To the Muggle World and Beyond

To the Muggle World and Beyond

Chapter One: Lunch With Harry

Ginny Weasley hadn't changed a bit. She was still the spunky, flamboyant girl she'd always been. Here she was, twenty years old, walking down Diagon Alley in her black turtleneck and pants and her black cloak billowing behind her, hoping she wouldn't be forced to interact with anyone in any way.

"Gin! Hey Gin--" Then again, maybe not.

Knowing whom it was, Ginny really didn't want to turn around. But she couldn't ignore him forever; after all, he was her boyfriend.

"What do you want, Colin?" she asked impatiently.

"Harry wants to meet us, well, you for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron! Can we go? Please?" Colin Creevy, twenty-one years old, still was excited about knowing the Boy who Lived, or Harry Potter. He was jumping up and down, ruffling his sandy brown hair, his huge brown eyes bulging.

"Fine." Behind Ginny, Colin was jumping up and down with excitement, pumping his fists in the air.

Harry Potter was patiently waiting in the Leaky Cauldron, tapping his fingers against the wooden table, occasionally glancing at the door. Finally, it opened and Harry quickly got up to see who was there. Ginny walked in, Colin following behind her like a lost puppy dog. He hadn't seen her in four years since after the War, when they parted to walk their own paths. He surveyed her with his eyes. Truly a lovely sight, she stood tall, her silky red hair spilling over her shoulders, looking around the room with her golden brown eyes, to the feminine curves of her body. Harry mentally gave her a 10.

"Hiya Harry!" rang Colin's annoying mouse-like voice rang through his ears. Damn, he thought, I didn't really want Colin tagging along. But he smiled politely and pulled out a chair for Ginny, realizing he had chosen a table for two people.

"But--But..." Colin started whining.

"Just sit over there, Colin!" said Ginny, pointing to a far away table. Colin pouted and turned away.

When Colin was out of earshot, Harry quietly asked, "Are you two actually dating?" Ginny laughed.

"Yes Harry, I actually feel sorry for the little bugger."

"Why?"

"Because--because..." Why did I choose Colin, she pondered. It could be because she felt sorry for the desperate little git, he'd liked her since first year, the way he followed her, complimented her. She then found an excuse, "Because there was no one left."

Harry arched his eyebrows. "No one left?"

"Well, yeah, I mean, everyone was taken, Neville was with Susan Bones, you know, the one in Hufflepuff, Dean was with Lavender, Seamus was with Parvati, Michael Corner, well, you know, and you were with Cho--oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Ginny gasped, realizing what she had just said. Harry looked down at the table. Cho Chang and Harry started dating in Harry's sixth year, and owled each other after. Cho had fought in the war, too, until she and Harry were on a mission and she was killed, Harry, tied up and gagged, unable to save her. He had witnessed the unfortunate event. Ginny had to come and save him before the Death Eaters got to him.

"It's... all right," he choked out. Ginny looked at him. His intense green eyes were watery, his unruly black hair shrouded around them. The moment was quiet and calm, until Harry spoke.

"Do you really love Colin?" he asked.

"What?" said Ginny, broken out of her peaceful silence.

"Well, do you?" Harry was suddenly leaning over the table; his face was half an inch away from Ginny's. His eyes were wide like a maniac's.

"Well... uh--" Harry pressed his lips against hers, in an all-too-sudden kiss. Ginny broke away from him. Harry grabbed her shoulders, bringing her closer to him.

"Stupefy!" yelled Colin. Harry lay motionless on the ground. "Let's... go...Gin..." He breathed out every word, trying to process what had just happened into his mind. He didn't move.

"Let's go, Colin!" Ginny grabbed his arm before Harry could regain consciousness.

"Did you see that? Did you see what I did?"

"Shut UP, Colin! Let's--"

But Colin disappeared.