1st August 1997
'Ginevra, huh?!'
'Yes,' she slowly said.
'Hm.'
She looked at him, frowning. 'What?'
'Oh, nothing. I just think it’s funny, that until now, I didn’t know your name,' Harry said amused. It was awkward to talk to him in this figure. Instead of the dark-haired boy with shining green eyes, she loved so much, a skinny, redhead with freckles stood next to her.
He could have been her brother. But this thought was awkward regarding to the fact that they have been together for a few weeks, not so long ago. Merlin, she had kissed him the day before. So much for not falling off the wagon, she thought, still looking at him.
If Ron knew, they were talking to each other right now, he would be furious, but she couldn’t care less. She could talk to whoever she wanted to and if Ron would complain about it, she could not promise, her wand would stay where it was.
His face lit up and he grinned at her. As if he’d read her mind, he said: 'You know that we are actually not allowed to talk. I promised Ron, I would leave you alone.'
'It’s too late, anyway. And I’m not talking to Harry. I’m talking to my distant cousin Barny. So distant that no one would think it’s awkward if we snogged in front of everyone,' Ginny replied smugly.
'I intend to live a little longer.' Harry laughed. 'You did a good job of distracting us from the real topic of conversation. I never thought, your name was Ginevra.'
'What did you think? Please don’t tell me you thought my name was Virginia. Merlin, everyone thinks my name is Virginia and I swear, if anyone asks me again if my name is Virginia, I'll bat-bogey hex them!'
Harry laughed again. 'I never thought your name was Virginia.' A satisfied smile spread across her face. She turned towards the couples on the dancefloor. 'I just assumed that your name was simply Ginny.'
She gave him a sideways glance. 'I wish by Merlin it would be like that. My full name is Ginevra Molly. I am surprised you never heard my mum shouting my full name through the burrow. The name Ginevra is dreadful, but my name combination is lethal!'
'I think your name is beautiful,' Harry said. Ginny turned to him again and looked at him unbelievingly.
'You can talk. Your name is very normal.'
'I think I will call you Ginevra from now on.'
'And I think, that if you do so, I will make sure, you won’t be able to make children, so you can’t give them dreadful names. Because your taste in names is dreadful,' Ginny replied feisty.
'First of all: ouch. And don’t tell me you have a good taste in names. You’ve named an owl Pigwidgeon.'
'Actually, I have to punch you right now.'
'Attention, Ginevra! We don’t want Viktor Krum to lost interest in you only because you battered your poor cousin.'
'Krum?' she asked, and Harry noticed with satisfaction that she said this name in disgust.
'He asked me a few hours ago, who this good-looking girl is. He had pointed at you.'
'And what did you say?'
'That you have a very jealous boyfriend you'd rather not mess with.'
She looked at him in shock. 'You didn't agree with him that I was really pretty?!'
'Unfortunately, I'm 'Cousin Barny' right now, otherwise I would show you my right hand. But I think you remember what it says. In case it slipped your mind, I'm happy to quote it: I mustn’t tell lies.'
'I was serious about the "make sure you can't make kids to give them horrible names later" thing, so watch your mouth!' she said, grinning dangerously.
Harry smiled. 'You know perfectly well that I think you're incredibly pretty.'
So many unspoken words, hung in the air.
But they didn't need to say it. They knew what each other would prefer to say and they also knew that just because they didn't say those things didn't automatically mean they weren't true.
Harry was her 'very jealous boyfriend you'd rather not mess with', even if they were actually separated.
Ginny wasn't just pretty in his eyes. She was beautiful, smart, brave and so much more that he couldn't sum up in one sentence.
They both hoped that the children with the probably dreadful names Harry could give them would later be their children. Even if it seemed an unrealistic future scenario at that moment.
And instead of telling each other exactly that, they both merely smiled at each other. With the smiles that were only meant for each other.
They enjoyed the comfortable silence for another moment until Harry looked around. 'As much as I hate to say it, you'd better go. Ron's coming back there. But if you want to get beat up, you're welcome to stay,' Ginny said with a grin.
'See you,' he said, continuing to smile at her. Then his face turned serious, and he looked at her. She understood what he was trying to say even without words. I'm sorry.
'I know,' she said without stopping to smile. I will wait.