Lucy Riddle and the Boy Who Lived

The Days Went On

Chapter Forty-Nine

As the days went on, they noticed a huge change in Harry Potter. He was acting weirder and weirder; he wasn't the happy-go-lucky guy they remembered him to be. Harry started going out more and coming back late at night, doing something. He was always in a mood too.

After Tom Riddle becoming himself again, everyone thought he'd finally relax. The Boy Who Lived won't have to vanquish anyone. They stopped fussing about it, eventually coming to the conclusion that he was just being a teenager.

When Tom Riddle first came to the Burrow, no one recognized him. It wasn't a surprise though — no one knew who he was before he became Voldemort. He had told them he was You-Know-Who everyone feared for decades, and instantly everyone pointed their wands at his heart.

He had to retell the whole story for everyone to finally believe he changed. Fleur and Mrs. Weasley were currently in the kitchen cooking up supper. The boys were all talking amongst themselves, talking about anything and everything.

Tom looked around the house. He approached the men and asked, "Where the bloody hell is Lucy?"

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Lucy was out on a nice walk with Fred. Their hands were intertwined as they strolled around the neighborhood, listening to the birds chirping and the children playing.

Fred was smiling at her as he stared at their hands. Lucy tightened her hold on his fingers as she said, "Always?"

"Always."

The sun was shining down on them. It has been two months after her father's return. All the snow had melted, and summer was on its way over. She imagined spending more time with Fred Weasley. Lucy wanted to visit his joke shop.

Fred stopped. "I'm so glad all of this is over. I've been waiting for so long and now I can finally do whatever I please. I have been meaning to ask you this ever since I met you in Zonko's: will you go on a date with me?" he whispered, gripping onto both of her hands.

Lucy saw the way his eyes shone when he saw her. The way his mouth curled on one side to form a smirk whenever he thought something was funny. When his humor got the best of him, and he would just blurt out or do something to make her laugh. Fred was the first person she became friends with, along with George. "Of course. I would love to!"

Fred smiled at her. "And please, don't let your father kill me. I know I am a pretty likable person, but a father's gotta do what a father's gotta do."

Lucy laughed. "Sure, I'll protect you from his wrath. He's going to love you."

"I'm taking your word on it."

"Come on, let's head back. Dad's going to be wondering where I am. You can charm him then."

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When she said he was going to love Fred, she didn't think he would being taking it seriously. Lucy watched from across the room, the boy she liked and her father chatting happily. It had been going on for hours now. She wasn't able to get another second after Fred introduced himself to Tom.

They were laughing merrily as she glared at the boys. Hermione plopped beside her on the couch. "What's wrong?"

She just pointed to the couple with her lips hard on disgust. "Them! I told Fred my dad was going to love him, but I didn't really think they'd start dating before Fred and I did."

Hermione laughed. "Hey, at least you don't have to hide your relationship, right?" Then she nudged Lucy's arm and nodded towards Harry's direction. Him and Ginny were in a corner, talking. "What do you think they're talking about?"

"No idea, but it's gotta be good. Do you want to do the pleasures of locking her in our room later today?"

"It would be my pleasure." The girls giggled as they continued creating theories about the two. Harry leaned in and gave Ginny a light peck on the lips. Ginny, being the hormonal girl she was, grabbed Harry's collar and smash her lips onto his.

Harry felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach. There was an empty pit in his chest, and Ginny was slowly filling it up. His love for her was growing by the day, and he couldn't get enough of her. Harry grabbed Ginny's waist lightly, pushing her onto the wall. Ginny's hands were wrapping themselves around his neck, playing with the ends of his hair.

He broke away, touching his forehead with hers. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Harry. Missed you so, so much." She brushed her lips against his. "Don't ever leave me again."

He chuckled. "I won't."

She pulled away from him. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Harry raised any eyebrow. "Whatever do you mean?"

"You've been distant lately. Everyone noticed. You've been going out a lot and returning home late at night. We barely see you anymore, Harry. What have you been doing all this time?" Ginny looked up at him. She stared into his emerald green eyes, hoping for something.

Harry cleared his throat. "It — it's nothing." Ginny frowned and backed away from him. "Okay, fine. I've been seeing my parents every day for hours. Sometimes Sirius is with me, and sometimes I'm alone."

"Oh," she replied. There was nothing odd about that. It was normal. Why did he feel the need to keep it a secret, then? "I'm glad you're visiting your parents. Can I come too? I would love to talk to them."

"Ginny, I have the Resurrection Stone." He smiled. "I can really see them again. They come back as — sort of like holograms. I don't know the specifics, but I just . . . I can finally see them and talk to them."

"Oh, Harry, I —" Ginny didn't know what else to say. Was he going crazy from grief? She wasn't going to argue with him. A relationship needs trust in it. And she was going to trust Harry that he was doing the right thing. "I would love to meet them."

Harry smiled. "Great."

She returned the gesture and grabbed his soft hand, pulling him to the living room where everyone else was. "We need to go back in there before they think some things — oh no, Lucy and Hermione are already doing it!" Ginny groaned.