’t Ron ever turn off a light switch?

Theirs and Ours Author: @voldemorts-tap-shoes Summary: Who knew babysitting 4 kids would make Hermione doubt herself and the future of the Weasley-Granger household?

Thirty Years Author: @ballerinaroy Summary: She’d laid it all out, beginning to end. A whole life, theirs.

Ever so Smart and Clever Author: @arianatwycross-fics Summary: Hermione is visiting Grimmauld Place in her Christmas holidays and Ron has just gotten his results back from an exam at Auror Training.

Dreams Author: @voldemorts-tap-shoes Summary: the line between dreams and reality can sometimes blur in brilliant ways.

Little Unicorn Day Center Author: @voldemorts-tap-shoes Summary: Hermione Granger runs the Little Unicorn Day Center and meets one of the Dads and is smitten. Is it so wrong to appreciate a charge’s dad?

Mine Author: @accio-broom Summary: A newborn Hugo refuses to sleep. Can Rose be the answer to the young parents finally getting some sleep?

I Need You Author: @adenei Summary: A Romione Ficlet inspired by the TV Show New Girl Season 2: Episode 15 “Cooler”

I Knew it would be You Author: @adenei Summary: Seventh Year AU when Ron and Hermione receive their final Hogwarts letters.

Just a Snog Author: @adenei Summary: 6th Year AU - Ron confronts Hermione immediately following his row with Ginny.

Nice to Meet You Author: @cheesyficwriter Summary: “The moment I first saw her, I knew I was in trouble.” A muggle university AU one-shot featuring Ron/Hermione.

Right Here, Right Now Author: @cheesyficwriter Summary: Ron and Hermione share a tender moment under the stars during the summer following the Battle.

Double Hazelnut Almond Milk Macchiato Author: @be11atrixthestrange Summary: Muggle AU. Hermione Granger is new in town, and she has a pretty complicated coffee order.

Early Morning Light Author: @rafa-rafaelx Summary: Ron and Hermione in the early hours of the morning at Shell Cottage

Warm Author: @honouraryweasley12 Summary: Hermione decides to reconcile with Ron after the poisoning, and learns something interesting.

Pen-Y-Fan Author: @accio-broom Summary: Hermione wakes Ron up crazily early to climb the side of a mountain. Whilst he grumbles at first, he soon discovers that the view is worth it.

Valeria Author: @acnelli Summary: Sometimes someone steps into your life when you least expect it. Ron and Hermione had made a lot of life-changing decisions together, and this is the beginning of another.

The Promise Author: @maggotsstuff Summary: Ron goes missing and Hermione reacts

The Right Decision Author: @adenei Summary: Hermione questions her decision to return to Hogwarts for her seventh year.

Why am I so ugly? Author: @lobster-lost Summary: This takes place in the 6th year when Harry drinks the Felix Felicis potion and “make” Lavender broke up with Ron. He goes out for hours in his missing to pursuit Slughorn. Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione got some time alone.

Sleepy (M Rated) Author: @lobster-lost Summary: This takes place 2 years after the war. Ron and Hermione are together, but as there are not married yet, Mrs. Weasley still prefers them to sleep in separate rooms. The whole family was at the Burrow for Christmas.

Saying the Words Author: @honouraryweasley12 Summary: Ron works up the courage to tell Hermione something important. Then he has to do it again.

Scared of losing You Author: @adenei Summary: Hermione wakes up for the first time not knowing where she is. Fortunately, someone is there by her side.

A Practical Stranger Author: @cheesyficwriter Summary: Hermione receives assistance from someone who may not be as much of a stranger to her as she initially thinks.

A Little Motivation (M Rated) Author: @lobster-lost Summary: Ron and Hermione share a very intimate moment after a long day of work.

Will they or won’t they Author: @adenei Summary: The last few days have been stressful, what with the recent attack on Mr Weasley. So, Sirius does the last thing he can think of to help the teens relax now that they know Mr Weasley is going to be okay.

Until the very end Author: @cheesyficwriter summary: Hermione and Ron find solace with each other in the days following Malfoy Manor.

The Beholder Author: @acnelli Summary: Hermione is not happy with the way she looks in her new lingerie.

Sod It Author: @adenei Summary: Parks and Rec Crossover from the episode “Smallest Park”. Hermione and Ron are Leslie and Ben. Most of the dialogue is taken from the scene in the episode.

Tutor Girl Author: @accio-broom summary: Inspired by One Tree Hill Season 1 Episode 3 - Are You True?

Defender Author: @honouraryweasley12 Summary: During rounds, Hermione sees something that gives hope.

The Second Gift Author: @adenei Summary: Hermione ponders Ron’s intentions after receiving perfume as her Christmas gift. She makes a hasty decision to attempt to give him something that’s more meaningful than a ridiculous homework planner.

Family Ties Author: @adenei Summary: Hermione learns about the family ties between the Blacks and the Weasleys.

Flutter Author: @adenei summary: Ron can’t sleep because Hermione can’t sleep because Rose can’t sleep.

The Fallen Hero Author: @maggotsstuff Summary: An account of the night of escape from Malfoy Manor by the golden trio from Ron’s POV- Reference DH

Common Ground Author: @voldemorts-tap-shoes Summary: Ron’s first assignment as a Prefect for Hufflepuff is making him a little nervous: Rounds for the evening with Ace student and Ravenclaw’s school Know it All Hermione Granger.

#2021 Romione FicFest #Masterlist #Author Reveals #Queue up for the Dragon

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ginisbetterthanfirewhiskey · 3 years

Text

Imposter

Written for the Hinny Ficfest 2021.

Thank you @clarensjoy for organizing this! And an enormous thank you to @whiffingbooks for her precious help!

Prompt:

“His pickup line wasn’t as good as mine. Just saying.”

Disclaimer: I found some pick up lines on the Internet. The first and third were adapted to fit in the story, the others were let as is.

Also available on Ao3.

“Merlin! When I said ‘Accio the most beautiful woman in the world,’ I never thought it would work!”

Ginny froze, her lips inches away from the straw in her cold butterbeer, hoping that awful pickup line wasn’t destined for her, but, to her total disappointment, a young man with brown hair slumped his elbow over the bar next to her.

Shit.

His spicy perfume made her wrinkle her nose a bit, the scent so strong she felt like she could taste it on her tongue. Fixing her glass with a frown, Ginny decided to ignore him, hoping he’d take the hint and leave her alone. She hadn’t expected having to reconsider her decision so soon when she heard the next sentence he dared to pronounce, the words sounding filthy coming from his mouth.

“I’m Harry Potter, nice to meet you.”

Ginny closed her eyes and took a deep breath, not believing her ears. If there was one thing Ginny would recognize everywhere, it would be Harry’s voice.

That man wasn’t Harry. And he had the audacity to use Harry’s name to woo a girl in hope to bring her home tonight.

She turned her head towards the guy, noticing the round glasses and fake faint scar on his forehead. But the eyes were all wrong. Totally wrong. They weren’t that enchanted green that made her heart falter every time Harry landed his eyes on her.

Under the effect of the wave of indignation vibrating in her veins, she fisted her hand around the fabric of her skirt and exhaled through her nose.

“Oh really?” she asked him, her voice velvety and smooth. The guy sat more comfortably on his leather stool, sending her a grotesque wink at the same time. He nodded to her, playing with the side of his glasses and then, leaned over her, which caused Ginny to pull back.

“In chair and in blood. At your service, Mademoiselle.”

She couldn’t let this slide and it took her herculean strength to not hex him right then and there with the hardest bat bogey hex she’d ever manage to send.

“I’m so happy you’d changed your mind about me,” said Ginny, batting her eyelashes at the guy.

The guy frowned. “About you? What do you mean?”

“You don’t remember, Harry? You told me we were done.” Letting out a heavy sigh, Ginny passed her fingers in her long hair, before taking a sip of her cold drink. “I’m so happy to see you.”

Giving her a nervous laugh, the guy shifted on his stool. “I’m sure I’d have remembered you. A girl as good-looking as you? Nah. I wouldn’t forget you,” he said with more confidence.

Giggling, she bit her bottom lip, and then leaned towards the man. “That’s funny. They do say you never forget your first!” She widened her eyes, gasping. “Maybe I shouldn’t have Obliviated you that hard,” she murmured looking at the dirty floor of the pub and placing her finger on her chin like she was remembering the event. “You were just begging so hard for me to do it, Harry.”

The man gulped before looking at her with a stare Ginny could describe as half horrified and half judgy.

Perfect.

“Right. Erm. Listen, I’m not really Harry Potter. But hey! I may not be the Boy Who Lived, but I can still be your chosen one,” he chanted like he’d practiced that bad pickup line in front of the mirror a hundred times.

“Oh, you’re not?” asked Ginny, pouting. “That’s too bad. I guess you’re still cute enough.”

“Amazing!” exclaimed the imposter, clapping his hands in joy. “Are you interested in making some magic together tonight? My wand is all ready for you! I have a big one too,” he added, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Mine is ready too!” she responded with a devious look, taking out her wand.

The guy took a sharp breath at the sight. “You know what? I think someone on the Floo called me,” he said, pointing his thumb behind his shoulder.

“You don’t want to play with me? That’s a pity.”

“I’ll see you-”

“No thanks,” she said with a severe tone, sending a hex at his feet. Ginny was done playing. Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, threw her a nasty look, still wiping a glass, but said nothing. The imposter guy, dumbfounded, widened his eyes at her in fear. “Don’t try ever again to dress up as him to shag, understand? And you look ridiculous with these glasses by the way,” she shouted at him when he ran away.

“His pickup line wasn’t as good as mine. Just saying.”

Ginny, still fuming, jumped at the sound of the voice, spilling a bit of her drink on the bar. She turned towards Harry who was leaning against an empty table just behind her, arms crossed.

“Oh! Hello, Romeo. Fancy seeing you here, I thought you’d just left,” she said over her shoulder, looking at her brother’s best-friend.

Harry had a murderous look on his face. “I saw. Thanks for that. And, erm, sorry. I’d never had said this to you.”

“At your service, Cap’tain.”

Harry smiled a little. “I’m not your captain anymore.”

Ginny waved her hand, taking a sip from her glass. “It’s a tiny detail.”

“Right. Well, I’m truly sorry about this. I wasn’t expecting blokes to try to-”

“Don’t be sorry, you prat. You can’t control this. Plus, you weren’t the one trying to get into my pants tonight.”

Harry gave her a faint nod, uncrossing his arms. “Can I?” he asked, pointing at the stool next to her, to which she nodded without waiting, making place for him to sit by moving her legs from the way.

She glanced at him without saying anything and, like he’d read her mind, he answered her unspoken question. “Ron asked me to pick up our dinner tonight, so I ordered here.”

“Good choice. Their stew’s the best,” she said, her fingers on her straw.

“Mmm, I think your mom’s stew is better.”

Smiling, Ginny leaned in Harry’s direction, engulfed by the sweet scent of his soap. “She’s not here, you don’t have to pretend,” she murmured to him conspiratorially.

Harry faked a gasp. “Who do you think I am? I would never! Not to Molly Weasley. I’m way too scared to lie to her face. What if she finds out? And she would. I could even lose my place as her favourite Harry!”

“Well, I can confirm to you you’re also my favourite,” said Ginny, putting a strand of hair behind her ear.

Harry held her gaze, his eyes glinting in the murky bar, making Ginny’s heart pump faster.

“I still think my pickup line was better by the way,” he said, breaking the intensity in the atmosphere.

She let out the breath she was holding. “Right. I still think you were drunk,” replied Ginny, a smirk on her lips.

Harry shrugged. “Maybe.”

Looking at the grumpy man behind the wooden bar, they exchanged a couple of words, Harry confirming his takeaway order again and paying, and then he turned to her.

“But I won’t confirm anything,” he said to her at last.

“What was it again?” she asked.

With a crooked smile, Harry adjusted himself on his stool. “Are you sure you’re not a Dementor? Because I’m sure I’d die if you kissed me.”

Ginny let out a chuckle, twirling the straw in her glass. “That’s such a pickup line for an Auror. Did you hear it at the Ministry?”

Putting his elbow on the bar, he replied, “Of course I did. But it was my favourite.”

“That’s what I thought.” She took out the straw from her butterbeer, pointing it at Harry in accusation. “I know you and you’re not smooth enough to think up one yourself. At least, Fake-Harry did,” she added, unimpressed. To add credence to her act, she looked down and pulled a lint from her skirt, and then sighed dramatically.

Harry acted offended which warmed Ginny’s heart. Since the battle, Harry was more closed, always sporting a frown, suspicious of everyone and everything. To see him carefree, exchanging nonsense with her in a public place like it was the most natural thing in the world, was a precious sight after all the horrors she saw herself.

She pinched her lips together and lifted an eyebrow, knowing she’d hit his competitive button. He squinted his eyes in concentration, ignoring when the bartender put his takeaway bag at his side, the rich and homey scent of the stew made with red wine filling the air and enveloping her senses.

“Did you survive the Avada Kedavra curse? Because you’re drop-dead gorgeous. Oh! Nevermind. That was me.”

Ginny, taken by complete surprise, spat out a bit of her butterbeer on the bar and started coughing, hand on her chest. Harry, laughing at her spontaneous reaction, put his hand on her arm, a simple gesture, yet, one confirming her he was there to help if she needed it.

“Merlin, Harry! All your pickup lines are dark,” she pointed out to him with a laugh, once she’d regained her composure. She wiped the liquid from her bottom lip and chin, mindful of not looking yucky when Harry was so close to her, his hand burning the skin of her arm.

He gave her a boyish grin in return, never removing his hand from her, his cheeks tinting pink. “What can I say, it is my charm.”

A moment passed, neither of them seeming to care about the flow of people walking close to them at the bar or the cheesy song playing on the wireless, spending the minutes looking in each other’s eyes, a goofy smile on their lips. Harry eventually cleared his throat, his mood darking. “And, er, you? What were you doing here? Are you waiting for someone?”

She shook her head, crossing her arms on the bar “No, I was here with Neville-”

Harry’s shoulders slumped a bit, and she wondered what she’d said to provoke such a reaction from him when his jaw squared. “Ah. I see.”

“- but Hannah finished her shift and he was drooling too much for me to stay there. I said I had to talk to Tom for my mum and just left. I don’t even think he noticed,” she said with fondness, remembering Neville stammering when he spoke to Hannah.

Harry’s demeanour shifted in a sudden when she mentioned Hannah and a melodious laugh escaped his mouth when she finished her story. “And he believed you?”

Sending him a wink, she put her straw between her teeth. “Just like your imposter did. I’m a good liar.”

He shook his head, eyes close, a small smile on his lips making him look adorable. There was something magnetic and captivating in Harry’s whole-being, always causing her to crave and long for more.

“You’re perfect,” he threw at her, earnest. It was totally unexpected and the passion filling his voice surprised her and left her speechless for an instant, her mind unable to come up with any reply. Blood rushed to her cheeks, her heart racing at high speed, and she fought with herself to tear up her gaze from his, to stop reacting like the teenager she once was.

Harry pressed his lips together without leaving her eyes, inhaling deeply like he was trying to gather enough courage. Ginny didn’t dare to breathe when he lifted his hand slowly, tentatively, to the lock of hair shaping the side of her face. His warm fingers grazed the skin of her ear, sending shivers in her neck, the moment filled with an intimacy they had never experienced before then.

“Come with me.”

“Where?” she whispered, her throat closing from nervousness.

Pulling back, he took the steaming bag with the forgotten stews and put it on his lap. “We’ll give that to Ron and Hermione and, I-I don’t have any other pick up lines in mind, shit,” he mumbled. “Would you come to dinner with me?” he asked, his voice cracking at the end of his sentence.

Thinking back to the party at Dean’s yesterday, she remembered when he told her the dementor pick up line, how she’d hoped it could be real, and knowing full well she’d be the one dying if he’d kiss her. Ginny had spent the rest of the night imagining the feeling of his lips on hers, what it’d have been like to have him an inch from her face, enjoying the sensation of his firewhiskey smelling breath warming her skin.

She had followed each of his steps all night, not that she was proud of it of course, and hadn’t been able to shake off her excruciating desire for something to happen that was burning in her veins. Burning since, if she was honest with herself, years.

But, as expected, nothing happened. Nothing apart from Harry shooting her this weird, yet, charming pick up line. And as clumsy and kinda dark it had been, it had affected her for hours. From his attractive lips, everything could sound adorable. Nothing happened because Hermione had broken the moment by giving Harry a glass of water and her brother Ron had laughed at how Harry had clearly reached his limit that night. Harry, his jaw clenched, had simply scrambled up to his feet, away from her, and Ginny had missed on her his glazed eyes looking at her like she was all he’d ever wished in life for the rest of the night.

It wasn’t possible though, she’d told herself. She knew she had still been imagining things. That pick up line had surely been a joke so Ginny hadn’t wanted to dwell on it too much.

Now though, there was no possible misunderstanding and she came to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, Harry had been trying to flirt with her since a moment already.

“Yesterday? You were serious?”

Harry passed his hand in his hair with a sigh. “I know I’m bad at pick up lines. I wanted to crawl in a hole after telling you this. And clearly, you didn’t get my intentions-”

“I really didn’t,” she rushed to say.

Harry sighed. “I’m bad at this.”

“Really bad,” she confirmed, nodding with vigour, and Harry tried to poke her stomach playfully in response.

When their laughter died, he touched her hand, brushing and looking at her fingers in the most gentle way, electrifying her senses. Ginny realized he was still waiting for her response.

“I have a better idea,” said Ginny, too excited to hide it.

Tilting his head, he sent her a confused look.

“There is some stew at home that Mum cooked yesterday.” Harry squeezed her hand, his warm eyes illuminated as much as one of the flames of the candles burning in the Leaky.

“I couldn’t ask for more,” he said, getting off of his stool, Ginny mimicking him. “You, your mum’s stew-

She waved her hand at Neville and Hannah in goodbye. “Oh, wait until I bake you a treacle tart, Romeo,” she told Harry with a smirk, walking in the direction of the Floo with him at her side.

Harry groaned. "How long are you going to tease me like that? It's not fair! I'm not teasing you with your poem! Do you want me to recite it or-?" he asked her, beaming like a fool and reaching for her hand. Ginny's eyes widened in horror at his words.

"Fair point, Romeo."

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