When it Snows in August

When it Snows In August

"You really think Ron and Hermione are going to get together?" squealed Parvati. "Yeah right, Hermione and Harry are right for each other!

"I'm telling you - Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny!" Lavender stated bluntly.

"Ginny? As in Ron's sister?"

"Yes, Ginny," replied Lavender.

"Like Ron'll allow that!" said Parvati.

"Do we have a bet?" asked Lavender, slyly.

"A bet? Okay. 10 galleons."

"Done."

"Harry and Ginny'll get together when it snows in August."

"Shame Hermione's ill. This weather must be awful when you already suffering from Freezing Draught," said Harry.

"I'm gonna get Malfoy for that! I am!" Ron said fiercely, his hands balled into fists.

"Calm down Ron. There's nothing you can do at the moment. Wish we could go visit her..."

"Yeah - contagious my foot! It's a potion!" Ron said indignantly. "Bloody hell it's cold. I thought it was meant to be July?"

"Turn the wireless on. Maybe we can find a weather report," as Harry said this, Ron reached for his old, very battered wireless and turned it on, turning the volume up.

"Well, looks like a cold front's sweeping Scotland, focusing its energies around Hogwarts. Looks like a freak mid-summer snowstorm folks! Batten down the hatches! It's going to be cold."

"Great. We're gonna freeze."

Ginny stood outside the infirmary looking at Hermione. Madame Pomfrey wouldn't let her in, but she'd taken the Honeydukes chocolate Ginny had brought, as well as the card, and given them to Hermione. She was asleep at the moment.

Ginny didn't know what to do. She'd fallen out with her friends, and Hermione was contagious. She supposed she could hang with Harry and Ron, but, well, to tell the truth, she still liked Harry. And Ron - well Ron was her brother!

Still, she couldn't stand outside the hospital wing forever. Beside, she was cold.

"I'm telling you Harry, Trelawney isn't gonna like you winning a bet! Make it you lose one..." said Ron.

"Doing your homework as truthfully as ever, huh?" came a voice from behind them. For a second, Harry thought it was Hermione, then the voice registered. It was Ginny. Harry felt himself go red.

"Shut up Ginny. Trelawney likes it when we lie. You should try it," Ron said absently, still staring at his parchment.

"Thanks for the tip..." she said dryly.

"So - d - did you want anything?" Harry stuttered. Ginny blushed.

"I was just wondering if I could hang out with you guys - Hermione's ill and my friends aren't talking to me," Ginny explained in a rush. Inside, Harry groaned. Outside though, he smiled.

"Sure - make yourself at home."

The next day was a Hogsmeade visit, and Ron had arranged to go with Lavender. Parvati was staying at the castle to catch up on homework, and Hermione was still ill. During the night, it had snowed and the sky was blue. Ginny had woken up to an empty dormitory - all her friends had gone to Hogsmeade. As she trudged down to the Great Hall for breakfast, she heard a voice behind her.

"Gin - wait up!" She turned, and saw Harry running towards her - hair everywhere as usual. She smiled to herself. He really was cute. She used to like because he was a hero. Now she liked him. She had no more time to think, though, because Harry had caught up with her.

"Let's eat breakfast together," he said. Ginny just nodded.

Once they were in the Great Hall Harry plopped down in his usual seat. The hall was just about empty, most of the students above third year were in Hogsmeade, and a lot of the younger students were sleeping in.

On the table was a large spread of hot food - sausages, bacon, tomatoes, eggs (fried, scrambled and boiled), toast, beans, mushrooms, and fried bread. As Ginny watched, Harry piled his plate with a bit of everything and started to tuck in. She glanced at his wiry figure and wondered where he put it all. She grabbed a boiled egg and a slice of toast and began to eat.

Once they finished they wandered into the Entrance Hall. Once glance out of the window informed Ginny of what she wanted to do that morning. "Let's make snowmen!" Then, she turned on her heel and ran back to Gryffindor Tower. Harry shrugged, and ran after her.

By the time he got there, Ginny had put on extra clothes, and found Harry's Christmas 'Weasley' jumpers - all five.

"Put them on! It'll be cold outside!" cried Ginny, looking every bit the little puppy in the snow for the first time. Harry did so, and looked a little like a sumo wrestler by the time he'd squeezed into them all. Ginny tossed him some thick gloves, a hat and a scarf and Harry put them on. He was glad - he didn't have any. At least these wear blue, rather than the pink ones Ginny was wearing. As he thought this Ginny threw him a cheeky grin, and raced back out of the portrait hole.

"Ginny!" Harry yelled.

Harry found Ginny crouching in the snow near the lake. It was frozen over.

"Ginny!" he yelled. "Thought you said something about snowmen!"

"Sure!" she shouted back. "Where do you want them to be?" shed asked in a quieter voice, as Harry walked closer.

"How about...over there?" he asked, pointing to an area of snow on the other side of the lake. "Then they'd have a nice view!" he joked.

"Okay!" cried Ginny excitedly and Harry grabbed her arm.

"What?" she asked, her green eyes looking deep into his.

Harry grinned impishly. "Don't go running off." Ginny sighed, and forced a smile. When he'd grabbed her she thought it might be for something else...like, a kiss...

Two hours later, a mummy snowman, a daddy snowman, a kid snowman and a very oddly shaped snowdog stood, looking out over the grounds of Hogwarts. Ginny and Harry surveyed their work, then, because it was too early for lunch and they were both ravenous, Harry suggested going to the kitchens.

"The kitchens? I've never been," said Ginny, more to herself than Harry.

"Well its about time you see them then! What would you like for lunch?" he asked.

"Umm, stew. That'd be nice - good stodgy winter food as my mum would say," she smiled at Harry.

"One slight flaw in that logic Ginny - it's July!" Harry retorted, grinning.

"It doesn't feel like it," said Ginny, slightly embarrassed.

The two left their snowpeople (and dog) to it and Harry escorted Ginny to the kitchens. As soon as he stepped in, he was hugged around the knees by Dobby.

"Mr Potter! Who is the guest?" he asked in his high, squeaky voice.

"Ginny Weasley, Gin, this is Dobby," Harry said.

"Another Wheezy! Would you like some food?" he said hopefully.

"Two portions of stew, please," Harry said while glancing at Ginny. She was obviously overwhelmed by all the busy little houselves, especially Dobby.

Harry led Ginny to a table and they sat down across from each other. Very soon, Winky and Dobby brought over their food.

"Winky! How are you?" Harry asked.

"Fine, thank you, sir," Winky said quietly before walking away. Dobby disappeared after her.

"Do you know all the houselves?" Ginny asked, in awe.

"Nah, just Dobby and Winky. Long stories," he added. "I'll tell you one day."

"So, do you come here often?"

"Are you tired? Because you've been running round my head all night!"

"You must let me buy you a drink..." The talk carried on in the vane of cheesy pick up lines, for several minutes, before they both collapsed into giggles. "I meant," restated Ginny, "do you come to the kitchens all the time?"

"Only sometimes."

"Oh," Ginny smiled.

Later on, after a snowball fight, Harry and Ginny made their way back to Gryffindor tower. They took off their wet jumpers, gloves, scarves, hats, shoes and socks, and sat on the couch in front of the fire. The Hogsmeade trip wasn't yet back, and the common room was completely empty.

For a while they sat just watching the flames. Harry kept glancing at Ginny. In the firelight her curly red hair looked beautiful, and her pale face was light up by the joy of watching the flames.

He's watching me, though Ginny as she stared into the fire. She closed her eyes, and imagined his face. His green eyes, almost matching hers, his messy black hair... A slight pressure one her lips drew her from her thoughts, and her eyes flew open. There was the image that had been imprinted in her friend - Harry, and he was kissing her! She smiled and started returning the kiss, letting all her thoughts drift away - she knew nothing, but Harry...