For @ginnystrophyhusband drunk prompts. People noticing Harry’s pining before hinny get together
The bottle of firewhiskey had appeared shortly after dessert had been cleared from the table.
Arthur had summoned it from the liquor cabinet in the adjoining living room, along with half a dozen glass tumblers.
Remus had accepted his measure gratefully, clinking his glass against Bill’s before letting the warmth of the amber liquid sink into his chilled bones.
They’d made it through three rounds of drinks, their discussion growing animated with each pour of the bottle, as they’d given their opinions on the state of the world, on the Dark Lord’s movements, on the distressing news Remus had to share from the Werewolf community.
By contrast, Ginny’s bright grin upon sidling up to the table, brown eyes wide as she directed them at her father, was a welcome sight indeed.
Arthur, swaying slightly from his fourth glass of firewhiskey, pulled Ginny into a one-armed hug. “Merry Christmas, darling – have you had a wonderful day?”
Ginny nodded, smiling, while she carefully extricated herself from her father’s grasp. “Yeah, mum’s turkey was really good this year –”
“Your mother is a sensation in the kitchen.”
Ginny continued to nod, biting her lip in an effort to smother a smile, Remus suspected.
“She is,” Ginny agreed, her finger running slowly over the tabletop. She peeked at Arthur, her expression wide-eyed and innocent. “And her Christmas pudding was amazing – I’m really full now…”
Bill lifted his tumbler, eyeing the amber liquid within appreciatively. “She always makes sure we line our stomach before the drinks start flowing.”
“Exactly.” Ginny nodded sagely before returning her pleading expression to her father. “So, Dad, we were wondering if maybe you’d let us have some firewhiskey too, please? For Christmas…”
A flicker of movement from the far end of the table confirmed that the ‘we’ in question included Harry and Ron who were casting furtive looks from the chess match they were pretending to be engrossed in.
Arthur’s expression turned thoughtful, he looked to Bill who shrugged unconcernedly. “Not my call.”
Another moment passed, in which Arthur scrutinised Ginny’s wholesome expression. “Not firewhiskey,” he said finally. “Your mother wouldn’t like that.”
“All right,” Ginny agreed immediately. “What about some of the buck’s fizz from this morning then?”
Remus suspected, from the speed with which Ginny had suggested the compromise, that this had been her goal all along, but the innocent look she was still levelling at Arthur would never betray such an admission
“Well Buck’s Fizz should be fine.”
Arthur looked to Bill who shrugged again. “It’s barely even alcohol – besides, they’re definitely getting hold of worse than that in the Gryffindor dorms.”
Ginny didn’t disagree, and both the pink tinge upon her cheeks, and Remus’ own experience as a Gryffindor confirmed the truth of Bill’s statement.
“Help yourself,” Arthur said, gesturing for Ginny to proceed. “But if you’re sick in the morning, you’re cleaning it up yourself – without magic.”
“Thank you!” Ginny placed a kiss on her father’s cheek, quickly throwing her arms around his shoulders in a brief hug before she backed away, heading determinedly for the bottles of Buck’s Fizz on the kitchen side.
She picked up two of the glass bottles, holding them triumphantly above her as she returned to Harry and Ron at the far end of the table.
“I told you I could get them,” she hissed at Ron, evidently underestimating the hearing of her elders.
“I never doubted you,” Harry said, accepting one of the bottles from her.
Ginny clinked the rim of her bottle against his, offering nothing to Ron. “And that’s why you’re allowed to share in the spoils of my victory.”
“I’m honoured.” Harry’s eyes remained locked on hers while he lifted the bottle to his lips and took a drink straight from it.
Ginny winked at him before taking a sip from her own bottle.
Ron scowled, glowering at Ginny across the table. “Harry will share with me.”
“Oh no!” Harry shook his head, clutching the bottle protectively to his chest. “ I’m not going to betray my star chaser – what Ginny says goes.”
Ginny shot a satisfied smile at Ron, an expression that turned softer as her eyes met Harry’s. “Correct answer, Captain.”
“Merlin,” Bill murmured into his glass before tipping the whole measure back in one swallow. “Do we have any mistletoe hanging around? Seems like those two might need a clue.”
Remus laughed softly. “Sirius always insisted there was something there.”
He’d sworn, last year, in the dank surroundings of Grimmauld Place, that the way Harry looked at Ginny was so painfully obvious, he couldn’t understand why no one else could see it.
‘Just like Lily,’ Sirius had said. ‘The way she used to look at James.’
Remus hadn’t been able to see it last year, but it was undeniable now. The soft glimmer in Harry’s green eyes was undeniably Lily when she let her walls down in the way she’d only ever done when James was there.
“They’ll figure it out.” Arthur said now, topping up all three glasses once more. “You can’t rush these things.”
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