Vague Memories by beginningimprovised



Summary: ***Winner of Most Unexpected in the Elopement Challenge (2020-3)*** Harry and Ginny wake up with terrible hangovers and only the faintest memories of what transpired the previous night. They are pleasantly surprised when they discovered what had actually happened that night, and are forced to deal with it's ramifications.
Rating: PG-13 starstarstarstarhalf-star
Categories: Elopement Challenge (2020-3)
Characters: None
Genres: None
Warnings: None
Challenges: None
Series: None
Published: 2020.12.03
Updated: 2020.12.03


Vague Memories by beginningimprovised
Chapter 1: Vague Memories
Author's Notes:

Harry awoke to blurry, burning, bright light and an awfully familiar pain in his head. For a split second, in his sleep addled brain, he wondered if somehow Voldemort was back or that he had just dreamt up the last seven years since the final battle and that he was yet to even get there.

Cutting through those thoughts, however, was the extremely dry mouth and the faintest memory of what had transpired the previous night. He was extremely hungover.

He felt a soft warmth move against his skin, he opened his eyes once more and looked down to see Ginny, still seemingly asleep, move and then sigh in his arms. He sighed and closed his eyes, he would much rather be asleep right now. He moved down in an effort to bring Ginny closer to him and so that he could be more comfortable, but felt the clear signs of the morning pressing against her ass.

Quickly he lifted the covers to check to see if his assumption had been correct and sure enough, it was. They were stark naked. Not that he minded really, nor was it really out of the ordinary. They woke up in this position multiple times a week, though rarely with the extreme hangover that was plaguing him and he suspected, Ginny as well.

He closed his eyes, hoping to fall asleep for a temporary reprieve from his hangover. Unfortunately, he discovered that the headache would not allow it; nor could he ignore the building rumble in his stomach signifying his growing hunger.

Sighing, Harry unwrapped himself from the still sleeping Ginny and tried to move out of the bed as slowly as possible so as to not disturb her.

“Noooo. S’warm.” Ginny mumbled her eyes still closed, as she loosely grasped his wrist and rolled over to where he had just been laying, and now where he sat on the edge of the bed.

“I’m gonna make us some breakfast,” he said softly, to her still sleeping self.

He looked over to the night table and saw his glasses, he picked them up and put them on, finally able to take in the scene of the room. He looked back at Ginny’s sleeping form, wrapped up in the quilts, and couldn’t help but smile at her. She was so beautiful, and it was in these quiet moments that Harry couldn’t believe that he was as lucky as he was to be loved by her.

The pain in his stomach however cut through the sweet moment he had been trying to enjoy. He looked around at the floor looking for any bits of his clothes that had very obviously been haphazardly discarded the previous night.

Harry had no recollection of what had actually happened the previous night but he appreciated that even his drunk self was careful to place his glasses in a position where could easily find them again.

Getting up off the bed he walked to its foot and found his underwear, slipping them on he continued the hunt for his clothes. He moved around to the side of the bed that only a few moments before Ginny had occupied and was only met with her underwear. Which he placed on the edge of the bed.

Harry moved throughout the rest of their room and into the sitting area where he found his pants near the couch and his shirt seemingly hung on the back of a chair. He found the rest of Ginny’s clothes not far from where his were, her pants kicked underneath the couch, but her shirt and bra behind the chair on the floor.

Finally having gathered up the clothes, he returned to the bedroom and opened up their suitcase, he pulled out a fresh pair of underwear, and clothes. And put the rest of their clothes into the dirty side of the suitcase. Tossing the bra on to the bed, where her underwear already sat.

As he was changing into his new underwear he heard the bed shift behind him and he turned around to find Ginny propped up on one elbow staring at him.

“Enjoying the view are we?” he asked.

“You wish,” she said with a smirk. “but it’s hard to enjoy anything with this awful headache.”

“Tell me about it. I thought Voldemort was back when I first woke up.” Harry said with a small laugh, causing Ginny to smile for a moment.

“How does bacon and eggs sound?” he asked her as he pulled on his pants.

“Delightful, especially if served in bed,” she said with a wink, causing Harry to smile.

“I think I can handle that,” Harry said with a small smirk, as he pulled on his shirt. Kissing Ginny on the forehead before walking out of the bedroom.

Harry walked into the kitchen, still surprised at how nice it was for a rented room. After a particularly hard fought championship match after an even harder fought season, the Harpies had been eliminated by one point, and thus Ginny propositioned him with the idea of a Vacation, just the two of them. The first one they’d ever taken in the entire time they’d been together. He was admittedly apprehensive at first but after he returned from an assignment that had taken nearly a month of non-stop work, he vehemently agreed and now couldn’t have been happier with his decision.

They had rented a room in a small muggle village on the coast, happy to be seen as just another young couple far from the prying eyes of the press in London or Holyhead, even for just a week.

The pleasantly bitter aroma of coffee pulled Harry from his thoughts as the coffee pot poured itself out into the mugs on the counter, as Harry had charmed it to. As he turned around to pick up the mugs he noticed a few sheets of paper strewn about on the other side of the counter, in front of the chairs, on the counter bar side of it.

He reached for them all together, piling them up as he did so and spinning them around so he could read them. He was filled with happiness as he flipped through the pages, though that happiness lasted barely a second before he was filled with shock and surprise at his lack of memories regarding the papers.

“Uh, Gin.” He said as he made his way quickly back towards their bed, regretting the volume at which he spoke; the shock having temporarily made him forget he was hungover.

“Ugh, do you have to yell?” Ginny said a look of pain on her face as she sat up and leaned back against the headboard, not bothering to cover herself with the quilts.

“Look at this,” Harry said, handing her the sheets of paper he had been looking at. She stared at the first page for a moment before rubbing her eyes and squinting.

“Enjoying the view?” She said with a smirk as she looked up at him.

“Hard no too, what person doesn’t enjoy looking at their wife naked.”

“Their what?” Ginny asked in shock, her eyes flicking down to the papers in her hands, flipping through them, finally settling on one of them. Their marriage certificate.

“Looks like I'll have to tell Gwenog I need the name on my jersey changed,” Ginny said with a short laugh.

“Wait what?”

“Did you not see that part, I changed my name with it too. You’re looking at Ginny Potter now,” she said with a large smile on her face.

“I’ve always thought that had a nice ring to it,” Harry said with a smirk.

“You and me both,” Ginny said, setting the papers on the bed and moving forward to kiss Harry. Alleviating all of the feelings of being hungover from his body while she did so.

“Aren’t you worried?” Harry asked her.

“I don’t know about you but I am very happy with the developments, but I am worried about what my family will say, you know how mum has been lately. I think anytime I’m alone with her she asks when we plan on getting married.”

“She’s asked me if I need help ring shopping before,” Harry said flatly. Causing them both to laugh.

After they settled down from their laughter Ginny looked down at her left hand and showed it to him.

“It seems like you do.” Ginny joked, swinging her legs off the bed and standing up, looking at the underwear Harry had laid on the bed earlier.

“Can you toss me some clothes?” she asked, tossing him back the underwear, before putting on the bra he had left there earlier.

Harry knelt down and opened the suitcase, putting her underwear with the rest of the clothes he had gathered up that morning. He pulled out jeans and a jumper for her, laughing to himself for a second before he grabbed her out a pair of underwear. And set them in a pile on the bed.

He walked out of the room to finally get started on their breakfast, in the vain hope that it would alleviate the still present headache, as well as his hunger. As he entered the kitchen he heard a laugh from Ginny before she began to speak.

“Really, Harry? I suppose this is what I get for letting you pick,” she said from the bedroom. He didn’t need to see her eyes to know the amused look she was shooting him for the room.

A few moments later she appeared at the counter, sipping her coffee before she even sat down. Letting out a grateful hum at the taste of it.

“What are we going to do?” he asked as he turned away from the frying eggs to look at her.

“Well, I think we should probably tell everyone, before they find out from the prophet. What time is it?”

“Half past eight,” Harry said looking at the clock on the wall behind her.

“Good and it’s Sunday so that means most everyone will be at the Burrow for breakfast, I know Hermione said she was going this weekend, Bill, Fleur and Victoire go over every weekend and George will probably be there too,” she said.

“Well, that’s good. I feel like I’m not as shocked as I should be.” Harry admitted, with a small laugh.

“You and me both. I was shocked at first, but it just feels... right? I’m more shocked and a little disappointed that I have no memory of it.” Ginny said.

“It does feel totally right. And Me too, I have no memory of what happened last night after we got to that pub.”

“Well, judging by the fact that we woke up naked, and I know what that normally means, I’d say we consummated our marriage,” Ginny said, causing them both to laugh.

“Honestly, I don’t regret getting married. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time and it’s not at all the way I thought it was going to happen. I’m still glad we did.”

“Me too. It may be because I’ve been thinking about marrying you since I was a little girl, but I am really happy that we got married. Even if it didn’t the way I thought it would either, and given the fact that neither of us remembers it.” she said before taking a sip from her coffee.

“Well Mrs.Potter, here you go, two fried eggs and bacon. It’s not in bed but I still think it’s pretty good.” Harry said as he slid the eggs and bacon on a plate before putting it in front of her. Causing her to smile. Which Harry wasn’t sure if it was at the use of her name or at the food.

“How’s your hangover?” he asked her. Feeling only a little better after having eaten the greasy breakfast.

“Better I guess, but I still feel like shit.” Ginny laughed.

“Well, I suppose we should get ready to head to the burrow soon,” Harry said, unsure of what to expect when they got there. More worried about Molly’s reaction to their lack of a proper wedding than any of the family not supporting him and Ginny having Married.

“I think you’re right. Bloody hell, prepare for an earful.” Ginny murmured over her coffee. Causing Harry to laugh and nearly choke on his own coffee.

Harry cleaned up their breakfast while Ginny had a quick shower before having one of his own, Ginny had floated the idea of having a shower together, but they both decided against it knowing where it would likely lead and as much they both wanted to, they were on a time constraint.

Harry was pretty sure that word of their elopement hadn’t made it to the burrow or the daily prophet based solely on the fact that they’d hadn’t been bombarded with owls and howlers from Mrs.Weasley about it.

“Ready to go?” Ginny asked as he walked into the living room, where she was sitting reading one of the muggle books she had brought along for the trip.

“As much as I can be?” Harry said with a nervous laugh as he put his shoes on. Ginny crossed the room to do the same.

“It’s going to be fine. We’re married, what're they going to do?” she said as she walked up to him and put her arms around him.

“I love you,” she said pressing a deep kiss to his lips.

“I love you too,” Harry said with a smile, pressing another quick peck to her lips before she began to put her own shoes on.

“Side-along?” Harry asked her.

“Yes please,” she said as she wrapped her arm around his.

Within an instant they were in darkness, less than a second later they were standing out in the front garden of the Burrow. Ginny tightened her grip on his arm and placed her other hand on him to steady herself.

“Ugh, that was a bad idea.” She said taking a few deep breaths. Harry himself felt like he had just apparated for the first time.

“Yeah, remind me next time not to apparate while hungover.” He said, his head throbbing a little bit. Ginny let out a deep breathe before letting go of his arm.

“Alright, I think I’m okay now, are you?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Harry said, trying to ignore the still present headache, which he wondered quickly if Molly had some form of potion to fix.

“Right, well, let’s tell everyone that we got married,” Ginny said taking his hand in hers and giving it a quick squeeze before they began to walk towards the house.

Ginny opened the door and Harry quickly followed her in. Benign greeted by a familiar french voice.

“ ‘Arry, Ginny? What are you doing ‘ere?” Fleur said, peering over at the door from her seat just inside the living room.

Harry looked to Ginny unsure of what to say.

“Uh, we have some news but we want to tell everyone together, who’s all here?” Ginny asked her.

“Well, ‘ermione and Ronald just arrived. But George was ‘ere when Bill and I arrived. What is this big news? Is Victoire going to ‘ave a cousin?” Fleur asked with a sly grin on her face.

“Uh, we’ll explain to everyone,” Ginny said motion for Fleur to come with as she walked towards the kitchen.

Even with only the few steps from the living room, the volume had increased significantly, causing Harry to once again become aware of his headache.

“Ginny?” Hermione asked, as soon as they stepped foot into the room causing everyone else to look up from the conversations they were having.

“Ginny, Harry? What are you doing back so early?” Molly said loudly as she patted her hands on her apron before she began to walk over to them. Enveloping Ginny in a hug before letting go and doing the same to him.

“Well,” Harry began but again looked to Ginny unsure of how to put what had happened into words, to which he was met with her staring at him before she turned to the rest of the family before them.

“We have some big news.” upon hearing the words Harry looked to Ron whose eyes were wide with shock, clearly thinking something very similar to Fleur.

“I know what you’re thinking, especially you, Fleur,” Ginny said, looking at Fleur who had taken the seat next to Bill while Molly had hugged them.

“I’m not pregnant.” Harry laughed to himself at the noticeable sighs of relief from Ron and Bill.

“Harry and I eloped.”

“What!” Molly said in loud surprise. In a tone that greatly reminded Harry of the Howler Ron had gotten in their second year.

“About time,” George said with a laugh.

“Why would you elope? I thought you wanted a wedding? We talked about it only a few weeks ago.” Hermione said, staring at them both in disbelief.

“Yeah mate, I didn’t even realize you had a ring yet. I know you said you were thinking about getting one soon,” Ron said in quick succession after Hermione. Causing Harry’s eyes to widen having forgotten he had talked about that with Ron, while Ginny turned and stared at him. They had talked about getting married before, on quite a few occasions but she had no idea that he had been that far along in his plans.

“Well, it wasn’t exactly planned,” Harry said.

“I should hope not!” Molly said.

“Well, tell us how’d it happen?” Arthur said, a smile on his face. Causing Harry to look at Ginny once more before deciding to take charge.

“Well, we don’t remember.”

“You don’t remember?” Hermione echoed in surprise.

“Yes, we went to a bar and clearly we got very drunk. We woke up very hungover and when I was making breakfast I found the papers on the counter of the room we rented.” Harry said.

“Well, what about a wedding? What are we going to tell the rest of the family and oh Merlin wait till someone at the Prophet finds out.” Molly said, throwing her hands up in the air.

“I mean we can still have one I suppose, I would like to have a real one even if we are already married,” Ginny said, shrugging her shoulders.

“Well it’s settled then, we’ll get to work planning you two an actual wedding, in the meantime, I suppose congratulations are in order,” Arthur said standing up to make his way over to them.

“Do you have the marriage papers with you?” Hermione asked.

“Right here,” Ginny said, pulling them out from her back pocket and handing them across the table to Hermione. While everyone else around the table got up and made their way over to them.

“Congratulations mate, we’re legally brothers now,” Ron said clasping him in a hug, before letting go to congratulate Ginny.

“Congratulations, you’re officially part of the family now,” Bill said, shaking Harry’s hand before pulling him into a hug.

“What do you mean now? He’s been part of the family since we met him on the train platform all those years ago.” George said, causing them all to laugh.

“Harry Ginny, these are Muggle marriage documents!” Hermione said with a large smile on her face.

“Is that bad?” Ginny asked.

“No, normally if you get married in the muggle world, you just show the forms to the Ministry and they will provide you with the Magical documents as well, but you can still get properly Magically married as well!” she said her voice filled with excitement.

“Aha! So we can still have a proper wedding!” Molly said with excitement.

“What do you say, wanna do it all over again?” Ginny asked, turning to him.

“I would love to,” Harry said with a smile.

“Perfect! I ‘ave so many ideas to tell you about!” Fleur said, clapping her hands together.

“Congratulations dears,” Molly said, pulling them both into a hug. “We love you both so much and we’re so happy for you two,” Molly said letting them go, only for Harry to be clasped in a hug by Arthur.

“I’m proud to call you my son,” Arthur said. Before letting go of him and moving to Ginny. Pulling her in for a big hug. Before separating and putting an arm around Molly, and looking at them with an equally large smile.

“You’d make your parents proud Harry,” Arthur said.

“Thank you,” Harry said.

“All of you.” Ginny continued for him, as her hand sneaked its way into his.

“Will you be staying for breakfast?” Molly asked

“No,” Both, Harry and Ginny, said. Still full from their breakfast, and perhaps with ideas for what the rest of the day may hold.

“Harry made us breakfast already, not that long ago,” Ginny explained.

“Alright. I suppose you’ll be leaving soon then?” Molly asked with a sigh, but still smiling.

“Yes, but I would like to send a quick note to Gwenog, so may I borrow Pig?” Ginny asked.

“Of course dear,” Molly said as she turned back to go finish whatever part of their breakfast she had been working before they had been interrupted by the news of their marriage. Ginny darted off to write her note to Gwenog. While Ron and George pulled Harry into a conversation about his bachelor party.

The conversation thankfully didn’t last very long, before Ginny reappeared at his side.

“Ready to go?” she asked.

“I am if you are,” Harry said, as they got up and began their goodbyes.

A few moments later Harry was closing the door behind them as they exited the Burrow.

“So what shall we do with the rest of our days?” Harry asked her.

“Oh I have a few ideas and I think you do as well,” Ginny said with a sultry grin, as she reached her hand out to him as they made their way back to the apparation point. Wordlessly Harry moved his arm, allowing Ginny to loop hers through it.

And with a final pop, the Potters disapparated from the Burrow. Regretting their decision to apparate once again.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

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