[HP Doujin] take care of you

2001. 1, 6

"You chose me? What does that mean?"

It was the first snow of winter and London looked stunning.Ginny buried her face in the scarf, and a gust of cold wind flushed her face and made her shiver.She was the first to arrive at the tavern, but the flow of people inside had been steady.Standing outside the door, she could hear laughter, the clinking of glasses, the clink of knives and forks on plates.

Ginny sat on a bench, crossed her legs, and closed her eyes.She wore a pair of expensive new boots for dinner tonight.It was the first thing she'd spent money on since she'd gone from bench to full-time Chaser for the Harpies, and she already regretted it.Her heels were already sore from the stiff boots, and the leather rubbed against her calves uncomfortably.Ginny wished she had worn old boots, although her mother had pointed out that magic couldn't fix the big hole in the toe of her left toe.

"Ginny, what does this mean?"

This dinner was to make up for Sirius' birthday, and it was just a small gathering for some people.Tonks and Remus would be there any minute, and Ron and Hermione, Sirius and Anna, and... Harry.Ginny sighed, annoyed at the heavy weight in her stomach at the thought of Harry coming.It's been a tough year for them, and she can't deny that their last fight was the most heated ever.They usually bickered over little things like housework, not being able to see each other as often, some policy imposed by the Ministry of Magic, or the fact that she spent a lot of time training while he was often on missions with the other Aurors.

She felt like she was going to have a headache.

However, this quarrel was different from the previous ones.He went home dejected.Sitting at the dining table in her apartment, just staring at her, he looked different.Harry didn't say a word to her until she spoke first.

Dinner tonight was planned weeks in advance.With their busy schedules, it took a lot of effort for them to be together.Ginny has been training with the Harpys.Harry and Ron were on missions with the Aurors, Hermione was doing an internship at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Fantastic Beasts, Remus had accepted a job at Hogwarts (after Ginny had graduated, of course), Tonks was When I went to Hogwarts, I spent most of my time with Teddy and her family.Sirius writes to Ginny that he is working for the Reticents.Ginny couldn't ask what he was helping them with, or why he'd offered to work with them, but she figured it must have something to do with the Veil.After the graduation party at the Burrow, she hadn't seen Sirius for almost two years.Thinking of this, she frowned.

And Anna, Sirius' girlfriend.

As far as she knew, he loved her very much.Remus also affirmed this, and he reached out to place his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, but let it go again.Ginny wasn't even sad, at least she told herself not to be.Anna is an excellent Muggle, but she still doesn't know anything about the wizarding world.Sirius wanted to keep it from her, so all his friends went along with him.That's why Ginny hasn't seen Sirius for a long time.She barely had time to meet her boyfriend and family, let alone dress up as a Muggle and explore Muggle London.

"You mean... you have others to choose from."

Ginny looked at the empty street.There were vehicles parked on both sides of the street, but no one was there.Of course, who wants to sit outside in the cold alone?She closed her eyes again, her eyes were dry and stinging.Maybe she should sit down in the tavern and stop thinking about it.

For the first time in her life, she was more afraid of seeing Harry than Sirius.

"You chose me over Sirius, didn't you? You loved him then, you lied to me, didn't you, Ginny?"

She tried to flee her apartment, but froze in shock.Ginny didn't know why Harry had started arguing, but she knew that he must have had a mental struggle for a while.Harry wasn't the type to initiate a fight and hurt someone he loved, and he couldn't help but confront her.He's been crying, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses annoyed, and looking exhausted.She yelled at him, angry at him for ruining their peaceful evening together.

"I love you, Harry! Why do we have to fight, you don't understand I chose you, I love you, we—"

"You chose me? What does that mean?"

crackle.

Ginny looked up.A black figure came out of an alley and was walking towards her.She stood up immediately, and only then realized how cold she was.Her fingers were sore, she couldn't feel her toes in new boots, and the skin on her face seemed chapped.

"Ginny, is that you?"

The low voice made it too late for her to answer and react, because her heart made her feel it.Sirius ran up to her and picked her up.He laughed from the back of his throat, and Ginny couldn't help laughing too.After a long time, after Sirius warmed her body, he put her down.

"God, Kim, what are you doing out there? You're freezing!"

Sirius was beaming and looked a lot like a Muggle in his leather jacket and black trousers.He looked great, although there were a few strands of gray in his black hair.There were faint laugh lines around the corners of his mouth and eyes, but Ginny could hardly tell, she was attracted by his broad smile.It's been two years and he's still the same.Still so handsome...

"I'm waiting for everyone." She replied with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Sirius. Happy birthday."

He thanked her, put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her closer to him.

"Let's go in and wait, eh?"

As usual, he led her towards the door of the tavern without waiting for her to respond.Sirius opened the door for her, and when she walked in, a gust of hot air rushed over her face immediately.Ginny unfastened the scarf around her neck, Sirius closed the door, and a few snowflakes drifted in behind them.

"Sit wherever you want, dear," an old lady with a tray of drinks said to them.

Sirius walked ahead and found several empty tables in the middle of the tavern.There were enough chairs for everyone, and he collapsed on the seat farthest from the fireplace.Ginny took off her coat, draped it over the back of a chair, and sat down a few chairs away from him.That way Harry wouldn't see them sitting alone together when he came in.After all, this would be their first meeting after the quarrel.

If Sirius noticed what she was doing, he didn't show it.He just leaned on the table, looking at her with bright eyes.

"You look good, Ginny," he whispered to her.

Ginny couldn't help showing a smirk, she knew what she was like now.She hadn't seen Harry for a week, and she couldn't sleep at night.Her eyes were bloodshot all the time, and her skin was pale, accentuated by freckles.She felt tired and wondered what Harry was thinking and doing.Hermione said that he and Ron hid out in Harry's apartment, but Ron kept reporting his emotions to Hermione.He was coming to birthday dinner, but he didn't want to talk to Ginny until then.

Once or twice, she came close to going to his apartment and would break in if necessary, but she knew it was no use.Harry needed time, and maybe she did too.

"Ginny? Are you all right, baby?"

Sirius' voice brought Ginny back to reality, she blinked and looked at the man in front of her.

"Of course." She replied immediately. "Where's Anna? I thought you'd come over together."

Sirius leaned back in his chair, frowning at her.

"She's late from get off work and wants me to come first. She's excited to see you."

Ginny nodded, unable to say anything.Does meeting Anna excite her?A little bit.She wanted to meet the woman who brought Sirius joy now, the first woman he had fallen in love with since Sirius and Ginny parted.Thinking of this, her stomach was very uncomfortable.

"I can't wait to see Remus and Tonks." Ginny tried to control herself. "It's been a long time—"

"What's the matter, Ginny?"

Ginny looked up, she didn't even realize she hadn't been looking at Sirius.He had been watching her, and she had been staring at the fireplace.Her face was flushed, but she managed to keep smiling.Harry will arrive any minute.

"Stop talking nonsense." Sirius growled in a low voice, leaning towards her again. "Stop pretending in front of me, there are only two of us here. What's wrong?"

Indeed.It was just the two of them, and Ginny should tell Sirius what happened between her and Harry, because it concerned him.Although there had been problems between Harry and Ginny for a long time, it was Ginny's omission of Sirius that led to the last quarrel.After all, Sirius and Ginny were friends now.They maintain correspondence, mostly related to Teddy, Remus and Tonks or Harry.He would listen to her stories about Quidditch training and the dressing room.He wanted to know about her day-to-day life, often asking her about little things she couldn't even think of, like what flowers she planted at the Burrow in the summer, or what tea she bought a sick Hermione.

Ginny couldn't deny that she, too, cherished Sirius' friendship.He often mentioned Anna in his letters.But not too often, he also talks about his life.Sirius wrote that he wished he could cast magic around Anna, but no, he just wanted it to fly while she was sitting on the back of his motorcycle, which was too much, even for a former predator. cruel.

Maybe the next time we meet, you can ride a bike with us.I like riding at night best, we can see beautiful stars, I have long wanted to show others.

He mentioned James and Lily now and then, and if he was in the mood, Peter.Sirius once said that Ginny's friendship with him was the best thing that happened to him.He was glad she was one of the few people he could talk to about his past.

Ginny opened her mouth, and he should have known, when the waitress came over.

"Sorry, I'm a little busy tonight." The old lady said with a smile. "What do you need?"

"Best whiskey here, on the rocks," Sirius said to the old lady, and nodded to Ginny. "So is she."

The old woman nodded and left.Ginny tilted her head, hair falling out of her bun, and Sirius licked her lips.

"Sirius..."

When she called his name softly, she found that he straightened up immediately.Her heartbeat accelerated involuntarily.Sirius quickly got up from his seat and sat down beside her.He reached out, brushed the curly hair off her shoulders, and moved closer to her face.Ginny relaxed as his fingers touched the bare skin on her neck.

His breath was peppermint and his touch was so warm, Merlin, Ginny missed Sirius so much.Sirius seemed to read her thoughts, he looked at her face with a crooked smile.But his eyes quickly followed his hands, looking over her shoulders from her bright hair, which fell on her bare neck.Her body was hot and she was nervous.

"Are you all right, baby?" he whispered, and his dark eyes met hers again.

"Look who this is?"

Ginny immediately avoided Sirius, blushing and raised her head.Remus stood before them, taking off his coat in annoyance.Sirius looked a little annoyed, but he soon showed a familiar wolf-like smile.

"Hello." He greeted, getting up and hugging Remus.

Ginny hugged Remus, and Remus' knowing expression made her face burn.Of course Remus knew about her quarrel with Harry.She knew that he was still a good friend of hers and a passionate supporter of a potential relationship between Sirius and Ginny.But he has long since stopped vocalizing his support, offering her comfort instead.Ginny could still see it in his eyes, as if he knew something she didn't.

Tonks followed Remus to the table, with a beautiful woman standing behind her.Ginny knew her identity from Sirius' expression.anna.There are more and more people, and everyone is exchanging warm greetings.Anna immediately hugged Ginny, admiring her bravery for saving Sirius who almost fell out of the window years ago.

"He said you were brave, you ran across the room to catch him, and almost fell yourself!" Anna said with a charming smile.

Sirius next to Remus rolled his eyes, but couldn't help laughing.She forced a smile when Anna hugged her again, but she glared at Sirius behind Anna.He blinked and shrugged, as if the joke only they knew made the lie worth it.

The wine in the glass was getting less and less, and when Ginny was about to finish her first glass of wine, the last group of people arrived.Hermione was the first to come to Ginny, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek.

"On the way to meet Harry," Hermione said softly.

Ginny almost jumped out of the seat next to Harry, who stood behind Ron with his eyes downcast.Ron nodded to Ginny, and smiled as she walked towards Harry.Ron, like Hermione, was always torn, not wanting to get too involved in Harry and Ginny's relationship, especially during the fight.Ron has grown a lot since leaving Hogwarts.

Ginny walked up to Harry, feeling as if she was walking towards an executor.He kept staring at the floor, and she felt parched.She stopped in front of him, making up her mind that if he didn't talk to her, she wouldn't let him near the table.

The snow melted on his head, his cheeks were flushed, and his lips were chapped.Harry looked tired too.

"Harry?" Ginny called, reaching for his arm.

He lifted his head, his glasses askew.

"Hi, Ginny," he said.

She immediately puckered her mouth, fear burning in her heart.Harry was still angry, and sad and confused.This should not be the place where they met for the first time after their quarrel, she resisted the urge to take his hand and leave.They can go home and they can work things out, right?They have been together for a long time.They've been through so much.Yes, sometimes it's tough, but doesn't that just prove something?

But as Harry walked around her and greeted him loudly at the table, Ginny realized that things were different now.He knows the truth.When she just got back from 1978, she said there was nothing between her and Sirius, and he knew she was lying.They thought they could ignore the way she looked at Sirius, her nervousness, Sirius's avoidance of being with her and Harry at the same time, they were friends, but they kept doing that, they were deluding themselves.

Ginny felt out of breath, and it was a moment before she turned to face her friends.Harry was already sitting down, smiling and listening to Tonks, only the seat she had been in was still vacant.It wasn't next to Harry, and she felt he was purposely not sitting next to her.When Ginny sat down next to Hermione, Hermione looked upset and patted her hand sympathetically.

"He just needs time," Hermione whispered to her.

Ginny glanced at her friend, and she could tell that Hermione wasn't saying he needed time to pick himself up and start over with Ginny.She meant he would calm down and talk to Ginny.

"I don't want to be a choice! I shouldn't be a choice! Ginny, if you're going to be with someone, that person should be the only one for you. What if I'm the wrong choice?"