[HP Doujin] take care of you

2002. 8, 13

Ivy climbed the window sills on the side of the cottage and up to the blue roof.It was the first thing Ginny noticed as she walked towards the little house, and the last thing she saw when she left.The ivy was dark green, but Ginny knew it must be some kind of magic plant, because it had white and purple flowers occasionally.

It wasn't like Severus, and Ginny had been baffled.However, she had to remember that the Severus now was not the same as the friend she cared about at Hogwarts in 1978.He even fell in love with gardening.Over their tea one evening, he confessed to her that he hadn't liked it before, but now that he didn't have to worry about wars and death and unfulfilled promises all the time, he found gardening relaxing.

"Almost as relaxing as brewing a potion," he told her, giving her a familiar smirk, and she giggled in surprise.

Ginny looked at Severus from the ivy.He came out of the house and rubbed the remaining dirt off his hands.They often met at their respective homes or in Diagon Alley, today at his.It didn't surprise him that she came today, but it did surprise her when she walked over to find him repotting a plant.He was kneeling in the wet dirt, with an ugly straw hat on his head.

His long hooked nose was even sunburned.

Ginny was sitting at a table in the garden, waiting for him to clear it up so they could talk as usual.He sat down across from her and poured her a glass of water from a jug of lemonade.She couldn't help but smile.

"You remind me of my mother," Ginny told him.

Severus narrowed his eyes at her.

"Or Neville," she went on. "Are you going to partner with him in herbalism?"

"That's funny, Genevieve," Severus said coldly, but there was nothing unpleasant in his tone.

"If you want anyone to join us, I'm sure I can make some arrangements—"

"I appreciate your sincere offer," he said dryly, waving himself a glass of lemonade. "But I have to say no. I've had enough of Weasleys in my life, and I've seen enough of Longbottom at school, that I don't want to sit down with him and discuss plants."

"You know, I'm a Weasley," said Ginny, taking a sip of water and leaning back in her chair.

The sun is out and the weather is fine today.She closed her eyes and turned her face towards the sunlight.Today is a great day to be outside, whether gardening, playing Quidditch, or simply spending time with friends.Although Ginny teased Severus, she didn't blame him for letting the breeze and warmth fall on his back when he was alone.

"No, I still think you're Styles."

Hearing this, Ginny opened her eyes.Severus rarely mentioned their time at Hogwarts.She didn't mention it either, she knew he didn't want to think about Lily and the weakness he had shown in joining Voldemort's forces.He was young and stupid once, he is completely different now.Ginny was quite sure that he had forgiven himself for not saving her because he had saved Lily's son.

Only then could Ginny explain why Severus was so different, so calm.He gets angry now and then, but hardly ever when he's with her.He seemed to be doing well now, no longer thinking about the deaths of Lily and Dumbledore all day instead of living a good life.

"Do you really see me that way?" she asked.

Severus looked at her with dark eyes, then nodded slowly.

"I never thought of you as Weasley." Severus tapped his finger on the table. "Even when I wasn't sure it was you, you were doing so well in my Potions class in your first year, you looked like you were about to piss your pants -"

"Hey! It's not fair, you were really cruel to me in the first class!" Ginny laughed, pointing at him reproachfully.

"Yes, red-haired women have always troubled me," Severus said softly.

Ginny smiled sadly.It was odd to see Severus pale, with black hair and piercing eyes, without his heavy cloak and black clothes.He had taken off his straw hat, but he still looked different from the one Ginny was used to.He also opened up more to her.She wouldn't say it, and she didn't think he would either, but Ginny felt that he regarded her as his best friend.Their relationship has always been twisted, but after the end of the final battle, their relationship changed.

Everything has changed.

Ginny immediately thought of Sirius, and she couldn't help but glance at the watch Hermione had given her for her birthday.She didn't have much time with Severus today, but she wanted to see him before going on vacation.Severus seemed to read her thoughts, he pursed his lips and leaned towards her.

"Blake sent you to see him?"

Ginny bit her lip.

"But a little reluctantly?" Severus' mouth puckered even more. "I remember you told me that he told you clearly that he didn't want you to go, right?"

"I didn't tell you anything, you loud bastard," Ginny snapped.

Severus raised an eyebrow slightly, and Ginny sighed.

"I'm sorry, I just..." She rested her head on her hands. "You overheard my chat with Remus."

Severus just tapped his fingers on the table.

"Anyway, Sirius does want me to go. We've been planning it for months."

"If he doesn't want you to go now, you probably shouldn't," Severus said simply.

He stood up and walked towards a bright flower in the garden.He stroked the petals lightly with his long fingers, and Ginny tried to control her anger.

"Thank you for your reassurance, Severus, but I think it's too late to back down now."

"I feel like a gossiping old hen," Severus sneered. "However, if he suddenly lets you stay at home, I think there must be a good reason, even though Blake is stupid."

Severus was right.He and Ginny had always been straightforward, and although she hadn't mentioned Sirius' sudden change of mind about her visit, he knew it was very important to her.Her heart had been heavy since Sirius wrote last week telling her not to visit him during her holidays.

This trip has been planned for months.Sirius and Ginny have been in frequent contact since they realized they could hook up at Ron and Hermione's wedding.But Sirius had to go back to Italy, where he was working for the Reticents, and Ginny had to go back to training.They corresponded daily, occasionally chatting for a few minutes via Floo.But this is not enough.So they planned a trip.Ginny was going to Italy for a week, and Sirius wasn't working.They're going to go from there.

So Ginny opened the letter last week and was surprised to find that he had asked her to reschedule the trip.After that, he communicated with her only by letter, but he was increasingly anxious not to let her go to Italy, to put her off until the end of the month, or September and October.She became more and more sad, and more determined.They haven't seen each other for three months, why does Sirius suddenly not want to see her?He had planned the trip after all, and he had let her live in his apartment when he came to Italy.

Ginny knew that the trip would have a major impact on their relationship.She knew Sirius knew it too.This will be the first time they will be together without being disturbed by others.No family to disturb them, no past to ruin their fun time.It would also be Ginny's first sleepover with Sirius, they weren't ignorant teenagers anymore, she wasn't underage anymore, and he wouldn't feel guilty about having sex with his godson's ex-girlfriend.

She licked her lips and took a sip of lemonade.

"If he doesn't want me to go, it means I should go." She said excitedly. "What if something goes wrong?"

"Black has always been a problem." Severus smirked. "I don't think even you can solve it."

Ginny couldn't help puckering her lips.