Inside the Lines

Chapter One

The Homecoming

People change, and smile: but the agony abides,

Time the destroyer is time the preserver

-T.S. Eliot "Dry Salvages"

Ginny Weasley pulled her coat tight around her, ducked her head, and headed out into the freezing rain. She was not having a good day. It was raining, work had been dreadful, she had been running late for everything, and most of all Harry Potter was back in town.

Hermione had told her late last night. She had come in smiling excitedly and waving a letter in her hand exclaiming that Harry was home. Ginny had been finishing up some work trying to make it in time for her deadline when Hermione ran through the door screaming her name. Hermione was practically bouncing off the walls, her face flushed, and her eyes shining with tears of joy. She was so happy that her best friend was finally, finally, coming home. As Hermione babbled on and on about Harry four owls came flying through the window. One was from Ron announcing that Harry was back in town using multiple exclamation points. The other three were from Mrs. Weasley. The first one was much the same as Ron's, the second one was informing her of a small welcome home party she was planning, and the third was asking her to please bring desert and was full of her rambling on about the party. This was the biggest thing to happen since none other than the aforementioned Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort. It seemed only one person could generate such excitement, and that one person just happened to be The Boy Who Lived.

Ginny wasn't as happy about Harry's homecoming as Hermione, actually she wasn't happy about it at all. Everyone else was, though. Mum's owl had gone on and on for two whole pages about the dinner she was planning and how happy she was to have "dear Harry" home once again. Hermione spent the whole day smiling and would frequently comment on how happy she was that Harry was finally coming home. Even Ron couldn't stop smiling and he and Harmione confided in her that now that Harry was home they could announce their engagement to the rest of the family. They had been waiting until Harry came home before they told anyone else besides Ginny. Hermione thought it was only appropriate that they do so. They had been going insane, though, having to keep it a secret. But now that Harry was home they could formally announce it to the whole family. Hermione said that Harry had to be present for such an important event. Of course, Ron would have preferred to just blurt it out and then skip the whole engagement and wedding planning and elope or something. Hermione would never allow such a thing, though. Every little girl dreams of their wedding and it would be a crime to spoil that. So the engagement remained a secret until the proper time. The only reason Ginny had been privy to this top-secret information was because she was the Maid of Honor and the groom's sister and the bride's best friend and, well, she would have found out anyway.

"Not tonight, of course. Tonight is Harry's night, but soon. Oh, Ginny I'm just so excited. Maybe he'll stay. Maybe he'll finally settle down. Oh, I wish he'd stay. I hope he stays," she gushed at lunch completely ignoring her food because she was too excited to eat. Ginny listened in silence occasionally forcing a smile and not touching her food. Ever since she had heard the "good news" she had fallen into a bad mood, barely talking to anyone. She hadn't gotten any sleep the night before and just wanted to go home and hide under her covers. Maybe when she woke up she'd find that it was all a dream.

The rain fit her mood perfectly; it put a topper on her awful day. As she walked down the street the rain poured down soaking her. She didn't even bother to use a spell to keep her dry and warm. Why use magic to avoid this tiny little problem when she knew that even with one problem solved one more will pop up and no matter how hard she tried she can never fix the biggest problem of all--her past?

She was going to be late for Mum's big dinner for Harry but she didn't care. She could have apparated and avoided the rain all together but a walk in the rain was just what she needed. She stopped in front of a newsstand and bought a muggle paper. She liked to read what the muggles had to say. She paid the salesman with the only muggle money she had and that she kept for this specific reason. Hermione had thoroughly expressed to her the importance of keeping muggle money at hand in case she was ever caught in a situation when she would need it.

When she walked into her flat she saw Hermione's owl waiting outside her window. She walked across the room and let it in taking the letter. Then she dropped her keys on the table and took off her coat, which she dried with a wave of her wand and hung on its hook by the door. She opened Hermione's letter, which simply reminded her about the party and not to be late. Leaving the letter on the table she walked into her bedroom and opened her closet. She scanned all her clothes and tried to decide what to wear. What do you wear to a coming home party for Harry Potter, your brother's best friend, everyone's hero, and the man you've been trying to get over for years?

She took a shower and took her time getting ready making sure she looked just right. Hermione had said in her note that since it was a special occasion she should wear something nice so she put on a simple slip dress and left her hair down. As she looked into the mirror she couldn't help but wonder what Harry would think of her or would he even notice her at all. It was six o'clock and dinner started in a half-hour. Mum liked everyone to come early. Ginny sighed as she grabbed her coat and purse. It was going to be a long night.

"A small family gathering, Mum?" Ginny said kissing her mother on the cheek. Molly had her apron on over her best Sunday dress and a wooden spoon in her hand. She hugged her daughter and ignored the comment. The kitchen was in a frenzy with about ten pots vying for attention on the stove.

"Ginny, dear, you look lovely. Be a help and put those on a tray for me and bring them outside. We're eating in the garden. It's just so beautiful out tonight we couldn't possible have it inside," she said turning back to her cooking. A typical Molly greeting, "Hello! And would you please be a dear and do thus and so". Ginny did as she was told with a simple wave of her wand. She could hear the sounds of the party through the open door. Luckily the rain had stopped, causing no damage except leaving everything wet and dripping. The sun was setting to the west, the sky a beautiful pallet of pinks and oranges. Ginny could see the back garden filled with people all milling around talking and laughing. They were all so happy. Harry had finally come back home.

"Everything looks delicious, Mummy. Harry will love it."

"Oh, I hope so. I'm just so happy he's finally come home." Molly was slicing a cucumber that would no doubt end up in the salad. Ginny wished she could stay inside the kitchen with her mother and cook all night. She remembered when she was a little girl she used to love helping her mother cook.

"And while you're out there, honey, check and make sure there's enough ice over by the drinks," Molly called as Ginny was leaving the kitchen tray in hand.

On her way outside she met Hermione. She was smiling and laughing. When she saw Ginny she gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, "Oh, Gin, I'm just so excited. I can't believe he's finally come home."

"So, where is he, the guest of honor? Is he here yet?" Ginny asked setting her tray down on a nearby table. The garden seemed almost magical. Fireflies were flitting around overhead and the crickets were chirping. Everything was damp from the summer rain earlier that day. The whole atmosphere was so joyous and happy that everything seemed that much more enchanted.

"Over there by the drinks with Ron. He looks great, doesn't he? He looks so happy." Hermione was beaming as she watched her two best friends, one of which was her fiancé.

"Yeah, he does." She looked across the party and all the happy people talking and laughing all together for the purpose of celebrating Harry's homecoming. Her eyes fell immediately on Harry. He was talking to Ron. Fred and George had joined them and they were all laughing. He did look happy and so different it seemed. But he was still the same Harry. Her eyes lingered on them for a few moments.

"I hope he's happy," Hermione said in a low voice. Ginny nodded silently. She felt Hermione watching her and turned to look at her breaking her gaze away from Harry.

"Aren't you happy?" Hermione asked watching her intently. Ginny was silent for a second and she found her eyes drawn towards Harry again.

"Yeah," she said in a low still watching Harry, "Yeah, I am." Even to herself it sounded unconvincing. "Well, Mum has sent me on a mission to look for ice to I had better get a move on. And I still have to say hello to our guest of honor."

She took a deep breath and made her way across the garden Waving and smiling at all her friends and family. She walked slowly not looking anywhere specific, taking deep breaths and trying to keep a smile on her face. She past friends from school she hadn't seen in years but she knew if she paused for even a second she wouldn't be able to go on. She just kept willing herself to move forward and keep smiling. And then she was standing right next to Harry.

"Hi there," she said forcing a smile. Harry turned and looked at her. Her heart sped up and she thought it was an amazing feat that she still had the ability to breathe properly. She felt her face turn pink as his dazzling green eyes fell on her. Smile. Keep smiling. Cool and collected, stay cool and collected. Breathe and smile. She was distracted for a minute hugging her three older brothers. Fred and George ruffled her hair and Ron kissed her on the cheek. Then she had to turn back to Harry a smile firmly in place.

"Hey, Ginny," Harry said. That's it, "hey". Not even a "Great to see you, Ginny" or a "You look great, Ginny" just "hey". She didn't falter and kept smiling.

"Harry, it's great to see you again. How have you been?" Ginny asked smiling and trying to sound genuinely happy and excited. I should win some sort of award for this acting skill.

"Great. I've been great. You?" Up close Ginny couldn't help but notice again how different he seemed. He didn't look that different but something had definitely changed in him.

"Oh, everything's been wonderful," she said. There was an awkward pause. "I sure could use a drink. So, if you'll excuse me for a second," she really needed to get out of there. She had made the necessary greeting and expected queries. The worst was over. So, she poured herself a drink and found that the ice was running low. Glad for an excuse to leave the conversation entirely she left to go fetch some more.

She spent the rest of the night trying to avoid speaking directly to Harry. She watched him closely all night but never really had a full conversation with him. She constantly found her gaze drawn to him and on more than one occasion she found Hermione watching her sometimes from across the whole party. It was nice to catch up with everyone but the conversation always found its way over to the topic of Harry and Ginny would always excuse herself. A few times she ended up in the kitchen with Molly. She didn't like being this nervous and for such a stupid reason.

After everyone left full and happy and the party was over it was only the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry left to clean up. The garden was so peaceful now that everyone was gone. There's always a certain calm after a party and everyone leaves. The lightning bugs flew around her, little specks of light against the dark night. The air was cool as it always is on a summer evening. The stars were out and the only light was from the glowing kitchen window and the candles on the tables. The crickets were chirping, singing they're cheerful song. Ginny loved summertime at The Burrow.

Ginny was gathering all the glasses off the tables. She was exhausted. Her feet ached from standing all night in uncomfortable shoes that gave her blisters. She kicked off her shoes and gathered her hair in her hands tying it loosely in a sloppy bun at the base of her neck. The grass was damp beneath her bare feet and she closed her eyes soaking in the moment. Ron and Hermione were inside helping Molly clean the kitchen. The rest of her family had disappeared somewhere trying to avoid being sentenced to dish washing duty all night long. Ginny thought she was all alone out in the garden clearing off the tables. She reached for another wineglass but someone got there first. She looked up surprised.

"Oh, hey, Harry. I didn't see you there," she said to Harry, who also had a stack of dishes. He smiled.

"That's ok. I didn't mean to startle you," he said. Again Ginny saw a change in him. It had been a while so obviously he would look a little older but it was something more. He looked tired, almost as exhausted as Ginny. Well, of course. He's had to spend the whole night acting cheerful and talking nonstop when he just got home and was probably tired to begin with.

"So, are you glad to be home?" Ginny asked as she moved down the table picking up glasses as Harry followed gathering up all the dishes. She knew he must have had to answer that question a thousand times in the past few hours but it was the only thing she could think of to say.

"Yeah. I missed it a lot. It's great to see everyone and be back at the Burrow." It seemed surreal to Ginny that she was standing there talking to Harry after trying to forget him for so long and get on with her life. The oddest thing was that she found that it wasn't as uncomfortable as she imagined it would be. Once she relaxed and stopped worrying the conversation just flowed naturally. When she looked into his amazingly green eyes, though, she felt that all too familiar tug in her stomach and pull in heart.

"There's nothing like Mum's cooking. I find that I can't stay away for too long." They stopped and found that there were no more plates or glasses on the table. Ginny looked over at the house and could see through the window into the bright kitchen. Hermione and Ron were sitting at the kitchen table talking and laughing. Molly was scrubbing away at the sink waging war on the dirty dinner dishes. They looked so content. It had been a long time since all the family and all their friends had been together in one place.

Harry was watching them through the window, too. Ginny turned around about to suggest they head inside but stopped herself suddenly. He looked so sad. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to be home after being away for so long. Ginny pulled out a chair and sat down. Harry looked a little surprised but sat down next to her placing his stack of dishes on the table. They were silent for a couple of minutes watching the scene in the window. Memories that had long been dormant in her mind rose before her and she found herself traveling back in time for a moment.

"They look happy," he said his eyes still on Ron and Hermione. He had a look in his eyes that Ginny had never seen before. There was a lot she didn't know about Harry, a lot that he kept to himself. She watched him, willing him to open up to her.

"They really are. I'm surprised that they waited so long to get engaged?" It was no surprise that Ron and Hermione were getting married. Ginny had known they would end up together since their fourth year. She remembered in Hogwarts how the whole house had watched impatiently as they bat around the bush. It was so obvious but they were so stubborn.

"They're engaged? Really?" He sounded surprised, "That's great." Suddenly Ginny regretted ever mentioning the engagement. She had supposed he knew. She didn't stop to think. Of course Ron and Hermione would want to wait to tell him in person. She was so stupid.

"You didn't know? Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I thought you knew. I wouldn't have said anything if I knew you didn't know. Ron and Hermione want it to be a surprise. They were probably waiting to tell you in person. Oh shit, now I've ruined everything. How could I have been so stupid!" She was ranting but Hermione would kill her if she found out that Ginny had spilled the beans.

"Hey, it's ok, Gin."

"Oh no, it's not. Hermione was planning this great big surprise and she was so excited and now I've ruined everything."

"It doesn't matter. I knew it was coming, anyway. I think I've known since fourth year at least." He was smiling. Ginny relaxed a little bit and smiled back remembering how they had been at Hogwarts.

"Yeah, it was really obvious. Mum's been planning the wedding for year." She was watching them through the window again. For once they weren't bickering. Hermione's feet were in Ron's lap and Molly had left the kitchen leaving them alone. They were sitting in silence but they still looked like they were having the time of lives. "They really make a great couple."

"Do you know when they're planning to have the wedding?" Harry asked his eyes still fixed on his two best friends. It struck Ginny how hard it must have been out in the world alone. He had always had Ron and Hermione and after they graduated from Hogwarts Harry just took off. She knew how much Ron and Hermione had missed him. She had often caught them when they thought no one was looking staring off into the distance with a sad look on their face. Ron kept a picture of all three of them together at Hogwarts on his desk and a few times when she had visited him in the office she had found him staring intently at the picture. Each time Ginny had felt a pang in her heart for them.

"No, but Hermione did mention that she didn't want a long engagement so it isn't too far off. They haven't told anyone yet so you had better keep it on the down low for now," she paused for a second not really sure why. "I'm really sorry. I have such a big mouth! They were probably planning something special. Whatever you do don't tell them I told you or I'll be dead."

"Don't worry my lips are sealed."