By the Lake

Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting at the Gryffindor table. It was seven pm on a Friday and they were all glad that it was nearly the weekend. “T.G.I. Friday!” Hermione sighed.

“I know. I have a Quidditch game tomorrow but at least I have no homework!” Harry laughed.

At that moment Ginny came and sat down. She looked unhappy and cleared her throat, as though she wanted them to ask what was wrong. “What’s up Gin?” asked Ron.

“Nothing, I just got a detention. Snape saw me putting an extra rat spleen into a Slytherin’s potion so he gave me detention. Tomorrow night.” Ginny looked up at Harry. It was still obvious that she had a crush on him, but it was turning into something more. “Bye. I have some charms homework and I’ not that hungry.”

“Weird!” Ron exclaimed in surprise, “She hadn’t looked so down since she made her rabbit, Opium, disappear and couldn’t bring it back. Wonder what happened to it.” Harry and Hermione had made to bite into their lasagne, but stopped mid way. Ron bit into his and seeing the looks on their faces swallowed and said, “What?”

******************

On Sunday afternoon Ginny was walking at the edge of the lake. She was again thinking of Harry. She longed to be with him. She was in his sixth year, Harry in his seventh, and she was already missing him! Ginny stopped. She had heard someone behind her. She turned and saw Harry. “Hi, Ginny,” Harry said. Ginny distinctly heard a note of nervousness in his voice. “I saw you here and, uh, I wanted to talk to you.” He smiled weakly.

“Oh. Well, I want to talk to you too.”

Harry walked over to her and she was about to say something when he leaned in and kissed her. “Well, that wasn’t what I expected,” Ginny whispered in surprise.

*****************

In the Gryffindor common room Ron and Hermione were looking over their History of Magic homework. “Where’s Harry?” asked Ron, “He kinda rushed off when I told him Ginny was still unhappy. You don’t suppose he’s shot her do you?” Hermione just smiled and kept working. “What?” She kept smiling. “WHAT?” Ron was confused and angry.

“Look out the window,” Hermione said calmly. Ron looked out of the window and his jaw dropped. Harry and Ginny were standing at the side of the lake and it looked to Ron like they were eating each others’ faces. “What the......?”

“Yes?” Hermione looked very amused.

********************

By the time Ron had reached the lake Harry and Ginny had started unbuttoning each others’ shirts. Ron stormed over and pulled Harry away from his younger sister. “What, are you DOING?!?” Ron screamed at Harry.

“Well, um. We... no. Can I just say... er..” Harry was going red in the face, his shirt falling off his right shoulder. Ginny was already scarlet and was buttoning up her blouse.

“I thought you had more respect for my sister than that! I know you just did it to cheer her up!” Ron looked like he was going to punch him in the face.

“Ron... please.” Ginny looked pleadingly at him. “I love her! Ron! You have no right to tell me who to love and who not to love! I love your sister! I am in love with her!”

Both Ron and Ginny looked extremely surprised. “What did you say Harry?” Ginny was looking at him with bright eyes.

“I.. I love you.” Harry’s emerald eyes were glinting with hope.

“I love you too. Oh, Harry!” She ran up to Harry and caught him in a long passionate kiss.

Ron waited until they were finished before saying, “Well, mate, I don’t suppose there’s anyone better for my sister than you. You’re just lucky Fred and George aren’t here!”