Double Standard

4: Wedding Plans/Harry's Secret

Once that was done, the couple and Harry's future mother-in-law sat in the living room discussing the particulars of the upcoming wedding. Harry knew he would be having Ron as his best man, but Ginny's choice of her own personal attendant had changed after what had happened during the war between Harry and Hermione. Her second, Luna, was also out, although she and Hermione would be invited to the wedding, if only for the sake of keeping the peace. Hannah and Lavender were out as well; the last thing she needed was to have an attendant who had shagged Harry during the war. Just about all the ones she knew had done so, including Morag, so she was left with the only one she knew who hadn't been with him--at least not as far as she knew.

"Probably Susan Bones," she finally said--and although Molly gave her daughter a funny look, Harry knew why she had chosen her. In fact he had approached Susan in between Luna and Hannah, but she had already been in love and politely refused him. Because of this, it was best that neither Susan nor Harry ever mention this in Ginny's hearing, if only for his sake. "I' ll owl her and see what she says, anyway."

"What about wedding attire? Do you already have something in mind or do you want me to get out my wedding dress for you? After all, it might bring you luck, considering how long your father and I have been happily married."

"I'll consider it, Mum," Ginny promised. "Meanwhile, let's move on to other things."

Molly was all too pleased to do so, well aware of everything that went into planning a wedding as well as pulling it off, so Ginny pretty much decided to leave it to her, only making sure that her mother knew that she expected to be consulted regarding her and Harry's personal preferences. It was their wedding, after all. Ginny also fully expected her mother to owl all her brothers and tell them of the renewed engagement and wedding plans; Harry would likely tell his friends himself.

* * * * *

Their friends were as happy as could be expected, both of them hugging them in congratulations, Ron adding a kiss on his sister's forehead to his. They were surprised to hear of the provisos and Unbreakable Vow, too--or at least Ron was. Hermione well knew why Ginny had chosen to have it done and vowed to never show anything but friendship toward Harry after this, whatever it took to accomplish it. After what she had done to Harry and Ginny's relationship, Hermione believed it best. Too bad she hadn't thought of it far sooner ...

"Who were you going to have as your Maid of Honour, then?" she made herself ask.

"Probably Susan Bones," Ginny replied matter-of-factly.

Hermione bowed her head and lowered her eyes, knowing why Ginny had not chosen her or one of the others who had heretofore been her friends. Certainly the relationship between them would never be the same after this after what she'd done with Harry, but at least she would be able to see them married as they should be--and was happy that they had reconciled, because she knew as well as anyone how much the couple loved each other. For the moment, it was best to simply make the best of what they had, take one day at a time and see what turned up.

* * * * *

Ginny owled Susan the next day, explaining her need for an honour attendant for her wedding to Harry and asking her if she would be willing to act in that capacity, also explaining her reasons for not choosing someone else, because she wouldn't feel comfortable--to put it mildly--having an honour attendant who had shagged Harry. It took several days for Susan to answer but when she did, it was in the affirmative. In the meantime, she had also received an owl from Harry, warning her not to breathe a word about his having approached her during the war. Susan could well understand both their reasons for doing what they were doing, but also knew that there might be trouble in the event Ginny ever learned of what had passed between her and Harry.

Both would have to be especially careful both before and during the wedding (once Susan had arrived) not to give their secret away. Of course, since nothing had actually happened between them, hopefully the repercussions wouldn't be too horrific should it become known to Ginny--but after what she had already had to endure of Harry's peccadilloes during the war, there was no sense tempting fate.

In the end Ginny also decided to invite the other girls to the wedding, making sure to invite their men as well while she was at it--if only to put a constant reminder before Harry to behave himself and not to try to approach any of them in the presence of their own "significant others", because they were just as likely to hex him into the middle of the next century if they caught him ... and that was on top of the danger Harry would be in if Ginny found out and he wasn't able to talk his way out of it.

Ginny was also pleased to note that Susan basically agreed with her in regards to how an engagement should be treated, and how both the man and woman should act in regards to the couple's individual interactions with the opposite sex while apart. She even assured her that she would have done much the same thing to Harry if it had happened to her, and would even help Ginny hex Harry if she ever caught (or learned of) him misbehaving. Of course, Susan was luckier in that respect; she was in love with Ernie Macmillan and he had always been the faithful type, so there wasn't much danger of his betraying her.

Susan had even mentioned an article she had once read concerning this type of situation in a Witch Weekly romantic advice column a while back. It basically said that when a man does such things to his woman, it was his respect rather than his love for her that was in question. Once Ginny learned this, she intended to do whatever was necessary in order that Harry not only developed but maintained the proper respect for her.

He was toeing the line so far, but how long would it be before he was tempted to stray again? She couldn't always keep an eye on him, so she knew she would have to look into spells which would tell a woman if her man ever strayed and even affected him physically, albeit temporarily, in order that it be psychologically impossible for him to even consider doing it again. Once she did, she intended to hold it in reserve to keep him in line ... maybe even tell her friends about it in order to keep their men in line. If it worked on Harry, it would work on anyone.

* * * * *

It was roughly a week later that Susan arrived and Ginny invited her to stay at the Burrow with her, using the room that was once Percy's. Fortunately--at least for a while--there was no chance of her and Harry accidentally running into each other, considering his Auror training. Even at that, both knew it was just a matter of time, considering his closeness to the Weasleys, not to mention his upcoming marriage to Ginny. Susan could only hope that she and Harry would be able to talk their way out of any tight spot they might find themselves in, but there was no guarantee of that. For the time being, the best thing to do was think of things to say designed to mollify Ginny in said situation. No guarantee they would work, of course, but that was a chance they would have to take.

Even now Harry could recall how he had approached Susan, who had totally avenged the family she had lost, her aunt, uncle and cousins, by dispatching the Death Eaters who had killed them (with the help of Harry and company) roughly three months before the end of the war--and she had tactfully refused him.

"Susan, I have some free time tonight. How about we spend it together?"

"Are you asking me to spend the night with you, Harry?"

Harry had to nod; Susan smiled and shook her head. "I'm flattered you would ask, but I can't. I'm in love with Ernie and he would never understand. Which reminds me--aren't you engaged to Ginny Weasley? How do you think she would feel if she found out what you're doing with other witches?"

Harry had to admit that Susan's assertion was true, but said, "Yes, I am engaged to Ginny--and I love her very much. I could not risk her life by allowing her to accompany me, but because she's not here, I need closeness and release, even above and beyond my relationship with her."

"As I said, Harry, I'm sorry, but I can't accommodate you. And you shouldn't be doing it, either."

Harry didn't argue with her, but still had every intention of finding someone who would accommodate him. Shortly after this, he approached the Scottish girl Morag MacDonald, who closely resembled Ginny, and spent a night with her. Unfortunately it was the very next day that they had had a fight with a dozen Death Eaters, and Morag was among the casualties. As it turned out, they had made a special point of killing her because they thought she was Ginny, which only reinforced Harry's conviction that he had done the right thing by insisting that she stay behind.

All the same, Morag had been very much like Ginny personality-wise as well as in looks, and her death would haunt Harry the rest of his life. He was so very thankful that it hadn't been Ginny, but knew he would have some tall explaining to do once she learned of his perfidy, however necessary he had found it to be at the time. Maybe he was too easily influenced, especially by his hormones, much less his brainy friend Hermione, who had also become his first lover ... He could just imagine how Gin would react when she learned that. Morag and the others were one thing; Hermione, whom he had always regarded as a surrogate sister, was another matter entirely.

Susan had also expressed her condolences to Harry shortly after Morag's death, especially after she had learned just why it had happened. "You see why I didn't want Ginny here now, don't you?" Harry had asked her. "Enough lives are being risked as it is. I have no intention of putting hers in danger, no matter what you or anyone else says."

"Yes, I'm afraid I do," Susan had to agree. "But that doesn't make it right to cheat on her. Think of how you would feel if the situation was reversed."

"It wasn't a matter of cheating, Susan. It was a matter of fulfilling a basic need. Nothing I've done has changed my feelings for Gin one bit."

"It still doesn't make it right ... and I feel sure that Ginny will tell you the same thing once she finds out.

Oh, one last thing ..." she asked as he was about to walk away. "Consider this, Harry. An engaged couple should lose their virginity to each other--and only to each other--on their wedding night, but you and Hermione have taken something that is rightfully Ginny's. Once she realises this, she is going to find it very difficult, if not impossible, to forgive either of you."

"I'm truly sorry about that, but it couldn't be helped," Harry declared.

"Yes, it could," Susan countered. " 'The stress of war' is one of the oldest excuses in the book for cheating, Harry. If you truly loved Ginny, truly respected her, you would have found the strength to say no. As it is, there will always be a very important part of your relationship missing." With that, Susan turned and walked away, leaving Harry speechless behind her.

* * * * *

Harry was brought back to reality by a knock on his door. He answered it to find Susan standing there. "Susan! When did you get here?"

"Just a few days ago. Ginny invited me to stay here--but I can't stay long. I don't want her to catch us together."

"What difference would it make if she does? Nothing happened between us."

"That's beside the point. You know what she's likely to think if she finds us together. And from what I understand, you've taken the Unbreakable Vow, so it simply cannot be risked. You've both been through enough as it is."

Harry had to agree with that, and had to ask just why she had stopped by. "I was told to ask you--"

"Ask you what?" Another voice put in. Harry recognised it as Ginny's.

"What are you doing here, Suze? Hello, love."

"Hello, Harry." Ginny smiled and nodded in his direction, although the smile seemed a bit forced even as they shared a kiss of greeting. "Now what did you want, Suze?"

"One of your brothers sent me. Something about what kind of entertainment you wanted for the wedding."

"We haven't decided for sure on that. Too many other details to attend to. Besides, why didn't he come himself?"

"Well, you know how George is. Too busy with the joke shop. Besides, he knows I'm staying here with you, so he recruited me to carry the message."

"Was the message specifically for me or Harry?"

"Both of you, really," Susan replied. "Well, let me know when you decide on entertainment and I'll tell George."

"If we don't see you between now and then, one of us will tell him," Harry assured her. "Good to see you again, Susan."

"You too, Harry." She smiled at the both of them, nodded in their direction and departed.

Once she was gone, Ginny gave him a hard look.

"What's that look for?" Harry demanded.

"Didn't you miss anyone during the war? Was she another of your conquests?"

"No, love. I swear on the Unbreakable Vow that there was absolutely nothing between us."

"Did you approach her?" Both Ginny's eyes and tone warned him not to try to cover anything up if he knew what was good for him.

"I admit I approached her but she turned me down," he told her. "And she lectured me about my liaisons with the other witches, pointing out that what I was doing wasn't fair to you and that 'Mione and I had taken something away that belonged to you."

"She's right, you know," Ginny reminded him. "I've forgiven you, love, but forgetting is another matter. It's going to take a long time--and your steady attentions to me--before I manage to do it even occasionally."

Harry stepped up to her and opened his arms. "Believe me, I have no need for anyone else ever again." Ginny moved close to him and slid her arms around him, the couple sharing a sweet, deep kiss.

"You better not. Otherwise, the Bat-Bogey Hex will be the least of your troubles should I ever catch you with anyone else," Ginny warned him as they reluctantly separated.

Harry's embrace gently tightened, her head over his heart as he held it in place with one hand, kissed it, then rested his cheek on it as the other snaked around her waist. "I love you, Gin. You're all I want, for now and all time. Nothing and no one's ever going to change that. Now what kind of entertainment would you like for our wedding?"