Wolfie (wolfiekins) wrote in ron_and_harry, @ 2007-08-04 05:44:00 |
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Current location: | The Burrow |
Current mood: | aggravated |
Current music: | ULTRA VIVID SCENE "Candida" |
Entry tags: | pg-13, post-dh |
FIC: "A Few Lines More" Ron/Harry, PG-13, Post DH
Title: A FEW LINES MORE
Author: Wolfiekins
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Weasley, Ginny Potter
Genre: Gen/Slash
Warnings: Adult Situations, Fluff
Spoilers: Deathly Hallows most definitely...
Word Count: 2019
Complete: Yes
Beta: brumeux77
Summary: 1st September, 2017: Let's hang out on Platform 9 3/4 for just a little bit longer, shall we?
DISCLAIMER: It all belongs to JKR. I'm most grateful. And the slash belongs to me, after all. Cool! No offence intended nor monies made. The first few lines in italics are quoted from "Deathly Hallows" and used without permission...
Thanks to Thrihyrne for the support and to brumeuz77 for the nearly instant beta!
Oh, yeah...SPOILERS!!!
~~~ A FEW LINES MORE ~~~
The last trace of steam evaporated in the autumn air. The train rounded a corner. Harry's hand was still raised in farewell.
"He'll be alright," murmured Ginny.
As Harry looked at her, he lowered his hand absentmindedly and touched the lightning scar on his head.
"I know he will."
The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.
"Blimey, I'm starving," Ron announced, walking up behind them, his big hand rubbing his belly. "How about we head for The Belligerent Badger for an early lunch?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Some things never change."
"Got to keep up my strength," Ron replied importantly. "A Keeper needs to stay in shape every bit as much as a Seeker does. Right, mate?" He bent down and slapped little Hugo heartily on the back.
Hermione harrumphed.
Hugo winced. "Ow! That hurt!"
"Buck up, lad. Got to toughen up if you expect to make the Gryffindor Quidditch team someday!" He scooped up Hugo, balancing him on his broad shoulder as he proceeded to make large circles on the platform, ducking and weaving about as he went. Hugo giggled and whooped with pleasure.
Lily watched, a most forlorn expression on her face.
Harry chuckled as Ginny squeezed his upper arm.
"Sorry, but I've got to head back to Wheezes. A bit more to do before I dare leave George to his own devices."
"I think George does very well on his own," Harry opined with a grin.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "For the most part. He's the creative genius...but the bookkeeping? Merlin."
"Glad you've stuck with it all these years, Gin. "
"I'd never have guessed that I'd be part owner of a joke shop, that's for certain. Just couldn't bear to see it close. I've nearly got Teddy trained, though. He's great with the customers and spot on with the numbers, that one." She watched as Ron twirled Hugo in a tight circle. "Ron, be careful! He's not unbreakable, you know. And we don't want to be cleaning up sick so early in the day."
Ron merely laughed as Hugo screeched happily.
Hermione blew out a breath and shook her head. "Men..."
"You don't mind taking these two over to the Burrow, then?" Ginny asked.
"No, not at all," Hermione replied with a slight smile. "I've got a meeting with the head of the Magical Civil Rights Commission, but that's not until one o'clock. I thought we'd make a quick run through Diagon Alley. If I'm not mistaken, somone has been dying for Lockhart's latest book."
Lily looked up, her frown evaporating like fog in the morning sunshine. "Really?"
Harry made a rude noise.
Hermione furrowed her formidable eyebrows. "Say something, Harry?"
"Me? No. Just clearing my throat." He waved a hand. "Lots of smoke, don't you know."
"Right then, I'm off." Ginny leaned up and kissed Harry on the cheek. "Millie and I will be at her mother's cottage in Gairloch by this afternoon, I think. I'll firecall as soon as the Floo connection's in place. Lily...give your mum a hug, now!"
Ginny bent down as Lily ran to her and gave her a big hug.
"Ron!" Hermione called over her shoulder, "we're leaving! Put Hugo down before he's permanently befuddled!"
Ron complied, and a clearly dizzy but elated Hugo staggered over to Hermione and latched onto her leg for dear life.
"Flyin'!" he said breathlessly.
Ginny knelt down, an arm around Lily's shoulders. "Be a good girl, now. I'll be back Sunday night."
"Don't see why you have to go," Lily answered petulantly. "It's no fun with Al and James gone off to school."
"No worries, Lil, we'll keep you occupied all week!" Ron said brightly, throwing an arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Yuck. Quidditch!" Lily responded, sticking out her tongue.
"Oi!" Ron looked genuinely hurt.
"Not everyone's a Quidditch fanatic, big brother," Ginny replied with practised cheek.
"They should be," Ron muttered under his breath.
Ginny kissed Lily's forehead and stood up. "See you soon." She waved, turning and heading for the dedicated Disapparition point at the opposite end of the platform.
Harry, Ron and Hermione all waved good-bye, calling out good wishes as Ginny rounded the corner.
"Don't understand why Mum needs a Holiday," Lily pouted.
Hermione patted her shoulder. "You will, dear, you will," she said knowingly. "All right, let's go. If we hurry, we'll miss the lunchtime rush at Flourish and Blotts." She leaned into Ron, allowing Hugo to leave a series of sloppy kisses on Ron's cheek.
"Mind your mum," Ron admonished, wagging a finger.
"Pity you’ve got practise today," Hermione said coyly. "You and Harry could've taken the kids to Diagon Alley."
Harry shot Ron a quizzical glance.
Ron blushed. "Um, yeah, pity that, ain't it?"
Hermione pointed at Ron. "Remember, I need you to take the kids Wednesday and Thursday. I'll be by the Hollow sometime in the morning on Wednesday."
Harry nodded to Lily. "See you tonight, love. Give Granma Weasley a big hug for me, yeah?"
"Okay. Bye, daddy." She kissed Harry on the cheek and waved at Ron before skipping off down the platform after Hermione and Hugo.
"Say 'Oi' to Viktor for me," Ron called out, waving wildly.
"Yes, Ronald," Hermione answered without looking back. "I shan't forget to ask Viktor about those Sirens season tickets you wanted." She waved her free hand as she rounded a corner. "Ta!"
Harry elbowed Ron in the ribs.
"Hey, what's that for?"
"Still don't know why you keep annoying her like that."
"Just takin' the piss." Ron shrugged. "Nothin' new. She expects it."
"Well, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were just a bit jealous."
"Jealous? Of Krum? Don't think so. He's a bang on Quidditch coach, and I think he's got one of the best teams to ever fly a pitch. But jealous? Me?"
"Yeah, you," Harry replied playfully as they slowly walked along the near deserted platform.
"He's certainly nothin' to look at," Ron continued. "Hermione thinks otherwise, obviously." He grunted. "Hell, I've always known she fancied him, ever since the Yule Ball."
"We all thought she fancied you," Harry pointed out.
Ron laughed. "Indeed. We're just a bit too alike, I think. Witty reparte can only go so far in a marriage."
"Odd how things work out, isn't it?"
Ron nodded. "I still say you and Gin looked like the perfect match."
"It seemed right, at first," Harry admitted. "I thought I knew what I wanted."
"You were only nineteen at your bonding, Harry."
Harry remained silent for a moment, his expression rueful. "I went for the wrong Weasley, I suppose."
Ron chuckled. "Yeah. But it was so hectic back then, wasn't it? Don't know how we got through it all."
"We had each other to depend on," Harry said quietly.
"Too right. S'good we've all managed to stay civil to each other."
"We've got the kids to think about, so that was the most important thing. Gin's been great. Although she sprang her own surprise on all of us in the end."
Ron snorted. “No joke there. Never dreamed that she'd fancy birds, and Millicent Bulstrode, to boot.”
“Millie’s a great flyer, and an even better instructor. She’s done very well in the few years since Madam Hooch retired.”
“Sorta fits, I suppose, as much as Gin enjoys Quidditch. But the other thing...blimey!
“Best not to think about that,” Harry agreed.
"Yeah." Ron snorted. "I was a bit worried at first, for the kids."
"Me too."
"All the shuttling back and forth, from our house to yours and the Burrow, and now, Hermione and Viktor's place in Sofia and Ginny's new flat in Hogsmeade. Good thing kids adapt well."
"They seem to like it. Never a dull moment. And they're so bloody smart."
As they neared the end of the platform, Draco whipped by them, his robes billowing behind him most impressively. "Ron, Harry," he said in a clipped tone as he rounded the corner. A moment later, Pansy followed, nearly jogging to keep up.
"I say it's a wig," Ron mused, stopping to watch as the Malfoys continued on their way.
"It isn't," Harry answered around a chuckle. "Just because a fellow starts to thin out on top..."
"It‘s a wig. Vain bastard.”
“It’s not a wig, Ron.” Harry stared after Draco, and Ron sniggered as he took notice of it.
“Blimey, don’t tell me you still think he’s something?”
Harry shrugged. “He’s aged well.”
Ron pulled a face.
“You fancied him for a bit back at school,” Harry said smoothly. “Told me so yourself.”
“I was young then. My tastes have matured.”
They both laughed and started walking again.
“What kind of name is Scorpius, anyway? Sounds like a villain from some dodgy Muggle television programme.”
Harry nodded. “Too right, that. Kid’s sure to end up in Slytherin.”
“Ya think?”
Harry turned and glanced down the tracks, the Hogwarts Express now long out of sight.
Ron gripped Harry’s shoulder. “Al will be fine. James’ll look after him. Don’t worry, mate.”
Harry flashed a wan smile, and they walked through the barrier and back into the Muggle Section of King’s Cross. “Good thing you forgot to mention to Hermione that Wood cancelled your practise for today.”
“Yeah, a pleasant happenstance, isn't it?”
“Ron.”
“What? How often do we get free time to ourselves? With no kids running about?”
“Not often.”
“And we’ve the whole afternoon,” Ron growled, leaning into Harry to give his arse a quick squeeze.
“You’re wicked, Ron. Might’ve done quite well in Slytherin, I think.”
Ron laughed, bringing his hand up and rubbing Harry's shoulder. They threaded their way through the late Monday morning crowd, finally arriving at the spot where their cars were parked.
“Still got that thing?” Ron drawled, gesturing at Harry’s rather stodgy four-door sedan.
Harry nodded, squinting in the bright sunshine. “It was a gift. Hate to offend the Grangers by getting rid of it.” He pointed at Ron’s meticulously restored, and recently tamed, powder blue Ford Anglia. “She looks great, Ron.”
“Thanks. Dad’s helped out loads. Got nearly all the bugs worked out. She‘s ready to fly, and we‘ve even got the Disillusionment charm working again.”
He planted his hands on his hips and stared at his auto. “Damn, I’d forgotten that we’ve two cars.”
Ron leaned on the Anglia’s front fender, his arms folded across his broad chest. “Bloody hell...you’re a Wizard, Harry.”
Harry favoured Ron with a most sour expression at their old joke. Before glancing about to ensure that no Muggles were looking their way. He muttered an incantation, and his auto instantly shrank down to the size of a toy. “There we are.” Slipping it into his jacket pocket, he smiled widely up at Ron, who smiled back.
“It really worked out well, didn’t it?”
Ron snorted. “Yeah, sure did. Just took a bit of imagination.”
“And balls,” Harry replied.
“Yeah.” Ron opened the driver’s door. “So, where to? The city, or someplace nice and quiet?”
Harry gazed up at the sky, shielding his eyes from the bright sunshine. A few big, cottony clouds languidly made their way across the azure expanse. He stared for a long time, a smile finally tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“What?”
Harry gazed at Ron. “What say we buzz the Hogwarts Express?”
Ron’s smile was infectious. “No. Really?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
Ron nodded. "Brilliant! And after that?”
Harry shrugged. “Who knows. Let’s go!”
The jumped inside the Anglia, and Ron started the engine. He flipped on the Disillusionment charmand headed out of the car park. He engaged the flying gear, heading north.
“Hang on!” Ron called out over the rush of wind whipping in through the open windows, his left hand clutching the gear shift.
Harry reached over, placing his hand on Ron’s. “Always, mate, always.”
~~~ fin ~~~