I'll Be There

I'LL BE THERE

CHAPTER ONE

A NEW LOVE, A NEW LIFE

"So Gin, you are sure that you are doing the right thing by going out with Finnigan here?" Ron inquired nudging Ginny gently in her abdomen. Hermione stared at Ron open mouthed still shocked at the bluntness of her boyfriend.

"Of course Ron. I wouldn't have said yes to him if I didn't think that we could give it a go," Ginny shot back with a glare showing her raw emotions on the topic that had been approached a few too many times.

"Alright Gin, just checking. I mean I don't want you to go out with our Seamus if you aren't yet over Harry. Ya know what I mean?" Ginny gave her best death look and responded quickly.

"For Heaven's sake Ron! You would think that I was going out with Malfoy or something by the way that you are treating this! It's only Seamus Finnigan! Our fellow Gryffindor!" Her exclamations heightened as she spit out each fact. However, she was interrupted by two strong arms circling her waist pulling her against their body.

"Only Seamus Finnigan. Is that right, Gin?" Seamus replied sarcastically as he brushed a tendril of Ginny's fire red hair behind her ear. "Is that all I am to you?" he said brushing his lips against her ear. Ginny giggled mischievously and turned so that she was now facing him, her eyes dancing with laughter.

"No..." she paused, "you aren't only Seamus Finnigan, you are *my* Irishman. Now isn't that right baby?" Ginny was still growing accustomed to the fact that her and Seamus had already begun calling each other pet names. It took Ron and Hermione much more time than a week. One week with Seamus and Ginny lost all the emotions and feelings that she thought were love for Harry Potter. Feelings that she had spent the duration of her life daydreaming about. All that gone in one week. It was truly miraculous that Ginny could get over Harry so quickly and fall in a new shade of puppy love with her new boyfriend. "How's that for Seamus Finnigan?"

Seamus flashed her his winning smile, "I think I quite enjoy that Miss Ginny Weasley." That smile won her over every time. It was the cutest thing that she ever laid eyes upon at Hogwarts, no make that the world. *"Damn that smile of his.... makes me feel like pudding every time!"*

****

Ron couldn't believe that his little sister had finally gotten over her crush on Harry Potter, his best friend. It was so weird to look at Harry and know that his little sister wanted him. He couldn't possibly imagine his best friend doing some of the things that he and Hermione did together with his little sister! *"Oh damn! Why am I thinking about what my sister does in her spare time! Ahhhh.... Ron just sneak a peek or a peck with Hermione. NOW you stupid git!"*

Ron decided on following through with the latter. He kissed Hermione gently on the lips and only stopped once he realized that his little sister, her new boyfriend, and Harry stopped to stare at him. He quickly removed his lips from Hermione's and whined in protest, "What I can't even kiss my own girlfriend now! For goodness sakes you guys are bloody rotten!" He looked over at Hermione who appeared to be trying to regain her calm back after the baffled expression she still wore on her face. Hermione didn't take being caught in her private life by friends or anyone else amusing. She always wanted to look good. Prefect to Head Girl was all she wanted. Ron worried that she wanted those things more than him but he extremely doubted it after he reflected on that day by the lake of the previous summer. Ron's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his name being screamed, "RON!" It was Harry. Of course Harry would be the one to so obnoxiously barge into his thoughts.... or fantasies. "WHAT!!" Ron shot back in a curt manner.

"Sorry Ron, but the smile on your face was irresistibly ridiculous! What did you float to Heaven and back?"

"No, not exactly."

"Then what were you thinking about?"

"Me and Herm," Ron answered without thinking. Hermione covered her mouth hoping for him not to bring Harry into the R/Hr file. That was a no access zone for anyone but the two of them and Ron knew it.

"Er, really? What about?" Harry inquired with his green eyes piercing into Ron's brown trying to get Ron to spill. Ron shuffled awkwardly as Harry stared at him. Harry interrupted the silence, "No wait, I don't really want to know what my two best friends do in their spare time." Harry flashed a thoughtful grin and Hermione took her hand away from her mouth to throw it down to her side in utter relief. The shades of red on Ron's face disappeared until he regained his true Weasley skin tone. Harry shifted his attention from Ron and Hermione to the couple standing arm in arm across from him. "So, I see that Gin and Seamus are making quite the scene." Ginny and Seamus stood there unalarmed by Harry's abrupt statement.

"Of course Harry. You expected something different?"

"Nah, Seamus. Of course I expected you and Gin to go out. Eh, why am I lying of course I did not foresee this, I am not Trelawney and the only thing that I am *able* to predict is my up and coming death anyway, if you know what I mean."

"So terribly sorry. Didn't mean to burst your bubble knowing that everything from your lunar calendar to tea leaves spells out death for the infamous Harry Potter." At this Harry's face turned a bit red. Was this anger that Seamus saw on Harry's face, or was it jealousy? Jealousy of what, him and Gin? Nah. Harry had his chance with Gin for his entire Hogwarts life. Gin practically kissed the ground he walked on. Well, she used to kiss the ground he walked on, until he came along. Seamus smiled at this thought, pulled Ginny closer to him while wrapping his arms around her so that she was now in his embrace and kissed the top of her silky red hair gently returning his attention to Harry.

"Wow, Finnigan! That was some move there. One minute you are talking to Harry and the next you are snuggling with my sister. I don't even want to know what has been on your mind in just those few seconds," Ron contemplated focusing his attention on the conversation at hand.

"Hmmm. . ." Seamus muttered and took Ginny's hands in his as he exchanged glances with Hermione. They both seemed to realize that Harry did not look to thrilled to see him and Ginny together but why was beyond them.

***

Harry turned abruptly feeling the cold stare of someone behind him. He knew the feeling of that stare anywhere. It was Draco Malfoy. "What's the matter Potter, upset that the Weasley girl isn't with you?"

"Of course not Malfoy," Harry spat.

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that one Potter. I wouldn't put it past you to stop to the lowness of a Weasley."

Harry didn't say anything but continued to glare at Malfoy while Hermione held Ron back. Ginny took her hand to cover Seamus' mouth to keep him from speaking.

Seamus took a step back from Ginny and was ready to throw a punch at Malfoy but Harry beat him to it. "Don't you ever, *ever* , talk about my friend and his family like that! Do you understand me Malfoy? Ginny, Ron, and the rest of the Weasley's are more than you will ever be! Now get away from us before I really do something that *you* will regret!" Harry glowered with his face turning three times redder with his building rage. Harry turned to face his friends and stormed back to Gryffindor tower without taking another look back.

"I guess Potter still has a thing for the Weasley girl. He seems to get a bit *enraged* by the matter of his own jealousy," Draco snickered, "'til next time Weasley."