Down Came the Sky

Chapter Three: Under the Influence

Thud ,bang, thud, thud, thud

"Ow! For goodness..."

Ginny dropped what she was doing and rushed to the living room. Hermione was covered in soot and hastily grabbing her belongings, which looked to have burst from her open trunk.

"I don't think I'll ever get the hang of this," she exclaimed, holding a handful of quills in one hand and a balled up jumper in the other. Ginny snickered and hurried over to help her friend.

"Have fun at home?" she said, scooping up a couple rolls of socks from under the chair.

Hermione smiled and straightened up. "It was relaxing, a little lonely..." she reached to give Ginny a hug, "but I read some good books." Ginny laughed again and fetched the last of Hermione's belongings off the ground. Hermione dropped her things into the open trunk.

"So, how's it been here?" Her smile waned slightly.

"Oh, you know...fine..." Ginny responded, releasing the armful of socks into Hermione's trunk. Hermione snapped the top closed and sat on top.

"I was wondering about all of you..." She fingered the hem of her sleeve, took a deep breath and smiled. "But I'm here now," she said swiftly, standing up and seizing the handle of her trunk. "Help me with this, will you?" Ginny took the other side and heaved the trunk up to her room.

"Things have been okay then?" Hermione said after they had dropped the trunk in the middle of Ginny's bedroom floor. Ginny could tell what she really wanted to know and wondered why she was too afraid to mention it.

"Harry and I are doing fine," Ginny said, sprawling onto the bed on her stomach. Hermione crawled on the bed and sat on her knees.

"Really?" her face was timid, and Ginny thought she had never seen her look so young.

"He's been sad, but we all have been a little." Ginny felt her throat tighten and she pursed her lips. Hermione plopped onto her backside and crossed her legs.

"Where is everyone?"

Ginny shook her head. "I think they had nervous boy energy ...they're outside, probably wrestling in the snow or something," she said, rolling her eyes.

Something akin to a spark flashed in Hermione's eyes and she grinned. Ginny raised her eyebrows.

"Why don't we ruin their fun," Hermione said, getting up toward the window. Ginny came up behind her to see one of the twins rub a handful of snow in Ron's hair.

"They won't go down lightly," she responded as Ron tackled Harry. Harry lay motionless in the snow until Ron was sufficiently distracted and then he pulled Ron down by the legs so that he landed face first in the snow.

"I swear," Hermione said, pressing her nose to the window. "I don't understand boys, even though I'm best mates with two of them." She wiped her breath off the window. "They won't even think about giving each other a hug, but they'll roll around in the snow like it's completely normal."

Ginny smirked. "I grew up with six of them--they just don't make sense."

Hermione laughed dully. "No...they don't make sense at all." Her eyes moved over the scenery, but Ginny had the distinct impression that she was watching something specific or rather someone.

"Yeah, and what's really annoying is that they're all too thick to realize it." Hermione broke her gaze from the window and turned to Ginny.

"Is that what you think it is?" she said, her voice hitting a nervous quiver.

Ginny smiled encouragingly. "Shall we go bother them?" she said.

Hermione chewed at her thumbnail and nodded thoughtfully at the floor. Ginny pulled an extra jumper out of her closet and layered herself. Hermione fiddled with the lock of her trunk until she decided to open it and pulled out her coat, shoes and scarf.

"Care to wear one of your creations?" she said, tossing Ginny the hat adorned with small pink flowers. Ginny pulled it over her ears and grinned.

"Let's go."

*

The girls peeked out the back door to observe the group of raucous, pink faced boys, all of whom regularly attacked one another with snow. Ginny couldn't help but think that they all looked like five year olds during playtime. Still, she liked that they were having fun; she hadn't seen Harry smile like that for a while. Hermione was standing behind her and Ginny heard her breathing rapidly.

"Nervous?" Ginny said out of the side of her mouth. Hermione was silent for a while.

"Maybe," she finally responded.

"Don't be."

She heard Hermione sigh audibly. "I know," she said softly. "I've been spending too much time alone...thinking..."

They silently watched the boys until Ginny started feeling uncomfortably warm amid her layers.

"Let's go then," she said, stepping out into the shocking cold. The muffled laughter of the boys suddenly rang clearly against the white mounds of snow. Harry paused, breathless, as the girls came out and George pegged him on the side of the face with a snowball.

"Oi! Can't even pay attention once she comes into sight."

Harry looked away, slightly embarrassed, and threw an enormous snowball back at George. Ginny casually leaned down to gather some snow.

"Hey, Harry," she said softly. He raised his eyebrows and she motioned for him to come over.

"What?" he said, leaning in close to her.

She smiled, feeling the humidity of her breath between her lips and his cheek. She kissed him, and then slowly slid the snow down the back of his shirt. He yelped and shook it out, then looked at her with a fierce playfulness that made her heart ready to thud out of her chest. He ran toward her, scooping up snow in the process and tackled her. She heard Fred and George whooping at them as they tossed feeble bits of snow at each other. By the time they ran out of breath, Ginny had laughed so hard her ribs were sore. She threw one last pathetic snowball at Harry and he laughed breathlessly.

"I would say Ginny won that one," George said.

"Ah yes, but we new she would," Fred responded, winking at Harry. Harry sat up and rubbed at the back of his neck. Ginny looked over at Hermione who was still standing at the door.

"Did you see who came?" she said, indicating the door. Harry looked over and beamed at Hermione. She came over and gave him a hug.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked, helping Ginny to her feet.

"He went inside," Hermione said grimly. Harry made a silent "o" with his mouth and walked inside. Ginny stared at Hermione, who shifted uncomfortably. Fred and George followed after Harry.

"What happened?" Ginny said once they were out of earshot.

"I keep acting so stupid," Hermione replied glumly. "I don't know why..." she trailed off and abruptly turned around to go inside. Ginny watched her bushy head disappear, sighed, and went in to join the rest of the group.

"...and there's no remedy. But the quacking doesn't last longer than an hour."

Ron and Harry laughed loudly as Ginny entered the kitchen. The windows were steamy from boiling water Ginny supposed must be from tea. She shrugged off her layers and sat deliberately by Ron.

The twins continued to tell about their new inventions, and Ginny leaned close to Ron, whispering: "What happened with Hermione?" under her breath. Ron scowled and ignored her. Ginny smacked him on the back of the head. "Answer me," she snapped, interrupting Fred and George. Ron crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. "You are so STUPID!" Ginny cried out. Fred snickered and Ron continued to glare at her.

"Whad'ya do to her?" Fred said amusedly.

"Nothing," Ron responded, raising his eyebrows at Ginny.

Ginny leaned in to him. "You better do something soon or else she'll move on," she said in a low voice.

"What are you talking about," Ron responded.

"Are you really that much of an idiot?" Ginny's voice rose again. "I mean, I knew there was something that you didn't get, but are you really that thick?"

"Apparently so," Ron said, deepening his glare.

"It all makes so much more sense," Ginny said in amazement, getting up to pace around the kitchen. "I think I would be half driven mad too if you were the one I chose..." She inadvertently looked at Harry, who was staring at Ron with his mouth open. Had she not been so annoyed, she might have found it more amusing. George was shaking silently with laughter and Fred was biting his hand, his face beet red. Ginny stopped pacing and calmed herself down.

"You know what?" she said, looking at Ron plainly. "I can't do anything about this, but you bloody well should." Ron looked at her incredulously. "I'm going to go cheer her up." Ron's eyes widened and Ginny turned on her heel to find Hermione.

Softly opening her bedroom door, Ginny walked over to Hermione, who was lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling.

"I'm not even here an hour and there's already drama," she said tonelessly.

"There's always drama with you and Ron," Ginny responded. Hermione smiled weakly. "I yelled at him," Ginny continued softly, sliding into a spot beside Hermione.

"I was trying to make him jealous," Hermione replied. Ginny pulled her knees up to her chest.

"I don't think you needed to try."

Hermione laughed dully. "I'm just like all those girls," she said despondently.

"It's hard not to be when--"

"I don't want to think about it," Hermione interrupted roughly, quickly swiping at her eyes. "He'll get over it."

But something seemed to have clicked in Ron, and he couldn't even look at Hermione the next time they were in the same room together. Harry was having a hard time keeping a straight face, and he continually left the room coughing violently, only to return and have another coughing fit. It made for an awkward New Years Eve.

After many fervent promises from Ron and Ginny that they would behave, their mum and dad went to bed fairly early, leaving Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny to their own devices. The twins claimed they needed to relieve Lee Jordan from joke shop duty, but returned hours after they apparently had left looking, Ginny thought, brilliantly mischievous.

"I'm feeling quite celebratory, Fred," George said, taking a seat casually.

"Oh yes, dear bro, 'tis the time to be," Fred responded, reaching into his robes. Fred pulled out a bottle of Firewhiskey and grinned widely. "Anyone else in the spirit?"

"Brilliant!" Ron said, "I've always wanted to try this," he said, reaching for the bottle.

"No way Ron," Hermione said, blocking his hand from the bottle. Ron looked a little startled that she had touched him, but regained his composure quickly.

"We're not even at school, it's not like it matters," he said pushing her hand out of the way.

"That's the attitude," Fred said.

Ron unscrewed the top, took a sip and started coughing violently. Ginny snickered and made a face at Harry. He smiled back at her and absently rubbed his forehead. Ginny felt a nervous quiver in her stomach and moved a little closer to him, as if her proximity would keep his scar dormant.

"Don't seem so cool now, do you?" Hermione said, and Ginny and Harry turned to look at her.

Ron wiped his mouth and thrust the bottle in her hands. "Not like you would do much better." Hermione pushed it back to Fred.

"Loosing battle little bro," Fred said. "Our dear Hermione wouldn't dare break the prefect's code."

Hermione scrutinized Fred for a long while, snatched the bottle back and took a swig of it herself. She coughed and pushed it back in Fred's hands, looking at him challengingly. For his part, Fred appeared impressed.

"Well, we aren't at school," she said, shifting slightly. Ron was gaping at her and surprisingly started laughing loudly. Hermione seemed to almost blush.

Ginny looked over at Harry amusedly and felt a smile playing on her lips. She turned to Fred and raised her eyebrows. Fred grinned and passed her the bottle.

"Gin--" Ron started disapprovingly.

"Excuse me," Ginny cut in. "What did you just do?"

Ron creased his brow and looked to the twins. George patted him on the back and Ginny raised the bottle to her lips. It burned her throat and suddenly realized why both Ron and Hermione had coughed so hard. She wiped her eyes. "That was foul," she said, passing the bottle to Harry. Harry took a quick swig and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand while suppressing his coughs. George snatched the bottle back and drank some himself.

It went on like this for a while until Ginny felt a little too lightheaded and declined the emptying bottle. The affect of the alcohol seemed to oddly sedate Fred and George, while Ron and Hermione giggled stupidly at every little thing. Ginny crawled into Harry's lap, her head still spinning.

He stared at her strangely and Ginny couldn't help but think he looked so amazingly cute when he made different expressions.

"Hey, Harry," she said turning around so that she was still sitting in his lap, but facing him, "frown for me, okay?" Harry stuck out his bottom lip and Ginny giggled while placing her hands on his cheeks. "Okay," she said, gaining her breath back, "now look like you're surprised." Harry raised his eyebrows. "No, not like that..." Ginny said, squeezing his cheeks together. His face looked so funny squashed together, that she laughed more loudly and kissed him. It felt funny because he was laughing too and their lips vibrated against one another's.

Someone started snoring and Hermione burst out laughing, soon joined by Ron. Ginny was still staring at Harry and his pretty, pretty lips. She couldn't explain it, but it seemed like just the right time to start kissing him. Harry seemed to agree.

It wasn't long until Harry was lying on top of her, planting his kisses places other than her mouth.

"Oi! That's my sister!" Ron yelled, and then he started laughing again.

"I think he likes her," Hermione giggled.

Ginny sat up abruptly, pushing Harry in the process. He fell off the couch, causing both Ron and Hermione to laugh again. Ginny laughed too, and slid down to the ground with him.

"I think you like me too," she said. Her head started to spin again and she leaned it on him.

"Yeah I do," he responded. Ginny pushed him onto the ground and started kissing him more fiercely.

"I can't believe they're snogging in front of us," Hermione laughed.

"I know, get a room, right?" Ron said.

Harry's hands were starting to slide into dangerous territory.

"Oooo, stop, I don't want to see this," Hermione shrieked amid her giggles.

"Hey, hey, that's my sister!" Ron yelled. Hermione laughed again.

Ginny didn't care; Harry was her very nice, pretty and perfect boyfriend. He pulled her closer. Ginny felt hot all over. Suddenly, a vase in the corner shattered. Ginny sat up quickly and the room spun around her while peals of Ron and Hermione's guffaws echoed in her head.

"Oops," Harry said.

"Oops?" Ginny repeated in confusion. "Did you do that?"

"You made me," he said.

"What?"

"What?"

"I made you break the vase?"

"Oh, yes, yes you did."

"Oh."

It was all very tiring, and Ginny decided she didn't really like Firewhiskey as she curled up on the floor.

"She used up all her energy," Hermione giggled.

"Hey, it's not funny, that's my sister," Ron snapped. Their voiced echoed in Ginny's head in muddled fuzziness. Her head was heavy and her eyes didn't want to stay open.

***

A cool sunshine incubated the air around Ginny. She could feel her jeans molding uncomfortably to her and her stomach felt curiously sweaty. She shifted slightly and felt something move behind her. Her eyes snapped open and she saw that she was lying on the living room floor, wrapped in a pair of arms. She looked back and Harry's eyes cracked blearily. Ginny sat up and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Harry sat up as well and stretched his legs in front of himself. Ginny dropped her hand and looked to Harry, intending on saying good morning, but he was staring at the armchair, his mouth hanging open. Ginny spun around to see where he was looking and gasped. She shoved her fist in her mouth to mute all the tremendous giggles growing inside her.

Ron and Hermione were sleeping in the most peculiar position. Hermione was horizontally on top of Ron, who was positioned upside down in the chair. What's more, Ron's hands were possessively resting on her waist, despite the odd angle, and one hand was slipped slightly under her top.

Fred and George quietly crept into the living room, both grinning.

"How d'you reckon they got that way?" Fred whispered. Ginny buried her face in her knees to stifle her laughs further. Her jeans happened to smell quite disgusting.

"Ah well, at least they can resolve all the sexual tension," George responded.

At this, Harry snorted a little too loudly, and Ginny reached back to cover his mouth. He was shaking silently and Ginny didn't know how much longer she could take. She buried her face against Harry's shoulder, which didn't smell all that great either, while the tightness of repressed laughs strained her abdomen.

Ron said something incoherent, and Ginny quickly turned around, clamping her hand over her mouth. His eyes slowly opened and he rubbed his head in confusion. He attempted to get up, disturbing Hermione. She opened her eyes quickly and obviously felt Ron's hand on her bare midriff because she shrieked. Ron cursed loudly and fruitlessly attempted to sit up again. Hermione hit at his hands, and Ron's eyes widened, as he suddenly realized where they had been placed. Hermione jumped off of him and Ron fell off the chair, releasing string of profanities in the process.

They stared at each other and Ginny had to bury her head in her knees again. She could feel Harry shaking behind her as he pressed his face against her neck. The feeling of his lips against her gave her Goosebumps.

George cleared his throat. "Looks like you enjoyed the Firewhiskey," Ginny heard him chuckle and she raised her head to see Ron and Hermione notice that they were not alone in the room. Hermione turned a vivid shade of red, buried her face in her hands and started muttering to herself. Ron looked wildly around the room and then stared helplessly at Hermione. He opened is mouth, closed it, opened it again, turned around to Harry and Ginny and glared at them.

"You snogged like mad in front of us," he said, pointing a finger at them accusingly. Ginny suddenly had the mental image of her on top of Harry, kissing him while his hands firmly gripped her bum and Ron yelled at them in the background. She heard a low whistle from one of the twins while her cheeks heated tremendously. She pushed back her embarrassment and grinned.

"Yes," her voice cracked as she spoke, "and it was quite tiring. What exactly did you do after I fell asleep?"

Ron's ears pinked at record speed and Hermione, who had not removed her face from her hands, gasped slightly and looked quickly at Ron. Ron averted his eyes and studied the floor.

"I don't think we want to know," Harry said in a low voice to Ginny. Hermione seemed to find her voice and stepped towards the twins, her temper towering.

"You," she said, pushing her finger against George's chest. "Why did you bring that last night?"

"You drank it," Fred snorted. Hermione spun around to him, apparently at a loss for words again. She huffed, looked quickly between the two, shoved them in the chest and stormed up the stairs.

"Didn't know she gets violent when angered," Fred said, still looking up the stairs in amusement. "So," he said, looking down to Harry and Ginny, "you two had a snog fest last night? It might've been a good thing we fell asleep." He winked at them and Harry looked down awkwardly. His hands had been resting on Ginny's waist and he dropped them, scooting away from her a little.

"I think you embarrassed him," George said, wiping his eyes. He glanced at his watch. "Well, time is galleons my friends," he said, grinning to his brother. "Until next time." They both Apparated, leaving Harry and Ginny with Ron, who was scowling at Harry intensely.

"I do not like you touching my sister's arse," he growled. Harry looked shocked. He gave Ginny a helpless look and she patted his hand encouragingly.

"So, what did happen last night?" she said to Ron seriously. Ron glared at her.

"I can't believe you did that in front of me."

"I can't believe you're avoiding the issue! Harry and I are a couple, but you and Hermione--" Ron cursed and started pacing the room.

"Does that mean he gets to feel you up every second? I think it's time that we established some rules--"

"Ron," Harry cut in, "I'm sorry that we made you uncomfortable but you have to go talk to Hermione." Ron stopped abruptly and stared at Harry.

"But--you--its--" he sputtered. Harry looked Ron in the face seriously. "Yeah, all right," Ron finally mumbled and he turned up the stairs. Ginny's mouth dropped.

"I could kiss you!" she exclaimed to Harry.

"All right," he grinned. Ginny kissed him and pulled away at the taste of their mingled breaths, stale with alcohol.

"Gross," she said, wrinkling her nose. Harry laughed and leaned back on the base of the couch. "How did you do it anyway?" Ginny said, settling into Harry's arm.

"Do what?"

"Get Ron to listen."

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "It was an accident," he smirked. Ginny snorted and slowly rose to her feet.

"I'm going to change," she said, holding out a hand to Harry. "You should too, we both reek and I don't fancy Mum or Dad finding us in this state."

They quietly walked up the stair and promptly ran into Ginny's mum on the first landing. "Morning," Ginny said as calmly as possible. She felt Harry linger behind her until their bodies were separated further, but she didn't look back as she disappeared into her room.