Harry Potter and the Wrath of the Fallen

Chapter 8: The Difference a Day Makes

Harry woke early with a mild head ache. He grabbed his glasses from the bedside table and put them on. He lifted Ginny's arm from across his chest and sat up slowly, gingerly rubbing his temples. Too much Firewhiskey, Harry thought to himself ruefully.

He looked down at the sleeping form of Ginny as he heard a soft snoring coming from beside him. He smiled at her and kissed her shoulder before he slid out of bed, grabbed a towel which hung from the door, and made his way to the shower one floor up.

As Harry opened the door and stepped into the bathroom he nearly tripped over Ron's foot. I should have knocked first, he told himself. Ron, his hair still wet, stood their wearing only a towel around his waist and looking at Harry with a lopsided grin as he began to turn bright red. Harry noticed the shower was still running.

"Who's in here with you?" he asked before he could stop himself.

"Who do you think?" replied Ron as the redness reached his ears.

A voice came from the shower, "Who are you talking to, Ron?" asked Hermione.

Ron started pushing Harry back out the bathroom door, "Just a nosy fool, 'Mione. Don't worry about it," said Ron as he closed the door in Harry's face.

Harry laughed to himself as he headed back down to Ginny's room with his towel around his neck, and sat on the bed next to Ginny.

A muffled moan from beside him announced that he had accidentally woken Ginny. She rolled over and looked at Harry with bleary eyes, but she still managed a faint smile.

"Hey beautiful, sorry to wake you," said Harry softly.

Ginny sat up in the bed and kissed Harry good morning.

"Are you going to have a shower?" she asked, seeing his towel.

"Ah... not right now. The bathrooms a little crowded at the moment." Harry told Ginny of his encounter with Ron and Hermione in the bathroom.

Ginny snorted, "I think they've been doing that all week but usually the door is locked. One too many drinks last night I guess."

Ginny hopped out of bed and came around to Harry. She threw her arms around his neck and sat on his lap. Harry winced and rubbed his sore head.

"My poor Harry," giggled Ginny as she kissed Harry's forehead. "What shall we do today?"

Harry tried to clear his head as he thought about his plan for the day. This was his first day in nearly a year that he was free to do as he pleased. He was slightly overwhelmed by the feeling.

"I would like to talk to Professor McGonagall about N.E.W.T. studies when school restarts in September; and Bill said he would take me to Gringotts whenever I wanted to go. I have some explaining to do to the goblins apparently," said Harry nervously, not looking forward to that encounter, "other than that, I'm all yours."

Ginny pulled back from Harry and fixed him with a wry stare. "Why Mr Potter, I do believe you are all mine regardless of your plans."

Harry and Ginny got dressed and headed downstairs, deciding to postpone showers until they were positive embarrassing encounters could be avoided. As they reached the bottom of the stairs they were surprised to find the kitchen empty. In fact, Ginny couldn't remember the last time that had happened.

The couple moved through the house to the living room and found Molly and Arthur sitting with Kingsley and Professor McGonagall.

"Ah, speak of the devil," said Kingsley as he stood and shook Harry's hand.