Menace

Chapter Seven

Ginny busied herself around the house all day, cleaning everything until it was gleaming, and then hiding herself away in the office so she could look the books over. She had neglected her work for the last few days and there was a lot of information to be entered on the computer for Rebecca. Being a muggle, she insisted that everything be entered her way. That, and the fact that the accountant from the Ministry had requested a viewing of the books, made her frown. She would have to go over everything with a fine-tooth comb just to make sure it was all in order. The last thing Charlie needed was Ron getting pissed at him because he couldn't keep all the accounts and records straight. Which made a groan issue from her throat.

All the herd records needed updating as well. She sighed and switched the computer on, staring blankly at the screen as it started glowing. Well, at least she had enough work to keep her occupied for several hours...if not days. That should take her mind off Harry and his stupid arrogant attitude. She huffed, knuckling down to work at last. She didn't want to admit, even to herself, that it hurt to think he didn't want her.

A couple of hours later and her eyes were starting to hurt from staring at the screen for so long. So far the computer had crashed twice and she had lost a whole heap of work, but she was determined not to let her temper get the better of her, or else the whole thing would be thrown out of the window. She really didn't need this, she thought grumpily, saving what she had just done. Maybe she'd learn to save more often, she thought, shaking her head. She always managed to forget. Mind you, she thought with a slight smile, if she did throw it out of the window maybe she'd be lucky enough to hit Harry with it. He'd look so much more attractive with his head buried inside a computer screen.

A small noise made her turn her head and she gave a gasp of shock when she saw him standing behind her, holding her coat in his hand.

"Ready?" he asked her, raising one eyebrow and looking grim.

"Ready for what?" she asked him, swinging her chair around and giving him what she hoped was a fairly detached look.

"To visit Charlie and Rebecca? I told him I'd bring you along with me," he said.

She would have loved to argue with him, but she really wanted to go to the hospital, so she just nodded before turning back to the computer and shutting it down.

Harry stared at her in surprise, having been geared up for another argument. He held her coat out to her and then sighed deeply when it was snatched rudely out of his hand. Well, there was the moodiness he had expected, even if she wasn't saying anything. He let her lead the way out of the house and followed silently, coming to the conclusion that the silence would probably last all the way to the hospital and very likely all the way back as well. Still, it was better this way. Far better, he thought, as he forced his eyes away from the enticing curves of her backside.

The visit to Charlie and Rebecca at least kept him from dwelling on her prolonged silence, and he couldn't help smiling as he watched the other couple fuss over the tiny infant. Rebecca was still slightly unwell, but had been told she would be able to return home in another day or so. It was only when Ginny got to hold the baby that Harry had a problem staying in the room. She looked so...right, he thought, holding a tiny newborn like that. And she was so relaxed with it all, too. She would suit being a mother and he suddenly got a vivid picture of her with her own baby... his baby, a thought that made him swallow nervously.

"So, have you decided yet? About a name?" Ginny asked, her voice soft and gentle so she didn't disturb the little person she held.

Rebecca grinned and looked up at Charlie, who looked no less proud. "Yep. He's called Leander Marcello Weasley."

"Leander?" Ginny asked, looking up with interest.

"Yeah, it's a Greek god's name...or something," Charlie said, shrugging and nodding to Rebecca. "Ask her, she knows more about it. All I know is it's masculine and it suits my little baby."

Rebecca laughed along with Ginny at Charlie's obvious pride for his new son and Harry found himself joining in. And he suddenly wished he did have what Charlie now had. Ginny reluctantly looked over at Harry and even more reluctantly moved towards him.

"Would you like a hold?" she asked, not looking in his eyes.

He stared down at the baby, stroking the small face with one finger and marvelling at how soft the skin was. "I...er....I guess so," he mumbled, feeling a bit awkward.

Ginny was surprised that he seemed nervous and she looked at his face for the first time, her eyes darting immediately away when he caught her gaze. She held the baby out and placed it in his arms, swallowing down the wave of emotion she got from seeing him holding a child. Leander looked even tinier in his big hands, and she wondered what it would be like to have given him a baby of his own, enthralled by the picture he made. His face was softer than she had yet seen it, and she could swear she saw a glint of moisture in his eyes as he crooned softly to the baby.

"Gee, he looks good holding a baby, huh?" Charlie whispered in her ear as he came up behind her, and she jerked her head around to look at him, hoping Harry hadn't heard.

"That's not funny!" she hissed at him, swallowing down the lump in her throat. "I think I'll...I'll go and get some tea. Want some?"

Charlie nodded and watched her leave, amusement shining from his eyes. Harry spotted it and narrowed his own, raising one eyebrow enquiringly.

"She's gone to get tea," Charlie explained.

"What's so amusing about that?" he asked, one eye narrowing suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing at all. Cute eh?" Charlie asked, looking Harry straight in the eye and smiling broadly.

"What?" Harry asked, stunned.

"The baby. Cute, isn't he?" Charlie repeated, his eyes glowing with even more mirth now. He watched as Harry dropped his eyes to the baby he held, frowning slightly before pulling himself together.

"Yeah, he's damn beautiful, you're very lucky," Harry said, grinning as he relaxed. "He could have looked like you."

Charlie tightened his lips and glared. "Thanks a lot. Give me my little boy back!" he said, gently taking the baby from Harry and moving back over to sit beside his wife. "So, was everything okay last night?"

Harry tried not to look guilty, but he found it hard. "In what way?"

The other man looked at him silently for a few seconds, a thoughtful light entering his eyes. "I only meant did you get home okay?"

"Oh, yeah, we did," Harry muttered, sitting down in a chair and looking anywhere but at Charlie, which immediately made the other man suspicious.

"What happened this time?" Charlie asked him, absently rocking his son as he spoke.

"Nothing happened," Harry said, shrugging. He wondered what someone would normally say if nothing really had happened and he frowned, thinking he'd better play the part at least, otherwise Charlie would figure it out anyway. "Why would you think something happened?"

"No particular reason," Charlie said calmly, making Harry almost sigh with relief, before his next words tensed him up again. "Just that you two don't seem so comfortable around each other today, and you won't look me in the eyes...why, it's enough to make a big brother think that his baby sister was compromised by the big nasty man, isn't it?" he crooned to the baby, lifting his eyes to cast a stony glance at Harry, noticing the way he stiffened and immediately looked guilty. "Damn, now I know why Ron doesn't bother asking you to poker games."

"Nothing happened," Harry said, looking his friend in the eyes. "Nothing...too far, anyway. As for the way we're acting...she's mad at me."

"Why?"

"Because nothing happened, and because I don't really know shite about women's emotions," Harry said, giving a small smile and raising an eyebrow.

"I see. And that's all?"

Harry nodded. "Yep."

"So I guess you're going to talk about it, clear the air?"

"Nope."

Charlie looked at the dark haired man in exasperation. "I thought you'd finally decided you liked her?"

"No, you decided that. I've decided we're far better off hating each other, and now we do. So everything's back to normal again."

Charlie looked at his wife and shook his head. "Some people are born stupid and never learn any different," he told her, smiling when she laughed. "Let's hope this little one never gets that way."

"No chance of that, we wouldn't let him," Rebecca said, her smile getting wider when the baby woke up and instantly started demanding to be fed. She took him out of Charlie's arms and started to untie her gown, glancing up at Harry as she did so. "I hope you don't mind?"

Charlie almost burst out laughing when Harry gave her a horrified look before abruptly standing up and wiping his hands on his legs. "I'll just...er...well...maybe I'd better wait outside?"

"No need," Charlie said, watching him with vast amusement. "Rebecca doesn't mind at all, do you, honey?"

Rebecca shook her head and Harry started looking trapped. "No, it's better if I don't....er....I'll go help Ginny with that tea," he stammered, turning quickly away as Rebecca put her hand inside the opening of her gown. He left the room as if the Aragog's family were at his heels, hearing Charlie's laughter as he shut the door. Looking around the hallway he saw Ginny walking slowly back towards the room, her head down as she concentrated on not tipping the small cardboard tray she was carrying. He couldn't help running his eyes down her small figure, memories of almost being inside her assailing him and making his breath catch. Damn! He didn't want to be feeling this way, not about her. Not again.

She looked up and caught him staring at her, her eyes widening briefly at the intensity of that look before she dropped her eyes again and moved to go past him into the room. His hand stopped her and she looked up again, frowning at the stain of colour on his cheeks.

"What's wrong with your face?" she asked him, not really wanting to talk but needing to know.

"My face? What about it?" he asked, wiping a hand over it as though something was stuck there.

"It's red," she said, cocking her head to one side when he stiffened his shoulders and tightened his lips.

"Nothing, it was just hot in there," he said, grabbing the tray and sitting in one of the chairs that lined the wall.

"What are you doing? I want to give that tea to Charlie."

"Rebecca's feeding the baby," he explained.

"Oh, I see," Ginny said, then stared at his red face again and tried not to laugh. "Oh, I see," she repeated, her tone making him look up at her. He instantly knew that she realised he was embarrassed, and it made him feel stupid, not an emotion he enjoyed very much. Unable to think of anything to say, he just ignored her, pulling one of the cups out of the holder and adding sugar and milk, both of which she had brought along.

Ginny watched him for a few moments and then sat down on a chair a few away from his, studying him covertly as he drank his tea. She couldn't believe that he felt uncomfortable or embarrassed. Or that she had made him feel even worse, judging by his sulky face. Whoever said men were like children was dead right, but she never thought she would have said it about someone like Harry. Still, regardless of the fact that he was vaguely human, she still didn't really want to speak to him, not after last night. She picked up her own tea and started sipping slowly at it, wondering if Charlie or Harry would try and make her stay at Ron's house tonight. Of course, there was no way she would do it, but she wondered all the same.

As it turned out, Harry managed to surprise her by dropping her off at home and then driving off, not issuing any orders or invitations before he went. Even later into the evening, when she was trying to relax, he didn't return and she went to bed feeling confused. She had expected a fight at the very least, but now, apparently, he didn't care what happened to her. She sulked as she turned the light off, peeved that he hadn't bothered even checking up on her through the floo.

She woke up early the next morning, again wondering what would happen, but all that did happen was that Harry came and checked on her and then left again without a word, looking grim and forbidding.

The next couple of days followed the same pattern, until Charlie rang her to say Rebecca was allowed to come home. By that time she was incredibly confused and feeling quite emotional. Although the solitude had actually been fairly welcomed because she had managed to get up to date with all her work, and now she rushed about the house making sure everything was spotless for Rebecca to return. She wanted everything to be done and dinner to be cooking when Charlie brought her back, just so she could relax and not feel like she should do anything. Ginny smiled and shook her head. She knew damn well that Rebecca would still try and help out, that was the way she was, but she wouldn't be allowed to. Now it would be good to have some company, she thought, humming softly to herself as she made beds and fussed around the house.

Later that day Ginny was sitting at the kitchen counter peeling potatoes manually when Harry knocked on the back door, letting himself in before she had a chance to tell him he could. She glanced at him briefly and froze at how incredibly sexy he looked. He was wearing blue jeans, hanging loosely from his narrow hips and a black shirt, his hair in its usual wild disarray. She swallowed hard and looked away, forcing herself to show anger and not the sudden lust that filled her.

"Well, come right on in," she muttered sarcastically, wishing the potato she was holding was his head and that she was skinning him alive, then he wouldn't be around to look so damn sexy.

"Don't mind if I do, thank you," he said, smiling at her irritation and walking further into the room. "What time are they due back?"

"They?" she asked, being deliberately obtuse. "Ron and Hermione?"

"No, I know when they're due back. I meant Charlie and Rebecca," he said, keeping his cool.

"Don't forget Leander too," Ginny said, smiling sweetly at him before resuming her task, aware of his presence behind her.

"Okay, Leander too. What time are they all due back?" he repeated, grinding his teeth slightly.

Ginny stayed silent for a while, knowing he would be getting impatient then she slowly looked up at the clock. "In another hour."

"Right, well I've got a present for them, so I'll come back then," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets and staring at the back of her head.

"No, we'll be having dinner after they get back. It'll be better if you came later," Ginny said, turning to look at him again and hoping he'd just disappear in a puff of smoke - or at least start looking bald and overweight and not remotely attractive. Some hope, she thought, catching herself when her eyes drifted down his chest. He made her feel odd, and she didn't like it. When he looked at her with raised eyebrows, she almost groaned, knowing he was angling for a dinner invitation and knowing that if she did what she wanted and told him to go and jump off a cliff, Charlie wouldn't be happy. So she swallowed down her pride and glared at him. "You're welcome to join us if you really have to," she muttered, pursing her lips.

He stared at her for a second and then smiled, cocking his head to the side. "With such a gracious invitation, how could I possibly refuse? Thank you, I will have dinner with you."

Ginny found it difficult not to make some smart comment, but she managed it - barely. Turning her back on him she continued peeling potatoes as though he wasn't there.

He watched her for a second and had the strongest urge to go and grab her and kiss her senseless. Realising how close to actually carrying out that stray thought he was, he quickly turned around and left the house, thinking that maybe a cold shower wouldn't go amiss.

Once the back door closed, Ginny breathed out a sigh of relief and peeked over her shoulder, making sure he really had gone and wasn't pretending. What was the matter with me? she thought. He had rejected her the other night, and she was determined he would never get that close again, but she hadn't bargained on her own wilful thoughts. After all these years of finding him merely annoying, now she couldn't help picturing him naked! It wasn't doing her equilibrium any good, and the thought of the evening ahead weighed heavily on her shoulders. She was going to have to be courteous... she would have to try not to drool all over the table whenever she happened to look at him. And that was going to be really difficult, especially if he spoke to her, because Charlie would expect her to at least be polite. She groaned and kicked the cupboard door, groaning even more when she hurt her toe. Well, she would just have to grit her teeth and get on with it. Surely it couldn't be that bad, could it?

Two hours later she was staring blankly at the tablecloth and wondering how she could have thought it wouldn't be bad. It was awful. It was worse than awful. Sometime during the day she had turned into a rampant nymphomaniac...or something, she thought, biting her lip and frowning. She couldn't look at him, at all. Every time she did she was sure that saliva was dripping from the corner of her slack jaw. Pull yourself together! she told herself sternly, taking a deep breath and sitting up straighter. She glanced around the table, watching as Charlie and Harry got engrossed in a conversation about Quidditch, and Rebecca sat holding the baby, seemingly reluctant to put him down for even a second. Ginny smiled, her eyes going slightly dreamy as she stared at Leander and wondered if she'd ever have any children of her own, and her gaze wandered to Harry, staring at him without even knowing she was doing it.

He glanced over when he felt her watching him and his conversation trailed off until he was staring back at her in much the same manner, making Charlie chuckle. He waved his hand between them and grinned.

"Earth to Harry, Earth to Ginny...hello? Anybody home?"

Ginny jumped and stared at him, looking back at Harry briefly and blushing. "Oh...er...sorry, did you say something?"

Charlie shook his head. "Nothing important. Just wondering where dessert was?"

"Dessert?"

"Yes, dessert...the course that follows dinner?"

"Oh! I'll go get it," she said glad to have an excuse to leave the room for a few seconds. This was getting to be a habit, she thought as she stood in the kitchen, running into this room to escape him. She looked at the sticky cake she had made and sighed, knowing she couldn't possibly stay in the same room as him while he was eating it. She just knew she would simply sit and stare at every mouthful going past his lips. Damn it!

When she heard footsteps in the hallway she knew it was him, and she knew he was going to come in this room to find her - another habit that seemed to be developing. It was typical, she thought, that just when she discovered she couldn't keep her eyes off him, he would appear in front of her and tempt her. She closed her eyes and leaned on the counter for support, tensing when he walked into the room behind her. A hysterical giggle almost burst out of her mouth, and she had to nearly bite through her lip to stop it.

"I thought you might need a hand," he said, his deep voice vibrating through her.

Ginny stared at the cake for a couple of seconds, damping down the sudden panic that filled her. "It's...er...everything's fine, you can go and sit down," she managed to say through her tight throat, hoping he would go away so she didn't have to look at him. If she did, she wasn't sure she would be able to stop herself from leaping on him. She rolled her eyes heavenwards in exasperation, trying to keep herself under control. God, she thought, it was like someone had given her an extra powerful hormone injection and now she was powerless to keep away from him! She needed serious help, she decided, and then jumped when a hand touched her shoulder.

"Ginny...I think we should talk about the other night," he said, pulling her around to face him and staring down at her soft, wary features. He had to breathe deeply to control the sudden impulse to kiss her as she looked up at him with that tiny frown causing a crease between her eyebrows. She looked like she was about to cause trouble again, and he realised he knew more about her than he had thought possible.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said, dropping her eyes to his chest, and then wishing she hadn't when she couldn't help but admire the heavily muscled expanse.

"Yeah, well, I think we should," Harry said, sighing as he tried to find the right words to say.

Ginny shifted uncomfortably. She really didn't want to talk about it. What was there for him to say? Gee, Ginny, sorry, you're not worth the trouble, so I couldn't go through with it? She frowned even more, firming her jaw and staring up at him again, her eyes narrowed.

"Thinking never was your strong suit though, was it?" she asked, trying her best to rile him.

Harry froze at her words and blinked. For some unknown reason he hadn't expected that attack, even though he had seen the warning signs. He tried to choose his words carefully, trying not to antagonize her any further, something he managed to do with seemingly little effort.

"I understand you might feel a bit uncomfortable about what happened, and I..."

"I said I didn't want to talk about it, and I meant it!" she snapped at him, trying to pull away from his unyielding grip.

"Listen, I think this is important," he began again, starting to get angry himself now.

"Again with the thinking!" she said, looking at him hatefully. "You are the dumbest man I think I've ever met!"

"Ginny, if you don't stop, I'll..."

"You'll what? Think again? Now that really would be something to be scared of, wouldn't it?" she said sarcastically.

He tried to stop himself, he really did, but the temptation was just too strong and before either of them really knew what was going to happen, he had lifted her up and sat her on the cake. Ginny's mouth fell open in shock and Harry stepped away from her, his eyes going to where the gooey chocolate mixture had been flattened and was stuck all over her backside, remnants of the cake that once was dripping onto the floor.

"You...you..." she spluttered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Harry leaned towards her and smiled. "Now who can't think?" he said, patting her cheek gently before walking out of the back door and leaving her still sitting in the mess on the counter.

A few days passed by in which time no one saw Harry, except Charlie, and only then when he was out working on the reserve and there was no chance Ginny would be around. He didn't bother telling Ginny that he had spoken to him, she was still too angry about what had happened in the kitchen to want to hear his name. Charlie couldn't help smiling as he thought of how he had found her, covered in cake and using every foul word she could think of to describe Harry Potter. Now it was Saturday and Ron was coming home with Hermione from their honeymoon, which meant that sooner or later Harry would be leaving to go back on the road. He sighed. Well, at least there wouldn't be any more fights to worry about once he was gone.

In the meantime, Harry had heard from Ron and there was going to be another party, and Ginny had been invited. Not that Charlie had told her yet, because he didn't know what her reaction would be. But it wasn't like it would only be Harry and Ron there. Apparently some of the other agents, as well as members of the Chudley Cannons would be coming along, too, quite a lot of them in fact.

Charlie shook his head and got on with his work, riding over to his men to supervise things, dragging his mind away from his sister's problems for a short while.

Watching from a window in the house, Ginny followed her brother's movements as he and his men rode through a herd of hippogriffs, and wished she could go for a ride just to get out. But there was always the risk of bumping into Big Foot and she didn't really want that to happen. Unless she could take his head off, she amended cheerfully. She turned around and started entering figures into the computer program, different images of Harry being tortured keeping her happy for the rest of the day.

When she felt she had done enough she looked at her watch and switched the computer off, after carefully backing up everything she had put on it. Turning around she jumped and then laughed when she found Charlie standing in the doorway, grinning at her as he slapped his dusty hat against his leg.

"You scared the life out of me!"

"Sorry about that, just wanted to have a little talk," he said, not moving as he looked at her.

"About what?" she asked.

"Ron's back today, and he's having a party tomorrow," he told her, watching her reaction carefully.

"Another party?" Ginny asked, surprised.

Charlie shrugged. "Yeah, I know, he never used to be home long enough before. I guess Hermione brings out something good in him. Anyway, we're all invited."

Her face fell. "I'm not going."

"Why not?"

"Hmm, let me think," she said, rolling her eyes at him. "He'll be there."

"Yeah, he will, but so will about twenty other people, all of whom you can hide behind again," Charlie said, chuckling.

"I don't know..."

"We're his family Ginny. I don't want to go upsetting him, do I?"

"No, but he won't mind if I don't go."

"Hermione will, I'm sure. You haven't really got any choice, and you'll probably enjoy it anyway. Neville owled earlier, he'll be there."

Ginny liked Neville, he was always nice to her. "Really?"

"Yeah, really. And you know he'll protect you, if you need it," he said, raising his eyebrows in question.

"Okay, then, I'll go. What time is it going to start?"

"About lunch time," he said, smiling when she looked slightly puzzled. "It's another barbecue, not an evening do. And no dancing this time, just casual eating and drinking and talking."

"So I don't have to wear a dress?" she asked hopefully.

"Not unless you want to impress anyone," Charlie said, winking at her and leaving the room.

Ginny stared after him and scowled. No, she didn't want to impress anyone, even if she was able to. Well, a party would be nice, and it would be really good to see Hermione again. She sighed and raised her eyebrows. Like Charlie said, she really had no choice. She would just have to make sure she stayed right out of Harry's way.

The next day found Ginny at Ron's house, helping Hermione out in the kitchen. The other girl had a nice tan and seemed to be grinning all the time. "I guess the honeymoon was good then?" Ginny asked her, laughing when Hermione nodded enthusiastically.

"Merlin, yes, it was so good," she said, her eyes taking on a distant look. "I wish we were still there, really, but it's nice to be back as well. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody again."

"It's nice of you to throw another party," Ginny pointed out, wiping her eyes as she charmed a knife to chop a seemingly endless pile of onions.

"It was Ron's idea, really, but I'm not going to complain...well, except for the cooking I guess, but I like that too."

Ginny glanced up at her and smiled again. "So who's coming?"

"Daphne, Remus, and Emmeline," Hermione said, still smiling softly.

"Carter, Tabitha, Connor, Dennis, Colin, Hannah, Theodore and Isaac, Parvati, Seamus, Neville, Fred, George... lots of people really. I think you know everyone already."

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I think I do. Which reminds me, is Daphne going out with Neville?"

Hermione grimaced. "Don't even ask, and please don't bring it up as a subject of conversation this afternoon. They're both going to be here, and they don't seem to be able to stay in the same room as each other at the moment. Like two other people I could mention," she said, raising an eyebrow and looking pointedly at Ginny.

"Yeah, well, I bet she doesn't have half the excuse I have," Ginny said, frowning when she thought of Harry. She hadn't seen him so far today and she was grateful.

"I guess she doesn't, at that. Still, as long as there's no trouble at our party, then it's up to everybody how they react to each other, don't you think?"

"Damn right," Ginny muttered, getting on with the task at hand and trying not to think of Big Foot, her current name for Harry. "It's nice to see you back."

"Thanks," Hermione said, smiling happily as she busied herself around the kitchen.

The guests started rolling up at 11.30 and Ron greeted them, leaving Hermione and Ginny to get on with the food side of things until it was time for him to grill the burgers. He already had nearly a whole pig cooking nicely, and Ginny wondered if there would be anything left once all the guys had arrived. After the last barbecue, Hermione had learned her lesson and had made sure they ordered in twice as much food...knowing there wouldn't be anything left once everyone had had their fill.

"Aren't you going to get changed?" Ginny asked Hermione as she carried the final tray out into the garden.

"No, not this time, it's just casual. I thought Charlie already told you that?" she asked, eyeing Ginny's jeans and elasticized top.

"Oh, he did, but I thought you'd wear a dress," she said, shrugging.

"I can't be bothered with all that now!" Hermione laughed, indicating her own jeans. "Besides, Ron thinks I'm dead sexy in jeans!"

"He sure as hell does," Ron growled as he came up behind her, his big arms wrapping around her waist and drawing her back to lean on his chest. "Hey Ginny, how's everything going?" he asked, smiling at her and kissing her on the cheek before he nuzzled Hermione's neck.

"Fine, thanks. I hear you had a spectacular honeymoon?"

"Oh yeah. I think that maybe we should have one every year," he murmured, grinning wickedly when Hermione looked up at him with slightly pink cheeks. "See if we can't get a few little Weasleys underway, hmm?"

"Oooh, talking of babies, where's Charlie and Rebecca? I haven't seen the baby yet, and I can't wait!" Hermione said, looking excited.

"That's the understatement of the year," Ron said, smiling. "I had to stop her from rushing round yours last night. Come on, Scarlet, let's go find them," he said, pulling her along with a quick wave to Ginny as they went.

She wasn't alone for long, however, before two hands were planted over her eyes from behind. "Guess who?" a deep voice growled, making her giggle at his attempt to disguise it.

"Neville, you big moron, you never could put on a voice could you?" she asked, turning around and receiving a hug.

"Moron, I like that!" he grumbled, smiling an amazingly white grin at her. "So, how are things between you and Harry since I've been gone?"

Ginny frowned. "As bad as ever. Worse, I think."

Neville rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I guess I should have known by Harry's reaction when I asked him the same question."

"What did he do?" she asked curiously, still not having seen the other man.

"Told me to...now, let's make sure I get this word for word...ah yes, he told me to go stick my head up my own arse, grab my throat with my perfect little teeth and rip it out. Then he told me to go to hell. I thought it was a bit extreme, but Harry can be that way sometimes. So, what did you do to upset him this time?"

"Me?!"

"Well, I don't know anyone else around here who can make him as mad as that, do you?"

"I didn't do anything at all, in fact it was him that did everything! Just the other day he ruined my nice chocolate gateau!"

"Really?" Neville asked, raising one eyebrow. "How did he do that?"

"He sat me on it," she muttered, her eyes narrowing when she thought about it. "It's not funny!" she said when Neville started laughing.

"Aw, hell, yes it is," he said, wiping a tear from his eyes. "Never mind, Ginger, I'm sure you'll manage to get him back, hmm?"

"I'd like to, but I haven't seen him since then," she said, looking around at the crowd that was growing larger by the second. Dennis Creevy waved at her and grinned before rushing away to where a laughing Seamus was beckoning.

"I wonder what they're up to now?" Neville asked, watching them go with narrowed eyes. "I'd be willing to bet good money it isn't anything good."

"Do they still play practical jokes at work?" Ginny asked, unable to help smiling as she watched them rush off.

Neville groaned. "All the time. I've tried to convince Remus to sack them, but he won't hear of it. So it's left up to me, Harry, and Ron to teach them a lesson or two, when they need it."

"Which is a lot of the time, I guess?"

"More often than you'd believe," Neville murmured, pursing his lips. "Let's get you a drink and we can talk some more. You're very good company after all those knuckleheads. I mean, just the other day, Connor was taking a shower and..."

Neville kept up the chatter as they walked among the other guests, keeping Ginny busy for a large part of the afternoon. Watching from near the house, Charlie was glad to see that Ginny was actually having a good time, but he was puzzled as to Harry's whereabouts.

It wasn't until a couple of hours later that anyone discovered where he was. Ginny was still talking with Neville when Dennis and Colin Creevy came rushing out, giggling like children, Connor Davies following them almost blue in the face from laughing so hard. They made a beeline for Ginny and she looked at them in confusion.

"What's wrong with you lot?" she asked, unable to help smiling at their drunken giggles. Neville stared at them with a smirk and then narrowed his hazel eyes.

"What have you done?" he asked them, getting right to the point. He knew them a lot better than Ginny did and he had seen this sort of hysteria before. Someone, somewhere, had just had a practical joke played on them.

Dennis wiped a tear from his eye as he calmed himself down, looking at Neville with a wide grin. "We got Harry...oh God, he was so dru...er...drunk it was easy! But we need Ginny to help us with him."

"You got Harry? What do you mean? And why would you need my help?" Ginny asked them, really confused now.

"Yes, boys, do tell," Neville invited.

"It'd be better if you came and saw," Colin said, grabbing Ginny's hand and drawing her quickly into the house. She had little choice but to follow him as he trotted up the stairs and along the landing to Harry's bedroom. She didn't know what it was she expected to see, but the sight that greeted her made her freeze and she didn't know whether to laugh or run for her life before those green eyes flickered open.