Desire Diviners

Desire Diviners

CHAPTER 3

Molly made her way up the crooked stairs, mumbling about lazy children and feeling frustrated. Still in bed at this hour, honestly! Her morning had been full of chores, and she was ready for a bit of help. She grumbled around a corner when she nearly dropped her basket of clean socks. She had glanced up to see a picture of her family, all trying jovially to fit on or near their couch, for their Christmas photo eight years previous.

The sight of all seven of her children caused a hitch in her throat. They all looked like babies, even Percy. Sweet prodigal Percy who couldn't even look at the door to Fred's room without wincing. They had all aged so much in that time, gone from children to adults rather forcibly.

All those that made it, she mused humbly. Suddenly guilt flew through her. How can I fuss about lazy children? Ginny is neither. She is an adult, and one who has fought harder and longer than anyone should, especially at her age.

Molly took a deep breath and then continued up the stairs. She reached Ginny's room and knocked gently on the slightly open door, suddenly wanting nothing more than to hold her youngest in her arms. When she didn't receive an answer she nudged the door open.

The room was empty, the bed unmade. Nothing new there, though, she thought. Molly peered around for any clue of her daughter's whereabouts, and when she found none she calmly backed out of the room. She started as she heard the door behind her swing open.

Turning around, she saw Ginny emerge from the bathroom, still wearing her pajamas, the buttons skewed on her top. She looked startled to see her mother, and opened her mouth to explain.

"Mom! Um, hi!"

"Still in your nightclothes, I see Ginevra?"

Ginny blushed and quickly glanced down, mumbling, "Mum, let me explain."

Molly crossed to her and gently cupped her cheek.

"There's no need, dear. We all deserve some rest now. You have a glow about you. I hope this means your dreams aren't keeping you up anymore? Did you have a good night?"

Again the young woman glanced down and blushed, though her mother didn't see the color rising.

"My night was great, Mum, thanks. I think I will just change out of these, then."

She started to walk past her mother, but then she stopped and turned. She leaned in and gave her mother a deep, though quick, hug. Then she turned away and ran into her room.

They grow so fast, my amazing children, Molly reflected. With this thought she headed to their room to spend some quiet time with her photo albums.

~*~

Ron burst into the shop and up the stairs leading to George's flat. Throwing the door open, he came face to face with his equally eager brother. They spoke at the same time.

"So, how was it?! Wait, what do you mean?"

Both look slightly confused. Ron laughed, and George shook his head.

"Come on, George, give it up. Where did you go? Did everything work smoothly?"

"Ickle Ronniekins, I didn't go anywhere, the test was for you, remember?"

Ron, mirroring his brother's befuddlement, turned and leaned against the kitchen counter.

"Wait, so you didn't go to the Burrow last night?"

"No, I was here waiting with bated breath to hear about your trip. Hmm, seems neither of us got our wish. Well we still have to test it. I guess we can keep trying to catch each other off guard. It always worked eventually with Fr--it always worked before."

Ron began pacing around the flat, his hands resting atop his head.

"But George, I set yours last night, and when I went today it was gone. No one could have moved it without using it..."

"Well, they could if they moved it with magic. Flew it across the room or such."

"Yeah, erm... if Mum had seen it, we would have heard about it by now. And if Ginny--"

Ron stopped his pacing and nearly toppled over.

"Ginny!"

He turned back to his brother, who saw color slowly rising, and then draining from Ron's face.

"Bollocks!"

He threw himself at George's fire, man-handled the jar of Floo powder and managed to get in just enough. He thrust his face in the flames and yelled.

"Harry! Oi, Potter? Get your arse out here."

~*~

When Ginny Apparated into Harry's room she dropped her bag and turned towards the door, alert to the awkward-sounding conversation on the other side.

"Look Harry, I'm not interrogating here, I'm just asking if my sister has been by to see you in the last 24 hours."

"Ron, you make it sound like she is missing or something."

"Nah, mate. I'm just... I just want to talk to her, see?"

"Did she catch you and Hermione? I think I'm still scarred..."

"Shut it, you!" Ron barked back, and then he mumbled, "See how you like it..."

"What?"

"Nothing, for Merlin's sake. I have to go scrub my brain. Just tell me if she turns up, right?"

A faint *pop* told Ginny her brother's head was no longer in the fireplace, so she inched open the door. Harry was leaning on the back of a chair, staring at the orange flames. The door creaked, and at the sound he turned toward her. He smiled shyly, and then looked back at his hands, still on the chair back.

"So what do we do about that?"

"What, him?" Ginny began to cross the room. "It's all his fault, isn't it? So I don't feel too badly for him if he finds out."

Harry's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. She reached him and placed a tiny kiss to the right of his lips.

"Well OK, it could be horribly awkward in a way. But it IS his fault. And it's not like they aren't doing the same thing." Ginny paused. "Did you really catch them?"

At this Harry laughed. He turned to sit on the arm of the chair and pulled her into his lap.

"I try not to think about it, love. Can we talk about something else?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I know exactly what I'd like to discuss."

The light glanced off of her copper tresses as she stood and pulled him to his feet. She led him into the bedroom and further into the bathroom, where she started a hot shower.

At this point her boldness wavered. We were completely naked and vulnerable last night. Why does it feel strange now? Will he think I'm some sort of slag?

Her face was hidden from his as she contemplated. He walked around to face her and lifted her chin in his hand. He echoed her words from that morning.

"I don't regret one single second of last night, Ginny. I love you. I am not afraid to be intimate with you." He faltered and added nervously, "If you still want to."

Steam had started fogging his glasses, so she gently removed them. Her hands went then to his shirt, slowly tugging it over his head. When it revealed his face, Ginny leaned up and kissed him softly on his scar. Then, with a mischievous grin, she raised her arms over her head. Harry took the hint and reached for her shirt.

Magic caused the water to run hot long after it ought, and the couple enjoyed every moment.

~*~

Hermione sat in her favorite squashy chair, thinking. Why had she agreed to this? It wasn't that she had doubts about Ron; there was no denying their love now that it was spoken. She just felt... uneasy. How would he react? Would he feel amused? Betrayed? Elated?

The knock on the door shook her from her thoughts. She answered and was greeted by a half-hearted kiss on the forehead. Ron swept into the room, distracted.

"Ron, what is it? Is everything...ok? Did you talk to George?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah, we talked. Stupid bugger didn't go home last night."

"Oh. Well, maybe you will get another chance. Did you leave it there?"

Ron had told Hermione of his plan, though he had left out the specifics. She needn't know about the twins' bookcase.

"Well, here's the thing." He turned to his fiancé, looking both shamefaced and seasick. "It wasn't there this morning. I think... I think Ginny found it."

Surprise was etched onto Hermione's face, and then a tiny snigger escaped her lips. Before Ron could fully react, she covered her mouth to hide her smile.

"Wait, Ron, wait. I'm sorry for laughing, but you have to admit... it is kind of funny. Have you spoken to her? Do we know... where she went?"

Ron flailed his arms helplessly.

"We bloody well know where she went, 'Mione! Isn't it obvious? Now I can't get the buggering idea out of my head!"

She didn't have the heart to berate his language; she could see his turmoil. She also couldn't help thinking it was humorous, so she cupped her hand to catch her giggle and went to the kitchen.

"Let me get you a cold drink. I have Butterbeer, or do you need something stronger? Ron?"

She turned and saw him walking towards the sofa.

"When did I leave my cloak over here?"

Time slowed as she observed him reaching for the material draped over her furniture. She wanted to shout to him, but her voice was caught in her throat. Frozen, she watched as his fingers wrapped around the cloak. In an instant he had gasped and disappeared.

The next three seconds seemed agonizingly slow to Hermione. She had just enough time to close the icebox door before Ron reappeared directly in front of her, a look of pure panic drawn on his face.

"Bloody hell, what just happened? 'Mione, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

She pulled him to her tear-streaked face and kissed him so passionately he dropped the cloak.

"Nothing is wrong, you ponce. I'm just the happiest girl in all of Europe."

Realization dawned over his features: he glanced down at the robe, felt absent-mindedly at his navel and turned back to her.

The light from his grin could have led in wayward ships.

"You sneaky little minx!"

With those words, he swept her up into his arms and carried her into her bedroom, slamming the door with his foot.

~*~

George sat in his workshop, fiddling with the latest shipment of G&M products. He had finally decided that Lauren had a good point: in this post-war time, everyone deserved a good laugh, even romantic little school girls. As he unpacked the Forgetful Flings and Serenade Sleepers, he began talking out loud to his absent twin.

"I know, Fred, I know. Some of it is a bit soft, but it is all very clever. Plus you didn't see the cute girls making the pitch! Well, I suppose maybe you did."

He stacked the last of the pajamas, making a mental note to get some for his mother.

"Now these Desire Diviners, they are much more up your alley. Shame you aren't getting to test them. I could have proven once-and-for-all my theory that you would rather leave Dungbombs in Filch's office than snog your girlfriend..."

He chuckled to himself, but his reverie was interrupted by a tapping at the window. He stood back to allow entrance to Pig, who began darting around the room.

"C'mere you little bugger. Gotcha!"

He opened the note, written in his brother's hasty handwriting.

George,

Diviners work.

Testing almost complete.

Sell by Christmas.

Thanks for getting 'Mione's help.

DO NOT DISTURB!

He shuddered, though he smiled. Tossing the crumpled note in the air, he aimed his wand and the paper burst like a firecracker.

"See Fred? I told you he would take after us."

~*~ The End ~*~