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“Ron! Come on!” Ginny whined, following her brother down the hall and into his room before he could slam the door on her. He huffs when she steps through but doesn’t try to push her out. “It’s been years.”
“I don’t care, Ginny,” Ron sighs, moving around his room to make the illusion that he’s busy. It’s merely shuffling papers on his desk and opening and closing draws full of clothes. He’s avoiding eye contact and Ginny can see the pink tinting his cheeks in what she assumes is his embarrassment and frustration. She would guess it's a lot of frustration today as Ginny hasn’t given up on this whole blind date thing for a few weeks now.
“The last person you dated was Hermione and that was ages ago. It wasn’t even for a substantial amount of time. It was like a month or something before you decided you were better off as friends. Just let me set you up!” Ginny’s been trying for weeks. She knows this will work out too. She knows they’re going to get along great if only Ron would give him a chance.
“I have stuff to do, Ginny,” Ron grumbles and Ginny can tell he’s getting to the point he might explode but Ginny is a pro. She knows how to handle her brother and doesn’t even flinch when he shoots a glare in her direction. “I’m leaving for a mission anyway. I’ll be gone a few days at most.”
Ginny sighs, shaking her head. “No, Ron. I’m worried about you.” She really is. Ron either spends his time in the office or hauled up in his room. He doesn’t even go out with his mates much anymore. He hasn’t even come to a game in ages and the git loved quidditch. He was obsessed. When Ginny was drafted, he begged for tickets to any and every game he could make it too. He hasn’t so much has spoken about the sport in months and Ginny was worried for his mental health.
“I’m fine, Ginny. I’m going to meet Hermione for lunch and then I’m going for a bit. I’ll send an owl if I can.” Ron pushes past her, Ginny realizing that he hadn’t been opening his draws as a distraction but to actually pack. Ginny sighs, following him out to the small living room of their apartment.
“Ron,” Ginny calls. She hates when Ron leaves on bad terms. It just makes her worry more when he’s on assignment and Ginny knows he’s been taking harder missions lately. It only has her worrying more. “Ron!” This time she grabs his wrist, making him stop in his tracks. The two were both in good shape, but Ron was always careful when they fought in fear of hurting her so Ginny knew he wouldn’t do much more than give her a bit of a shove so he could get out the door.
“Just leave it,” Ron snaps, looking at Ginny pleadingly. Ginny wasn’t going to just leave it though, not when she could see how unhappy her brother was. She knows a date won’t do much, but it will get him out of the house and he needs that right now. It may lead to a friend or two if he’s lucky. Hermione hasn’t even been around as much and has voiced her own concern about Ron when Ginny meets her for their monthly lunch.
“I’m worried about you,” Ginny sighs because Ron is running off again doing Merlin knows what. He can’t have only work. He needs people. He hasn’t even been out in ages with the excuse of work. Ginny even got an ear full from their mother since she’s the one who sees him the most.
(She isn’t even sure why they live together. Ron makes plenty of money to have his own place and Ginny makes a crazy stupid amount of money as a professional quiddith player. Ginny’s been holding on for Ron though, thankful he hasn’t had the time to decide to move out and seclude himself even more.)
“I like working, Ginny,” Ron says in way of an explanation, which Ginny knows to be true. He has to have something else though.
“When was the last time you’ve been on a date?” Ginny honestly can’t remember, but she knows he went out a few times after Hermione. He claimed they were all duds but Ginny could tell his heart wasn’t in it. He spent years pining for Hermione before they gave it a go only for them to realize they were better off as friends. It was also a hard time for Ron as he realized he may not just enjoy the company of women but men as well. Ginny thinks it’s why he keeps pulling away from people as he’s nervous to come out to his friends and nervous to get into the dating game again.
He isn’t happy though. Ginny can see it. He isn’t happy just going to work all day and taking on missions. She believes him when he says he loves his job, but he needs something else to fill the void he won’t admit he has in his life.
The sigh she gets from Ron is all the answer she needs with the assurance that she’s won this argument. It seems Ron’s realized that he isn’t getting out of this one. “Fine, but if it doesn’t work, stop pushing.”
Ginny squeals with excitement, tackling her brother and nearly knocking him over. Ron simply shakes his head, a puff of air leaving his lips in exasperated laughter. “I swear you’ll love him! He’s a great bloke. I know he’s perfect for you. I know you’ll be great. Oh, I’m going to send him an owl. How long will this mission be? Oh my gosh, I can’t wait for you to meet him. Actually, will you be home for my next match? Maybe you can go on a date after. Enjoy the game a bit and get a bite. Yes. I think so,” Ginny rambles, pulling Ron back into the apartment. He tries to get away at the insistence that he has a mission, but Ginny isn’t going to let him go so easily.
“Ginny!” Ron finally calls, stopping Ginny mid sentence. He looks nervous and frustrated as he glances down at her death grip on his arm. “I have to get on my mission. I’ll be back in time for your next match but if I’m not I’ll owl.”
“Seriously?” Ginny asks because the match is only four days away. She was sure Ron’s mission would be longer and he’d push it off for as long as he could. He seems resigned though and Ginny just hopes he isn't getting this over with so she’ll shut up about it. She hopes he’ll give him a real chance.
“I’ll see you when I’m back,” Ron sighs, rolling his eyes. Ginny can’t even argue as she pulls him into a hug, holding him a bit tighter than usual like she always does when he goes on a mission.
“Come back safe,” Ginny whispers. Ron nods his head in answer, patting her back a few times before she’s willing to pull away from him.
“I will. I have a date when I get back anyway,” Ron jokes, but Ginny can see the wistful look on his face. He hasn’t looked like that in a long time, excited by the prospect of a date. She can only hope it goes well and he isn’t disappointed.
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Ginny is bone tired but excited. She’s finally going to get Ron to go out on that blind date. He’s meeting her outside the locker rooms in only ten minutes so Ginny can give him some details for tonight before she sends him off to meet his date.
(She thought about introducing them at the pitch, but that would negate the whole point of a blind date and the date has to work a bit later than her at the pitch anyway. Ron was actually going to have an hour of down time between the date and now.)
She’s much too excited to wait around for Ron in the changing rooms and make the decision to find Ron. She doesn’t have to go far though because he’s standing outside the door, laughing echoing down the hallway. Ginny furrows her brows in confusion as she rounds the corner, stopping in her tracks when she sees Ron chatting with none other than Harry Potter, only survivor of the killing curse and seeker for her very own team.
She blinks as she watches Ron, truly laughing for the first time in ages. It’s that belly laugh that Fred and George would often tease him for that has his eyes squinting shut because his smile is so big. Oh, that smile. Ginny hasn’t seen that smile in ages. She’s missed it so much. She’s missed her brother.
(Don’t tell him though.)
Holy shit.
Harry has an arm on Ron’s bicep, smile bright and warm and flirtatious. Holy shit. Harry was flirting with her brother. Harry Potter was flirting with her brother. She hadn’t even realized Harry was bi. Holy shit. She’s made a big mistake. She never would have set Ron up with this guy if she had known Harry was into men. They’re fucking perfect for each other.
In her panic, she makes this odd choked sound that draws the attention of both men. Ron furrows his brow in confusion, Harry’s hand dropping from his arm in sudden embarrassment. Ginny can see a ting of pink on his tan cheeks, hugging his hand to his chest as he avoids eye contact.
“What’s wrong, Gin?” Ron asks head tilted. She doesn’t miss the way Harry glances at him, eyes trailing his face. He seems to like what he sees if the curve of his lips is anything to go by. Fuck. She’s made a big bloody mistake and she intends to fix it up right now.
“Nothing,” Ginny insists, earning a suspicious look from Ron. “Can I borrow Harry for a moment?” The two of them seem surprised, but Ron nods nonetheless, stepping back and allowing a confused Harry to step forward.
Ginny doesn’t waste time grabbing his arm and tugging him around the corner. “Harry,” she stresses, eyes wide, but Harry is glancing around the corner, a small smile on his lips and Ginny wonders how long the pair have actually been talking.
“Do you think your brother would go out with me?” Harry asks, not even sparing Ginny a glance. It’s a moment later that he seems to realize what he just said and he turns to Ginny with wide, nervous eyes. “Oh-Um, I know we went out a few times and all- it might be awkward-no, I get it. I know. Just forget about it.”
“Harry-”
“No. I know. It’s crazy. He wouldn’t go out with me anyway. He’s fantastic and we’ve only chatted for half an hour. It doesn’t make sense. Nevermind. It would be weird anyway. I know that-”
“Harry!” Ginny nearly shouts, watches as Harry freezes and snaps his mouth shut, green eyes wide. He looks nervous, shifting from foot to foot in front of her. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen Harry nervous which only assures her that this is the right move.
“Are you available tonight?” Harry looks at her in surprise, nodding his head in answer. “Great! I have to change some things around but what do you say about a blind date with my brother?”
The shock doesn’t leave Harry’s features as he asks, “Won’t it be a bit weird?”
Ginny shakes her head. “No. We went out a few times and it didn’t work out. I can already see the chemistry you have with my idiot brother and it’s better than anything we ever had. Honestly, I would have done this sooner if I had known you were bi. I think you’re both perfect for each other.”
“Oh, okay,” Harry’s surprise is still evident on his face and Ginny pats his arm a few times in reassurance.
“Meet him at the Leaky Cauldron in about half an hour. I’m sure he’ll be surprised,” Ginny instructs, wishing him good luck over her shoulder as she rounds the corner. Ron is standing where they left him, leaning against the wall. He’s flipping through the program from the game, frowning down at the parchment.
“Ron! It seems the original time got moved up a bit. You’re meeting at the Leaky Cauldron in half an hour. Good luck! I have to go take care of something,” Ginny says in passing, patting Ron’s shoulder along her way. The other watches her in confusion as she passes, but simply shrugs and heads toward the exit.
Now, Ginny needs to find poor Patrick and tell him the date’s been called off.
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Ginny knows she shouldn’t, but she’s nosy.
The booth has the perfect view without revealing she’s spying on her brother and his date. They’ve just met up, the surprise is clear on Ron’s face when Harry admits he’s the one Ron’s been waiting for. Ron’s already blushing and they’ve barely sat down. Harry just has this look. He seems totally enthralled by what Ron’s saying.
Ginny is so happy she was right.
Well, she wasn’t right to begin with but she did know Ron needed to get out of the house. Ginny can already see the tension easing from his shoulders as he chats Harry’s ear off. Harry seems impressed, probably chatting about Ron’s work as an auror. Ginny may brag a bit that her brother got one of the youngest promotions in the department, but Ron doesn’t need to know that.
Ron has Harry laughing now and Ginny can’t help herself when she slips out of the booth to find a spot close enough to listen to their chat.
“There was this guy once, tried to jump over a fence when I was chasing him down and got his foot caught. He ended up hanging upside down for a while as I made some notes,” Ron explains. Ginny remembers him coming home from that mission years ago. It does the trick though because it keeps Harry laughing and it lights up his whole face. Ginny’s never seen Harry laugh like this.
“I’m really glad Ginny set this up,” Harry starts once he’s caught his breath from laughing. He’s looking at Ron with these soft eyes, full attention on the other. Ginny doesn’t even think they’d notice her if she walked right by. “You’re brilliant.”
Ginny wouldn’t use that specific to describe her brother, but it does do the trick to get him flustered, the pink that’s been dusting his cheeks the whole night now covering his ears and slipping down his neck. Ginny really wishes she could tease him about it, but she knows it will give away that she is merely sitting a seat over spying on him.
Actually, she thinks it might be about time to head out. It would seem she doesn’t need to interrupt (because she would have interrupted if the date had turned out to be a dud) and she thinks Ron deserves some privacy. She can’t even tease him about this so it seems pointless to hang around, especially as the waiter comes up to their table to take their order.
(There is some initial shock that the waiter was serving Harry Potter, but it actually worked out a bit in Harry’s favor. It was enduring how shy Harry got when people noticed him, agreeing to an autograph and sharing an apologetic look with Ron. Ron doesn’t seem to mind, a bit star struck himself, like he forgot he was on a date with an up and coming quidditch star.)
Oh Merlin, the waiter is coming over to her and she knows it will draw the eyes of her brother and teammate if he asks to take her order. She curses under her breath, brushing him off as she darts out of the pub without being seen.
She can hear Ron’s laugh echoing through the room as she steps out the door and she knows she’s done something right.
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Ginny’s half asleep when the door finally opens. With a glance at the clock, she realizes that the pair must have stayed till last call because it’s ridiculously late. Ginny can’t remember the last time Ron was out past midnight, always with the excuse of work no matter if they were with family or friends.
With a yawn, Ginny rubs at her tired eyes with a glance over the couch. She pauses when she sees Ron in the doorway, squinting to make sure she’s seeing Ron properly because the only way she can describe him is glowing. Ron was fucking glowing after his date with Harry and Ginny is giving herself a pat on the back as she watches him tug his coat off in a dream like trance.
“Oi, Ron!” Ginny calls, snickering when he nearly knocks over the small table by the door. Ginny hasn’t seen him jump like that since Fred and George played the ultimate prank on him a few years ago, before he had honed his skills a bit better with the aurors. “Seems someone’s in their own little dream land. I can assume it went well?”
Ron’s cheeks are absolutely scarlet, even visible with the dull lighting in their living room. It only has Ginny laughing harder, happy she’ll have something to tease him about as she doesn’t ever plan on revealing she was spying on his date.
Ron glares at her, but it is probably the least menacing look he’s ever given her. The pink cheeks. The embarrassment that is basically rolling off him. It’s too good. “Shut it, Gin,” Ron sighs like he knows he won’t get anywhere by snapping at her. The two have been known to get into some serious fights over the years, but they’ve learned when to let it go as they’ve gotten older. They know when they shouldn’t push the other.
This was not one of those times.
“You look like a lovesick teenager, Ron. I can’t help it,” she giggles, letting out a surprised yelp when Ron shoves her from the couch. She pouts, a glare directed at Ron, but she figures she shouldn’t push too much because she really does want more details. “Well, are you seeing him again?”
Ron groans, rolling over the back of the couch and shoving his face into the pillow. Ginny assumes it is in order to hide the pink that must be burning his cheeks by now. Oh, Ginny was never going to let him live this down. Never.
“Yes,” Ron sighs, muffled by the pillow. “I’m taking him out after work tomorrow.”
“You’re taking him out? Did you ask him on a second date?” Ginny wonders. Ron isn’t known for his confidence in anything but his job and often gets a bit shy and withdrawn when it comes to asking for second dates, or first ones for that matter. He must really like Harry if he managed to ask him out. He must be really comfortable with him too, which is a nice thought. She couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.
“It was a bit mutual, but I insisted the next date was on me and picked the place,” Ron explains. Ginny can’t help her own smile, giving Ron a teasing shove as she pushes herself off the ground.
“Good for you, Ron.” This earns her a single suspicious eye peeking out from the pillow, like he’s waiting for the next shoe to drop. Ginny is genuinely happy for Ron. He needed this. He needed a win in something outside of work and it would seem Ginny gave him the assist.
“Stop teasing, Gin,” Ron sighs, getting comfortable on the couch. He pulls a blanket over him, content to sleep out here tonight.
“I wasn’t, you git. I’m genuinely happy for you. Now I’m going to bed now that I know I can gloat in the morning.” That comment earns her a discarded pillow that she catches easily, laughing as she makes her way to her bedroom.
“Oi! Ginny! I know you were spying on me today and I won’t let you live that down!” Ron calls. Ginny curses. She used to be much better at spying on her brothers when she was younger but Ron is a trained auror. She thought it might get past him being so enthralled by Harry and all.
“Great! Now I can tease you about the date!”
Ron merely groans, knowing Ginny won this round.
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Bonus!
Ginny clanges her glass as she stands by the stage, waiting a moment for the group to settle down. It takes a few extra taps to get Fred and Goerge to pay attention, but the two finally pause ther ribbing when Molly gives them each a smack on the arm and a warning look.
Ginny clears her throat as she looks at the happy couple. They seem to only have eye for each other as it takes all their will power to finally give Ginny their attention on stage. It doesn’t stop the two from glancing at each other, both with this look of pure awe and admiration that Ginny only hopes she finds one day.
It makes her a bit sick how in love these two are.
“Now, first thing I want you all to know is that I’m the reason these two are together,” Ginny gloats, because she knows she can. Ron’s never been happier and Harry’s been playing at the top of his game since they meant nearly three years ago. “Actually, it’s a bit of a funny story because I set Ron up on a blind date but it wasn’t with Harry. I turned the corner and the two of them are getting on like they’ve known each other for years. I’d never even seen Harry flirt before, didn’t realize he might be into Ron and realized I made a big mistake - sorry Patrick!
“When I saw Harry so smitten I knew I needed to chat with him about changing up the plans - not that either of them knew it wasn’t the original plan - and he was so nervous he was rambling. It was honestly cute how smitten he was by Ron after only a few minutes. It makes me a bit sick now how smitten they are and I’m very thankful they moved out so I don’t have to witness it all the time.
“But those looks, they only solidified how right I was to pair you two together. Basically, this beautiful relationship is all because of me. I take full credit for these two. I take payment in the form of Galleons - just kidding! I may be able to take credit for the beginning, but I can’t take credit for how much these two love each other. They’ve fought through a lot these last three years and have only grown because of it.
“I’m so proud of the love these two share. I’m so happy I was able to pair them up because it turned into something truly beautiful. So cheer to the new couple!”
Ginny smiles as the room raises their glasses, laughing and clapping heard all around. Ron and Harry lean in for a chaste kiss, smiles matching as they get up to hug Ginny.
“Just so you know, I knew you changed plans that day,” Ron whispers, but that doesn’t stop him from holding her a bit tighter. “I’m rather thankful you did after you saw me with Harry.”
Ginny may be crying a bit now, holding Ron tight for a moment. “I’m glad I changed the plans too,” Ginny assures because she couldn't be happier for her brother and it’s all because of her.