Harry Potter and the Brothers of the Wolves

Chapter VI: A Happy Birthday

Almost everyone he personally knew was there. Dumbledore, Mrs. Figg, the Weasleys and even Hagrid. Harry couldn't help but poke fun at himself for believing for a second that anyone had forgotten his birthday.

Harry waded through the party, getting pats on the back as he lugged his trunk and Hedwigs cage up the stairs to Rons room, where he'd be staying.

After he deposited the luggage, Harry went back down to find everyone socializing amiably. A wizarding wireless was playing some music and harry decided to fish out Ginny from the crowd. No matter where he looked, though, he couldn't find her.

Harry swam around and finally spotted Ron.

"Ron, have you seen Ginny anywhere?" Ron grinned and slipped a bit of parchment into his hand.

"I know I'm supposed to be protective and all but I want you to have some fun."

Harry looked down at the paper and grinned:

Quidditch Field.

The words were written quickly and Harry ran his finger over the familiar scribble, which made it smear: he wasn't far behind her.

"Thanks, Ron."

Harry sped out the back door and sprinted down to the field, only a few hundred yards from the Burrow. There, lying beneath the make-shift goal posts, was Ginny. Harry slowed down and waltzed across the field, going as slow as he could, just trying to tease and taunt her.

"Oh, Harry! Hurry up!" she called out.

He smiled and sprinted the rest of the way. She stood as he approached and she slipped her arms around him.

"I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday the right way," she said as she placed a hand behind his neck. With a slight pull of the hand, she dragged him into a luscious kiss. She tastes like strawberries, he thought.

After a minute or so of drinking in her sweet flavors, he pulled back slowly and looked into her face. Her eyes were still closed, imagining what she never would have believed a month before. The wide brown eyes fluttered open and looked to Harry for what was wrong.

"Everything's al right, it's just that I'm learning more and more the meaning of the phrase 'melt into you.'"

Harry concentrated hard and cast the cushioning charm without the help of a wand on the ground below the posts. Ginny lay down and held her hand out to Harry as encouragement to join her. He didn't need to be asked twice.

As they rolled back and forth, Harry was slowly kissing lower and lower. Down her jaw line, down her neck, collarbone. Then sense smacked Harry in the face. It was the middle of the day, no clouds, perfect sunshine. They were in a meadow with no cover that was no more than a few hundred yards from the house. A blind drunkard in Diagon Alley could probably see them right now. Harry settled with nibbling at her neck and ear.

Within a few minutes, Harry as resting on his back with Ginny pressed up against him, her tiny button nose resting over his left shoulder.

"Harry?"

"What is it, Gin?"

"Do you realize how lucky I feel?"

"You, lucky? I'm the one who feels I've won the lottery." She giggled a little at this.

"No, Harry, here's my point. When I was younger, I only liked you because you were Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. Plus, you didn't look half bad. Now, though, I really know you for the nice guy you are. And you've become even better looking, if that's at all possible."

"Well, I feel like I've been in love with you the whole time since we met, but I've just been blindfolded by the fact that you were Ron's little sister and that I had saved you as a little girl. Now, I figured out you're not just a little girl, and I've gotten my blindfold lifted," Harry said.

They spent the rest of the day admiring each others presence. Harry drifted off to sleep with Ginny to his left, his arm over her body...

*    *    *

When he awoke, it was dark outside, and Ginny was still asleep next to him. According to his watch it was eight, and Harry lifted Ginny into his arms to take her back to the Burrow.

Harry was certain when he said that he had loved her all along. Talking to her and kissing her came so naturally that he would assume they had been going out for years if he was any unknowing bystander. It just felt so right to be with her.

He peered through the window to find people congregated in the living room, so he tip-toed to the back door, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Harry was surprised to find two people in the dark kitchen, one male, one female. They were indiscernible in the darkness and Harry felt that way, as he was sure they would want privacy with what they were doing at the moment. Harry tried to run lightly to the stairs leading up, but, still holding Ginny in his arms, he stumbled and almost lost his grip on her, saving her barely by letting her fall onto him as he raced to the floor.

His head hit the ground noisily and the two figures yelped. One of them muttered "Lumos" to light the tip of his wand.

Ron stood there, blushing deeply enough that Harry felt the heat radiating from his face even in his current position across the room.

The female jumped up quickly, straightening her blouse and looking up calmly.

"Hello, Harry," Hermione said.

Harry was surprised to say the least. Sure, Ron and Hermione were friends, but they fought to much to actually date. Or at least Harry thought so.

He raised an eyebrow, standing up with a rustling Ginny in his arms once again.

"Harry?" her eyes fluttered open and looked at him as he started climbing the stairs.

"Sleep," he said, sliding his hand downwards on her face, making her close her eyes again. Things really had changed...