Parallel

CHAPTER 4: PRIVATE TALKS

It was three days later before Ginny had the opportunity to get together with Hermione and thank her for what she and Ron had done. "I'm sorry we got so ... preoccupied, but you know how I am whenever Harry's near me. I just can't say no."

"No apology necessary, Gin. You two are in love; it's understandable. Not to mention the fact that you both have four years of separation to make up for."

"Just the same, I hate to think how we must have embarrassed you and Ron," Ginny continued. "So we're going to do our best to control ourselves from now on."

Hermione laughed. "I wouldn't even attempt that for a while, Gin. When love has been rekindled, it's going to burn hot and heavy for a long time. We'll just have to learn not to take you two anywhere in public again for the foreseeable future."

"How are things with you and that clueless prat brother of mine?" Ginny asked. "Has he managed to shore up his courage enough to propose to you?"

"We're fine for the moment," Hermione dismissed. "Besides, what matters most to me is that Ron and I are together."

"But you'd still like to marry him eventually," Ginny countered.

"Of course, but I can be patient--for a while, anyway. If he takes much longer, though ..." Hermione's voice trailed off ominously.

"If you need help, just let us know," Ginny offered. "Harry's even suggested spiking one of Ron's drinks with Felix Felicis in order to give him the needed confidence."

"That's an idea," Hermione found herself agreeing. "But I'd feel better if he could manage to do it on his own." She had begun knitting again, and the needles, attached to considerable lengths of brightly-coloured yarn contained in a medium sized basket (red and gold for their old House colours), hovered in midair slightly to her right, rapidly turning out something Ginny couldn't immediately identify.

"What are you knitting?" Ginny wondered.

"A scarf for Ron," Hermione replied. "I've already done one for myself. Once I'm finished with this, we'll have a matching set." The older young woman sighed and took a drink of pumpkin juice, the glass containing it also hovering nearby, then resumed speaking. "By the way, have you asked Harry to move in with you yet?"

"What makes you think I've done any such thing?" Ginny tried to bluff, even as she fought off a blush at the thought of what she and Harry had been doing when she asked him.

"You forget how well I know both of you," Hermione countered. "You've asked him already. May I know what he said?"

"He said he was ... willing ... but that we had to have a long talk before making any concrete long-term plans."

"Have you discussed what to do should he need to leave again?"

"Yes. He says he's not about to be separated from us again, whatever the risks ... that he had learned his lesson but the hard way, trying to track down Dark wizards and witches by himself these last few years."

"I assume that means that you'll be accompanying us," Hermione remarked.

"Damn bloody right," Ginny stated firmly. "After four years apart, I'm not about to let Harry out of my sight again for any longer than necessary--and I think you can understand why. I'm willing to take any risk in order to ensure that I remain by his side."

Hermione simply nodded and smiled in response, taking another swallow of pumpkin juice before checking the progress of the scarf she was making and pronouncing it sufficient for one day's knitting. "Just where are our men, anyway?" she wondered as she noted the time and commented, "It's been two hours since Ron dropped me off here."

"Oh, probably chewing the fat with Harry in a pub somewhere," Ginny speculated. "Although I'm sure they'll be back soon. We've got to be pretty hot stuff, though, for our men not to want to be separated from us any longer than necessary, you know?"

Hermione didn't reply, but looked up and the two young women exchanged sly, knowing smiles. It may have been a naughty thought, but that was part of the fun of romance--part of what gave it its unique "spice". Just the same, she couldn't help wishing that she and Ginny could have been flies on the wall and able to listen in on the conversation between Harry and Ron, wherever they were.

* * * * *

In actuality, the two young men had decided to Apparate to their favourite pub in Hogsmeade, the Three Broomsticks, and were enjoying a butterbeer and two large individual mince pies seasoned to their taste. Almost the moment they had set foot there, Harry felt duty-bound to apologise to his friend for his and Ginny's actions of three days previously.

"Don't worry about it, mate. I understand," Ron generously dismissed. "You and Gin have a lot of time to make up for."

"But we didn't mean to do it," Harry protested as they were led to a vacant table, were seated and gave their orders to the attractive young witch in short pink robes and matching hat with a jeweled brim who served as the current waitress. In spite of himself, Ron couldn't help checking her out as she had walked away from their table to fill their orders. He hadn't noticed whether or not Harry had done so, and had been unable to bring himself to ask.

"I know. As I said, don't worry about it. I'd half-expected it, really, since you haven't seen her for four years."

"Just the same, she and I have already agreed to at least try to control ourselves better after this. Either that, or go out with you and Hermione separately."

In spite of himself, Ron was glad to hear that; anything to spare himself and Hermione another scene like the one in the other restaurant. "But if you can't, mate, we'll certainly understand. Just try to give us a little warning after this, okay?"

"Fair enough," Harry agreed before eating some more of the mince pie and washing it down with butterbeer. "How are matters going with you and Hermione? Proposed to her yet?"

"Fine," Ron insisted, but Harry knew him well enough to detect disquiet and even nervousness in his friend's mannerisms and tone of voice. "As for proposing ..." His voice trailed off, and he couldn't make himself complete the sentence.

"Come on, mate, you know you want to marry her," Harry gently insisted. "Just as I know she wants to marry you. If I can bring myself to propose, so can you."

"Easier said than done, Harry," Ron returned, stark fear written all over his freckled face.

"All you need's a little confidence, mate," came the reassuring reply. "She loves you; I hardly think she'd turn you down." He had, in fact, brought along his bottle of Felix Felicis, and was waiting for the right opportunity to spike Ron's drink with it in order to give him sufficient confidence--but so far, that moment hadn't arrived.

With luck, he wouldn't need more than a few hours' worth ... but there was still the matter of actually getting it into the drink without his friend's noticing. Or maybe he could even put some in the mince pie. It was, in fact, closer to him on the small table between them than the mug of butterbeer, anyway. That might be the more practical approach. But just when he was ready to give up, Ron stood up and said he had to visit the men's loo.

"I'll be just a few minutes, Harry," he promised. Even at that, Harry was hard-pressed to wait until Ron was out of sight before he got out the small bottle of the golden-coloured potion and shook a few drops into the remaining butterbeer. He then recorked the bottle and hid it in an inner pocket of his jeans jacket, innocently returning to his meal even as he saw Ron returning.

Hopefully within the next few days he would be hearing from one of the girls that a date had finally been set for the marriage. At the very least, he would be able to tell Ginny what he had done to help his friend and future brother-in-law end his bachelorhood as Harry knew he wanted to; he simply needed a gentle push in the right direction.

"Don't you think it's time we got back to the girls, Harry?" Ron suggested upon re-seating himself--and to Harry's scarcely-concealed delight, he took a long swig of the butterbeer to wash down the last of his mince pie.

"Definitely," Harry agreed. "Just let me finish my own pie." A few minutes later they called for the bill, each chipping in some Sickles for the cost of the bill and 15% gratuity. Upon leaving the pub, the two young wizards Apparated back to Ginny's flat in order that Ron pick up Hermione and return to their own flat.

"Bloody hell! I don't think I'll ever get used to that squeezing sensation, Harry. I swear, it feels like I'm being pushed through a narrow tube or something!" Ron exclaimed after being released from Apparition. The two young men had re-appeared on the sidewalk which bordered the parking lot in front of Ginny's flat.

"I know," his companion agreed. "I'm not fond of it, either, but it is the quickest way to travel outside of broomsticks--and I think you'll have to agree it's too cold for flying at the moment."

A short time later, they were greeting their ladies and Hermione was ready to go, already having packed her bag and finished the chicken sandwich and pumpkin juice Ginny had served. "Ready to go, luv?" Ron asked Hermione as he approached her. She got up and smiled at him before they shared a brief kiss.

"If you are," she returned. "See you both later, Ginny, Harry. We've got to get back home."

"Take care," Harry said just before his two friends Apparated; Ginny echoed his sentiments.

"Did you have a good time, beloved?" she asked once they were alone again.

"Can't complain," Harry assured her. "Oh yes, I managed to put some Felix Felicis in Ron's drink. With any luck, he should feel confident enough to propose to Hermione in the not-too-distant future."

"I hope so," Ginny returned. "I'm just thankful that you didn't need any." She moved to meet him, and they almost literally melted into each other's arms, their lips meeting in a long, delicious kiss. It soon turned passionate, and Harry wasted no time in scooping his lover into his arms to carry her into the living room for a most enjoyable hour of snogging--and eventual lovemaking.

Ginny had not placed a Contraceptive Charm on herself this time, although it was obvious that Harry had assumed she had and acted accordingly. She half-hoped she could "forget" often enough in order to become pregnant. She positively hungered to feel Harry's child growing and developing inside her. Even at that, it probably wasn't a good idea, but Ginny wasn't necessarily going to let that stop her.

It was risky, attempting lovemaking without said charm, but it was the spontaneous interludes that often proved the most fertile, so she was willing to take the risk. After all, she was the one who would carry the child. In essence, Harry would have the fun and she would do the work ... but she loved him enough that it was scarcely any trouble at all. She just hoped that he would be too happy upon hearing of her eventual pregnancy to lecture her on the subject of contraception any time soon. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end ... or at the very least, bad pennies turn up just when you least expect them, especially for Harry and his lady love.