Yeah, it's been four months. Sue me!
Four months ago, I wrote a drabble titled Calm Before the Storm. I immediately started something to continue where it left off, but distractions and shiny things came up, so unfortunately it was left to dwell in my (incredibly too large) still-not-finished pile. Well, I ran across it the other day while looking for something and decided to finish it up, so here you go, the continuation of Calm Before the Storm...and it's not a drabble! I know! How not me?! :P
Title: Eye of the Storm
Rating: PG
Word Count: 710
Author's Note: If you haven't read the drabble first, you might want to, but it can be read as a one-shot as well. :D
We eloped. It seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog, ringing in his ears. Why wasn’t anyone saying anything? He and Ginny had just told her parents that they’d gone off and gotten married without anyone’s consent, without any warning! Why wasn’t there yelling? Screaming? Anything to make that last statement disappear.
Harry couldn’t decipher the look on Mrs. Weasley’s face. She stared at Ginny, not making a sound. It was the single most irritated and terrified Harry had ever been, and he thought very strongly about checking her pulse when she finally spoke. “Are you pregnant, Ginny?”
“No!” Ginny shouted, bringing about what Harry thought was a much needed ruckus. “Mum, how can you even ask that question?!”
“If you are going to come into my home and announce that you’ve eloped the least you could do is give me a grandchild!”
“Molly!” Arthur spoke for the first time since Ginny had shared her and Harry’s news. “Don’t be irrational.”
“Irrational?!” Molly stood up, glaring down at her husband. She was never good at scolding while she sat. “Our only daughter just flew off and got married without even a word, Arthur! Our little girl….”
“…I’m of age, mother….”
“…after years of feeding and clothing her….”
“…I’ve fed myself for quite some time….”
“… and Harry did not even ask your permission!”
This was the moment Harry had been waiting for. All eyes suddenly turned to him, and he realized that he had not said one word since entering the Burrow’s kitchen - his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask your permission, but I love Ginny, and I’m not sorry that I married her.”
“You see now, Molly,” Arthur sheepishly smiled up at his wife. “Harry says he’s sorry, and it’s not as if I wouldn’t have given him permission if he had asked.”
“Arthur, you completely miss the point!” Molly walked over to the sink, making a show over filling a kettle. “Our little girl just got married without us! You weren’t there to give her away, and I wasn’t there to do her hair or help her get dressed or tell her how lovely she looks with my mother’s necklace on and her hair pinned up in curls. There were no bridesmaids to fuss over, no food to prepare, no flower arrangement, or…” but before Molly could continue she fell into a mess of tears while water overflowed from the kettle she was still holding.
“Oh, mum,” Ginny ran over to her mother, throwing her arms around her. “You’re not upset we got married. You’re upset that you didn’t have a chance to meddle!”
“Well, of course, I am, sweetheart. You’re my only daughter! I’ve had your wedding planned out since you were old enough to walk.” Both women stood, crying and holding each other, the occasional laugh bubbling from one of them.
Harry sat across from Arthur, relief flooding through him. It seemed unreal that he’d gotten through the ordeal so unscathed. All he could picture before he and Ginny apparated over was the howler Mrs. Weasley had sent Ron their second year. He was sure the news of their elopement would at least rival that, but he had to admit he wasn’t upset that it didn’t.
“I really am sorry about not asking you, Mr. Weasley.” Harry turned his gaze to his new father-in-law.
“No harm done, m’boy. Truth be told, we’ve been waiting for this for quite some time. Besides,” Arthur smiled, “I’m sure Molly will put you through enough punishment for the both of us.”
“I thought she just said…” but before Harry could finish his sentence he was swept up in Molly’s arms.
“It looks like we have a party to plan!” She held him out at arm’s length. “Now Harry, what would you say your measurements are?” Harry stared at her blankly, unsure of what was happening.
“I told mum she could plan a reception for us, since we eloped and all.” Ginny tried to give him her best smile though it was terribly forced. “It seems she’s got a lot of great ideas.”
Harry had time to catch Arthur’s chuckle as he left the kitchen. “Welcome to the family, Harry!”
Title: Eye of the Storm
Rating: PG
Word Count: 710
Author's Note: If you haven't read the drabble first, you might want to, but it can be read as a one-shot as well. :D
We eloped. It seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog, ringing in his ears. Why wasn’t anyone saying anything? He and Ginny had just told her parents that they’d gone off and gotten married without anyone’s consent, without any warning! Why wasn’t there yelling? Screaming? Anything to make that last statement disappear.
Harry couldn’t decipher the look on Mrs. Weasley’s face. She stared at Ginny, not making a sound. It was the single most irritated and terrified Harry had ever been, and he thought very strongly about checking her pulse when she finally spoke. “Are you pregnant, Ginny?”
“No!” Ginny shouted, bringing about what Harry thought was a much needed ruckus. “Mum, how can you even ask that question?!”
“If you are going to come into my home and announce that you’ve eloped the least you could do is give me a grandchild!”
“Molly!” Arthur spoke for the first time since Ginny had shared her and Harry’s news. “Don’t be irrational.”
“Irrational?!” Molly stood up, glaring down at her husband. She was never good at scolding while she sat. “Our only daughter just flew off and got married without even a word, Arthur! Our little girl….”
“…I’m of age, mother….”
“…after years of feeding and clothing her….”
“…I’ve fed myself for quite some time….”
“… and Harry did not even ask your permission!”
This was the moment Harry had been waiting for. All eyes suddenly turned to him, and he realized that he had not said one word since entering the Burrow’s kitchen - his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask your permission, but I love Ginny, and I’m not sorry that I married her.”
“You see now, Molly,” Arthur sheepishly smiled up at his wife. “Harry says he’s sorry, and it’s not as if I wouldn’t have given him permission if he had asked.”
“Arthur, you completely miss the point!” Molly walked over to the sink, making a show over filling a kettle. “Our little girl just got married without us! You weren’t there to give her away, and I wasn’t there to do her hair or help her get dressed or tell her how lovely she looks with my mother’s necklace on and her hair pinned up in curls. There were no bridesmaids to fuss over, no food to prepare, no flower arrangement, or…” but before Molly could continue she fell into a mess of tears while water overflowed from the kettle she was still holding.
“Oh, mum,” Ginny ran over to her mother, throwing her arms around her. “You’re not upset we got married. You’re upset that you didn’t have a chance to meddle!”
“Well, of course, I am, sweetheart. You’re my only daughter! I’ve had your wedding planned out since you were old enough to walk.” Both women stood, crying and holding each other, the occasional laugh bubbling from one of them.
Harry sat across from Arthur, relief flooding through him. It seemed unreal that he’d gotten through the ordeal so unscathed. All he could picture before he and Ginny apparated over was the howler Mrs. Weasley had sent Ron their second year. He was sure the news of their elopement would at least rival that, but he had to admit he wasn’t upset that it didn’t.
“I really am sorry about not asking you, Mr. Weasley.” Harry turned his gaze to his new father-in-law.
“No harm done, m’boy. Truth be told, we’ve been waiting for this for quite some time. Besides,” Arthur smiled, “I’m sure Molly will put you through enough punishment for the both of us.”
“I thought she just said…” but before Harry could finish his sentence he was swept up in Molly’s arms.
“It looks like we have a party to plan!” She held him out at arm’s length. “Now Harry, what would you say your measurements are?” Harry stared at her blankly, unsure of what was happening.
“I told mum she could plan a reception for us, since we eloped and all.” Ginny tried to give him her best smile though it was terribly forced. “It seems she’s got a lot of great ideas.”
Harry had time to catch Arthur’s chuckle as he left the kitchen. “Welcome to the family, Harry!”