Firewhisky Advice

Ginny sat at her desk in the Quidditch section of the Prophet office, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. She was waiting for her editor to return her story. There had been a panel on the European Cup teams, and Ginny had been assigned to cover it. Unfortunately, tonight, there was also a reception at the Ministry for the panel, and she had to go. She sat back, huffily. 'What is taking him so bloody long?' she grumbled. Ryan was usually a lot faster at getting stories back for rewrites if necessary. Ginny finally made her way to Ryan's desk. 'All right, Flanagan, what gives?'

Ryan looked up at her from under his shaggy fringe. 'Pardon?'

'What is taking so damn long getting my piece done? And why is it so hot in here?' Ginny pulled her hair off her neck, in a fruitless attempt to cool off.

'Are you daft, Potter? It's not hot in here. And I just got your piece ten minutes ago...'

'Oh. Right.' Ginny scuffed the floor with the toe of her shoe for a moment. 'Do I have to go tonight?'

'Yes, Potter, you have to go tonight. You covered the panel, you have to cover the reception.' Ginny opened her mouth to argue. 'No arguments, Potter. I don't care if you're about to give birth in the Ministry Atrium and Viktor Krum delivers your kid. You will be at that reception tonight.'

Ginny went back to her desk. She was not in the mood for this. She was not a society reporter. She wrote about Quidditch games and players for Merlin's sake. She didn't want to get all dressed up, or do her hair, and spend several hours of her evening chatting with puffed-up Quidditch players and their vapid trophy-wives. Aidan Lynch was the worst of the lot. A little World Cup glory and a lot of being hit in the head by Bludgers or crash-landing in the ground gave him a rather seedy air. Like some aged rock star who was trying to cash in on his glory days, and felt that being Aidan Lynch was quite enough to get any woman in his trousers.

She tutted to herself, rather like Hermione did when people were being particularly stupid. Ginny rummaged in her desk drawer, looking for a snack. She knew from past experience that there wouldn't be more than finger-foods tonight. Some unidentifiable paste on toast points or something like that, when all she wanted was real food. She pulled out an apple and a handful off Ginger Newts. Ginny munched on the biscuits and mused on the reception. At least it gave her a chance to see Harry all dressed up.

Ginny put her feet up on her desk. It had been several months since she had really seen Harry in something besides jeans. Not that the jeans were bad. They really did outline his bum nicely. Especially the ones he had worn Sunday. Katie had caught her staring at Harry's backside while the boys picked sides for a three-a-side Quidditch game.

Katie nudged Ginny, 'I know how you feel. Like it doesn't matter if he kept you in bed for a week straight, it wouldn't be enough.'

'God, yes,' Ginny muttered in reply, before blushing at her response.

Katie giggled and leaned over, so only Ginny could hear. 'Poor George. I think I wore him out my fifth and sixth months.'

'Shouldn't I feel more... I don't know... Motherly?'

'Who needs to feel motherly?' Bronwyn set Isabella down in the grass with a rag doll.

Katie looked up with a gleam in her eyes. 'Oh, it's not about being motherly at all. Quite the opposite,' she smirked.

'Oh, that!' Bronwyn grinned. 'Yeah.'

Ginny chewed absently at a fingernail. 'So this is normal? To feel like a randy teenager at the top of the Astronomy Tower?'

'Yep. And take my advice, don't let the opportunity pass you by. 'Cause after the baby's born, shagging is going to be the last thing on your mind,' Bronwyn said.

Ginny drifted out of her reverie. Harry's dress robes did look good on him. Really good. Ginny felt tingles in her fingertips just thinking about it. 'All right, Potter,' Ryan's voice broke through Ginny's thoughts. 'Nice article. It's fine. Go home, and don't forget.' A note of warning steeled his voice. 'The reception starts at eight. Do not be late.'

'All right, Flanagan, but don't expect some nice society article, hmmm?'

'Whatever,' he mumbled, already going back to his desk, ready to harangue the poor sod who covered Caerphilly.

Ginny gathered her bag and went outside. She stood on the street before deciding to head to the Ministry. Harry took news like this better in person. She went through the visitor's entrance, giggling as she pinned the badge to her shirt. It read 'Ginny Potter, Buttering Up Harry Potter'. She went up to the floor where his office was located and peeked around the doorway. He was talking with Shacklebolt. Ginny knocked on the partially open door. 'Hi, Gin! What are you doing here?' Harry looked surprised to see her, but pleased nonetheless.

'Got some bad news,' she said. Harry's expression changed to one of mounting alarm. 'We get the pleasure of coming to some ruddy reception for the Quidditch panel from this morning. I have to do a story on it.'

'We?'

'Yes, we. If I have to come to the bloody thing, so do you,' Ginny said, with a dangerous glint in her eye.

'Absolutely. Love sodding receptions,' Harry said automatically. 'Dress robes, I assume?'

'Oh, yeah.' Ginny grinned. Harry did a slight double-take. For a moment, she looked at him like he was a feast for one, and she was the only guest. 'Starts at eight.' She gave Harry another look, this time blatantly come-hither, and turned to leave. 'See you at home.' Harry's mouth dropped open.

'Sure,' he called weakly. He turned to Shacklebolt. 'Is it just me, or was that...' He didn't know how to complete the thought.

'Yes, it was.' Shacklebolt seemed deeply amused.

'Right.' Harry gazed at the door a moment. 'So, I think I'm going to go home and help Ginny with... something.' He all but vaulted across his desk. 'Ginny! Wait, I'm coming with you!' He heard Shacklebolt's deep laugh roll from his office, but didn't care.

Harry caught up with Ginny at the elevator. 'Hi,' he panted, looking a bit flushed.

'Hi,' she smiled.

The elevator came, and they got on, studiously avoiding each other's eyes. Harry took Ginny's hand and ran his thumb delicately over the palm and wrist. Ginny moved so she stood in front of Harry and casually leaned back so her bottom nestled against his groin. Harry's hands drifted to rest on her hips, holding her still. He tilted his head down so his mouth was next to her ear. 'If you keep wriggling that delicious arse of yours like that, I won't give a damn who sees us, I'll take you on this damn elevator.' Then, he did the unforgivable - his lips closed on her earlobe and he traced the outline of her ear with his tongue. Ginny laughed. Not just any laugh, but the laugh that made Harry's knees weak.

The elevator came to a stop at the Atrium, and the two of them got off and Flooed to the flat.

They had barely stumbled out of the fireplace, before Ginny had turned to Harry, and yanked his shirttails from his jeans. Harry started to toe his trainers off, but Ginny growled, 'Not now,' and attacked his belt and zipper. Harry groaned and turned his attention to Ginny's trousers. She had slipped her hands inside his boxers and started stroking him.

'Ginny, if you keep doing that, I'm going to last about ten more seconds.' Ginny only laughed again, and helped him push her trousers out of the way. Harry picked her up and made it as far as the sofa, with Ginny's legs around his waist.

He held his breath as he slid into her. He closed his eyes and nearly bit through his lip, trying to control himself. Okay, Harry. Think! Fastest Snitch catch in history? What was it? Hmmm. Ginny playing Seeker at school. Oh yes, God, but she was sexy as hell when she played. No... can't think like that.

'Look at me.' Harry opened his eyes. Ginny's face hovered over his. That was all he needed. He climaxed, gritting his teeth, hands tightening on her hips.

'I'm sorry,' he panted.

'Why are you sorry?' Her head rested on his shoulder.

'That wasn't very good,' he said apologetically.

'Good was not on my list of requirements at that particular moment,' she said. 'It has been a while...'

'Months,' he agreed. 'Years, even.' While an exaggeration, it had felt like years. Harry thought they might want to go to the bed, but he didn't trust his knees to hold him upright.

Ginny leaned into Harry, wrapped around his body, feeling limp. She shifted to one side of him, and slid to the sofa next to him. She began to pull the rest of her clothes off. Ginny eyed Harry. His head rested against the back of the sofa, his eyes closed, breathing slowly returning to normal. 'I'd suggest going to bed, but I don't think I want to move that far,' she murmured. She reached for the buttons on Harry's shirt. 'Come on, love, let's get these clothes off, hmmm?'

Harry allowed her to undress him down to his boxers before he pulled her to spoon on the sofa. Before he drifted off to sleep, he Summoned the afghan from the armchair, and covered them both in it.

*****

Ginny pulled the dark-blue dress on and presented her back to Harry, so he could do up her buttons. She shivered as his fingertips brushed her bare skin, as he slid each button through its loop on the other side of the back. 'Cold?' he asked.

'No. Far from it,' she replied. That afternoon on the sofa had been... Not nearly enough. Ginny realized Katie had been right. They could have spent the rest of the night on that sofa making love, or shagging, and it wouldn't have been enough.

Harry finished the last button and slid his hands up to her shoulders. Ginny turned around and pulled his head down so she could nibble his lips. 'Ginny, we're going to be late, love.' Sighing, Ginny released his mouth, but not before her hands wandered to his bum, and gave it a good squeeze. She picked up her wrap and went to the sitting room. She wondered how long they would have to stay at the reception. 'Ready?' Harry had come to stand next to her. She smiled at him.

'Depends on what you're asking what I'm ready for.'

'The reception, Ginevra,' he said mock-sternly.

Ginny cocked her head to the side, and let her gaze take in Harry in his dress robes. She took in a deep breath. 'The next time you call me Ginevra will be when you're begging me for mercy,' she said serenely as she Flooed to the Ministry Atrium.

*****

Ginny sat at a table, making a few notes in a small notebook. She still didn't understand why on earth Flanagan was making her do this event. 'Lousy git,' she muttered mutinously under her breath. 'Total waste of my talent.' She put the notebook back into her handbag and stood up to find some food. She had sent Harry to chat up Krum, more to keep her hands off him, than for anything else. She wandered over to the tables set up with trays of hors d'oeurvres. She scooped up a few bits of pastry filled with something that vaguely looked like cheese or something and popped them in her mouth. 'Hello, Mummy!' said a smarmy voice at her side. Frowning, Ginny turned to see who it was.

'Mr. Lynch,' she said coolly.

'Aidan, darling. You know what they say about pregnant women?' he asked, the fumes of the Firewhisky he had drunk wafting over her.

'No, I'm afraid I don't,' she replied, trying to catch Harry's attention.

'That they're in need of a good shag,' he leered, one hand landing on her bottom.

'I'll thank you to remove your hand from my wife,' said a pleasant voice behind Ginny. Lynch paled as he recognized Harry and pulled his hand away from Ginny as if he'd been burned. 'And if you touch her like that again, I'll beat you to a bloody pulp,' Harry said in that same pleasant voice.

Ginny's fingertips were tingling. Harry didn't usually get so possessive, but she supposed seeing another man's hand on her arse didn't help. Harry tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and they found a deserted corner. Harry backed Ginny into the wall, and slid his hands into her hair, kissing her like he needed to mark her as his property. He was fairly sizzling with the need to posses her. She could feel it in the kiss.

He pulled his mouth from hers, 'My office,' he ground out, pulling her by the hand to an elevator. As it descended to the level with the Auror offices, he pushed her against the wall, letting his hands wander over her body. Ginny wasn't sure they were going to make it to his office when the elevator chimed, 'Level Two...' Harry strode down the hall, using his wand to open the door to his office. He locked it, and put a Silencing charm on the door. He stood looking at Ginny, his eyes bright and cheeks flushed. 'Right, then.' He turned Ginny around so he could unbutton the dress. He slipped the straps off her shoulders and it pooled at her feet. Harry yanked his tie off and all but tore off his shirt and trousers.

He slid onto the desk, and lifted Ginny so she straddled him. 'Make me beg for mercy, Ginevra,' he said.

The next thing Ginny could clearly remember was hearing Harry moan hoarsely, 'Please, Ginevra...' She pushed her hair out of her face and kissed him.

'All right,' she whispered, and closed her eyes, exulting in the feel of his body moving under hers.

'Merlin, Ginevra... You're going to kill me one day.' Harry's voice was ragged.

'But you'll die happy,' she sleepily retorted.

'Think we can get out of here without being seen?' he asked.

'I hope so. We're both a mess. What time is it anyway?'

Harry lifted his arm, so he could see his watch. 'After ten. This thing won't wind down until after midnight,' he said.

'Remind me to have a word with Flanagan tomorrow.'

'Got your rant worked out yet?' Harry grinned up at Ginny.

'I'm getting there. It'll end with Aidan Lynch being a sex-starved eejit who thinks it's acceptable to hit on happily married pregnant women, but that's all I've got right now.'

'That's plenty for me.' With a groan, Harry sat up. He kissed Ginny softly. 'Let's go home.' He helped her back into her dress and used magic to do the buttons. He quickly dressed, and they went back to the Atrium, wrapped around each other in the elevator.

They snuck to the line of fireplaces and Flooed to the flat.

*****

Ginny wrung out the sponge and sprinkled more Mrs. Scower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover into the tub. The porcelain already sparkled, but it wasn't good enough. She heaved a sigh and began to scrub the bottom and sides. It was almost a pity that they would have to actually use the thing later. Ginny rinsed the tub and examined the floor. She found a pail and brush in the broom cupboard and filled it with hot water and a handful of Mrs. Scower's. She had just started to scrub the floor when she heard a knock on the door. Grumbling about people who didn't know they weren't wanted beforehand, Ginny hauled herself to her feet, and went to open the door.

Arthur stood on the doormat, levitating a large bulky package wrapped in brown paper. 'Am I interrupting anything?'

'Not at all, Dad,' Ginny said, forgetting her earlier sentiment. Arthur enjoyed coming over to their flat. He loved the Muggle-ness of it. Especially the toaster. She opened the door wider and moved to the side. 'What is that?' Ginny asked, pointing to the package Arthur was attempting to maneuver through the door.

'Something your mum and I want you to have.' Arthur set the package on the hearthrug. 'Go ahead. Open it.'

Ginny pulled the paper off to reveal a rocking chair. 'This is Mum's,' she said.

'It's yours now, Gin. Molly thought you would like it.' Arthur traced the curving line of the back. 'Her brother Gideon made it. Before Bill was born. She used it for all of you.'

Ginny nodded, tears trickling down her face. She wiped them off with a handkerchief she had stuffed in her jeans pocket. 'Stay for some tea, Dad?'

'I'd love to.' Arthur paused. 'Could I make some toast, too?' he asked eagerly.

'Of course, Dad.' Ginny grinned as Arthur bounded into the kitchen, and began to pile slices of bread into the toaster. 'Don't spoil your dinner. Mum will kill me!' she called.

After Arthur left, Ginny stood next to the rocker. It was beautiful. Made of oak, it had been carved with flowering vines. Ginny lowered herself into it and gently began to rock, her hands resting on her stomach. She remembered Molly rocking her in it as a little girl. One of her earliest memories was climbing into it with her doll, and rocking the doll to sleep.

Ginny sat up straight when she felt something flutter inside her. 'Oh,' she breathed. The flutter rippled through her again. Ginny leaned back in the chair. 'Hello.'