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SIYE Time:17:21 on 6th November 2024
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A Taste of Honey
By Gin110881

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Category: Alternate Universe
Characters:Harry/Ginny
Genres: Drama, Fluff, Romance
Warnings: None
Story is Complete
Rating: PG-13
Reviews: 37
Summary: After three weeks of working without a day off, Ginny rewards herself with a latte and a chocolate sprinkle before spending the weekend with her family. Little did she know that she would meet someone in her favourite café who would change her entire life.
Probably the most AU I've ever written.
Hitcount: Story Total: 33741; Chapter Total: 2343
Awards: View Trophy Room




Author's Notes:
As always, my thanks go to GryffindorHealer, dumnonian, and KSummer for their kind support in giving the chapter a final checkover.




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"Ouch!" Ginny clutched her head as the beeping sound of the alarm roused her from her sleep. "Bloody hell!" The piercing noise made the pounding ache in her head even worse. Without looking, she tried to turn off the alarm in the dim light and fell back onto the pillow when silence finally surrounded her. Slowly, her brain seemed to work again, and the memories were fading back to where they belonged. She'd been at a Muggle pub the night before, having a few drinks for her birthday with Harry, Ron and Hermione, and apparently, the last one had been bad. Quickly abandoning the idea of staying in bed and letting work be work, she took a deep breath and clumsily reached for the switch on her bedside lamp. She closed her eyes and groaned as the light blinded her. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes again and slowly crawled out of bed. Damn, she wasn't used to drinking. Apart from a celebratory whiskey or two with her brothers and a glass of elven wine with her mother, she rarely drank. She opened the door and shuffled to the bathroom to grab a paracetamol, or better yet two. After a hot shower, she brushed her teeth and felt a little better.

When she finally opened the door, Cassy was already waiting in the hallway for the bathroom to clear, giving her a pitying look. "You look like shite."

"Thanks. You should have seen me 10 minutes ago," Ginny grumbled, and turned back to her room to get ready for work.

** HG **


Ginny wasn't sure if it was a good thing that she'd been so busy all day. She'd quickly forgotten about her headache, but didn't have a chance to visit Mrs. Winterbottom before Amy finally arrived to take over the shift.

When she got to the intensive care unit, Ginny decided to visit the head nurse on duty first, who luckily turned out to be the same younger black-haired woman she'd spoken to the week before.

"Hi, Katie," Ginny greeted her.

The nurse looked up and smiled. "Hi, Ginny. Let me guess, you came to visit Mrs Winterbottom?"

"Yeah," Ginny replied. "How is she doing?"

Katie tilted her head and sighed. "Let's say, no worse than before."

"Did the medication help? She got Tamiflu, right?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, Tamiflu," Katie confirmed. "The pills seem to be working. Otherwise, the fever would have risen. Do you want me to come with you?"

"Yeah. That would be nice," Ginny replied, relieved. "It's...I suspect my dad has bird flu, too and...I have a few questions."

"Which hospital is your father in?" Katie asked as she led the way.

"Not here. I'm from Devon, and... he's in the local hospital there," Ginny explained, feeling a little bad about her evasive lie. "They're not sure what exactly he's sick with, but to me, the symptoms look exactly like Mrs. Winterbottom's."

"Mrs Winterbottom is not the only case like this we have. There has been an increase in this type of bird flu in the last few weeks," explained Katie. "They're still looking for the source of the outbreak, but as far as I know, they don't know it yet."

At St Mungo's, they at least knew it broke out in the Ministry first, Ginny thought, as the alarm bells suddenly rang. Did the Muggle illness cases also come from there?

Katie took a mask from a container near the door to Mrs Winterbottom's room and handed it to Ginny. As Katie pulled up the mask she wore around her neck before entering the room, Ginny nodded briefly and put on her offered mask as well. Following Katie's example, she put on a pair of rubber gloves before approaching Mrs. Winterbottom's bed. Gently, she placed her hand on the older woman's and looked into her eyes. "Hello Mrs Winterbottom. How are you?"

The woman's eyes lit up slightly, and a faint nod indicated that she had recognized her visitor. Ginny smiled at her as her eyes scanned the oxygen tubes that ended in her nostrils and helped her breathe. The woman was given a saline solution through an IV needle. "I just wanted to say hello, Mrs. Winterbottom. I see you're being well looked after here."

The woman nodded again weakly and closed her eyes again.

"She's still very weak, but her fever has gone down a bit. The signs of pneumonia have also gotten better," explained Katie.

"Then the medication seems to be working," Ginny said hopefully.

"Yes, it looks like it," Katie confirmed. "But it will take a few more days until she's out of the woods."

Ginny nodded thoughtfully, taking in the sight of Mrs Winterbottom, wondering which measures she could implement for her dad. Definitely, she wouldn't be able to get a breathing machine. She glanced over at Katie. "Tamiflu requires a prescription, right?"

"They should actually be in stock at any hospital. What medicine does your dad get?"

Ginny grimaced. She couldn't really tell the nurse anything about potions and healing spells. Besides, she wasn't familiar with magical healing methods either. Though, she was pretty sure that the healers at St. Mungo's wouldn't use Muggle medicine. "Yeah, you're right. The hospital at home should have these pills," Ginny replied, nodding at Katie, glad that her doubtful expression was hidden under her mask. "My worries are probably unnecessary." She would talk to the senior doctor on her ward, who would most likely give her a prescription for Tamiflu if she asked nicely.

"I would do the same if it was about my parents," Katie reassured her.

Ginny turned back to Mrs. Winterbottom and held the older woman's hands. Even through the rubber gloves she could feel that they were hot. "Goodbye, Mrs. Winterbottom. I'll visit again soon," Ginny said, pleased that the woman looked her in the eyes and nodded at her, even if it was a weak nod.

"Thanks again," Ginny said as she and Katie left the room and took off their gloves and masks.

"You're welcome," Katie replied as she waved goodbye. "I hope your dad gets better soon."

Ginny glanced at her watch and hurried away, hoping to find the senior doctor. She was lucky. When she knocked and pushed the door open, Doc Wallace was hanging his lab coat in the wardrobe, and his briefcase was already on his desk.

"Dr Wallace, do you have a minute?" Ginny asked, giving her boss a beseeching look.

The man turned to her and raised his eyebrows. "How can I help you, Miss Weasley?"

"I..." Ginny hesitated but then looked the man in the eyes. "I need Tamiflu. Would you write me a prescription?"

Dr Wallace gave her a worried look. "You don't seem sick to me, though."

"It's not for me. My dad needs it, and I promised to bring the pills with me when I get home tonight," Ginny lied. Well, it wasn't an outright lie. She had promised to help her father, and since she didn't want to nick the pills, she needed a prescription.

"Well," said Dr Wallace hesitantly, but sat down at his desk and rummaged through a drawer. "I usually don't write prescriptions for employees, but I'll make an exception for you."

"Thank you, Dr Wallace," Ginny replied, relieved, giving the man the nicest smile she could manage as he handed her the prescription for the pills.

Sighing contentedly, she stepped back into the hallway but froze when she caught sight of the station clock. Damned. She grimaced. She had a date with Harry, and the poor sod had probably been waiting for her outside the staff exit door for fifteen minutes. Worried, she rushed back to her ward, where Amy gave her a questioning look as she hung her lab coat in her locker and put on her summer jacket.

"I'm sorry. I have to hurry. I'm already late," Ginny called. Waving goodbye to her colleague, she hurried off towards the exit.

As she stepped through the door outside, Ginny looked around worriedly. A smile crossed her face when she spotted Harry leaning against the bannister.

"Hey," Harry called, his face lighting up.

"Sorry, I'm late," Ginny said as she returned Harry's hug and kissed him on the lips. "I visited Mrs Winterbottom and then had to go to the senior doctor to get the prescription for Dad." She waved the piece of paper.

"Don't worry. Sirius will survive if he waits for us a few minutes," Harry replied, laughing.

"Oh. Right," Ginny said. She had totally forgotten that they were supposed to meet Harry's godfather today. Taking a deep breath, she gave Harry an apologetic look. "Will he be very upset if he has to wait any longer? I have to take the pills for my dad to St. Mungo's."

"As I said, he'll survive." Harry gave her a mischievous grin. "We'll be faster when I Apparate us."

Ginny returned his grin. "Perfect. But I have to stop at the chemist's shop first. There's one on the other side of the building, right by the main entrance. But we'd better walk. It's not that far."

Twenty minutes later, when Harry dropped Ginny off in the entrance hall of St Mungo's, he stopped her briefly. "I'll just rush over to Grimmauld Place to let Sirius know we're late. I'll pick you up in the visitor's room up on the ward."

Ginny nodded. "Okay. See you soon." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Harry briefly on the mouth. "It'll probably take half an hour. I hope Mum is there."

Ginny used the lift to get to her father's floor and took a deep breath as she reached the door with his nameplate. She knocked and carefully pushed the door open, relieved to find her mother in a chair next to the bed.

"Oh, Ginny," her mother cried happily. "I wasn't expecting you at all today. But it's nice that you could come."

"Hi, Mum. How's Dad?" Ginny asked worriedly. "Has it gotten better?"

"No. Unchanged. But he coughs often," her mother replied. "And the fever didn't go down, even though he was given potions for it."

Ginny leaned over her father. His eyes were closed, and he slept restlessly. She wanted to stroke his cheek with her hand, but then withdrew her hand. It wouldn't do any good if she got infected herself.

"Mum, I brought Muggle medicines for Dad to take. Twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening," Ginny explained.

"Do you really think Muggle's medication will help him?" her mother asked with slight doubt in her eyes. "We should consult Healer Korngeable first."

Ginny grimaced. Of course, her mother was right. She couldn't keep it secret that she wanted to treat her father. "Okay. Then go and get Healer Korngeable. But I will insist that Dad takes the pills."

With a worried look, her mother stood up and hurried away through the door. A few moments later, she returned with the healer in tow.

"How can I help you, Miss Weasley?" the man asked, glancing at her with raised eyebrows.

"I'm pretty sure my dad has the same sickness as many patients in our hospital. I brought him these pills," Ginny replied, handing the box of Tamiflu to the healer. "It definitely won't do any harm if he takes them." As Mr Korngeable tried to interrupt, Ginny raised her hand. "The pills won't cure Dad, but they will ease his illness and hopefully prevent him from getting pneumonia, which could kill him. Mum, you said he's coughing a lot lately?"

"Yes, he does."

"But I doubt we should give your father Muggle medication, Miss Weasley. His magic would fight them, and we don't know what the consequences might be."

"His magic is so weak, I don't think it will be a problem," Ginny replied, looking the man in the eyes. "How about the other patients who suffer from the same sickness as Dad?"

Mr. Korngeable made a face as if he had bitten into a lemon.

"Apparently not so good?" Ginny's question was more of a statement.

"We've already had three deaths today," the man admitted. "Almost a dozen in the last week."

Ginny bit her bottom lip and thought as she studied her father, who was having trouble breathing. Finally, she looked up. "Mr Korngeable. I can't tell you how to treat your patients, but I want my father to take these pills. These must be taken twice a day, morning and evening, with plenty of water with his meals, and Dad has to swallow them whole, not dissolved in water." She hesitated for a moment. "Also, Dad should sit up in bed for a while afterwards so he doesn't vomit."

Her father broke into a coughing fit, and Ginny reached for the cloth lying next to his pillow and gently dabbed his forehead. She frowned. "The Muggles also give the patients oxygen so they can breathe better. But I don't think you have ventilators here at St. Mungo's, Mr. Korngeable?"

"We give potions that make breathing easier. Your father gets some, too," the healer replied.

Ginny glanced worriedly at her father. His breathing was heavy. "Are there any other ways to help him breathe?"

"I once heard of a Bubble-Head Charm, but I don't know how to do it," said her mother.

Healer Korngeable weighed his head. "We actually only use Bubble-Head Charms after potion accidents when the patient inhaled a toxic substance." He hesitated briefly and shrugged his shoulders. "Your father has an illness we don't know about, but it shouldn't do any harm. I'll arrange for him to get a Bubble-Head Charm."

"Thank you, Mr. Korngeable," Ginny said, giving the man a relieved smile.

"And about these...pills..." the man began and finally sighed. "I don't think the management of St Mungo's will agree to us using Muggle medicine in this hospital, but of course, I can't forbid you from giving it to your father." He gave her a questioning look. "Anything else?"

Ginny nodded. "This disease is highly contagious. Mum, I would like you to wear a face mask and rubber gloves while you are around Dad. Otherwise, you will end up getting sick, too."

"Nonsense. I'm fine," replied her mother, brushing off Ginny's concerns with a wave of her hand.

Ginny threw her mother worried look. "I'll be back tomorrow, Mum. And I'll bring you face masks and rubber gloves. You should really consider using them." Addressing Healer Korngeable, she asked. "Or do you have masks and gloves here at St Mungo's?"

The man nodded. "Of course, we're having things like that. But they're only used for epidemics like dragon pox."

"I think we're dealing with an epidemic here, even if it's not a magical one," Ginny replied, slightly annoyed.

Mr Korngeable gave Ginny a look that was a mixture of scepticism and thoughtfulness. "I'll think about it and talk to management."

"Thank you, Mr. Korngeable," Ginny said, relieved that the meeting with the healer had gone relatively well.

"You're welcome," said the man. "See you later."

When the door was closed, Ginny turned to her mother. "Mum, I have to go again. Harry is waiting for me."

Her mother looked at her in surprise. "Your Muggle friend is here?"

"Oh, damn, Mum. I'm sorry. I completely forgot..." Ginny blurted out, suddenly remembering that, in all the excitement about her father, she had completely forgotten to tell her mother about Harry. "Harry isn't a Muggle, he's a wizard, and..." She looked into her mother's eyes, barely holding back her tears. "...and he's officially my boyfriend."

"This is wonderful, Ginny," her mother exclaimed enthusiastically. "You definitely have to tell me."

"It's a long story, Mum. How about I come home to the Burrow on Saturday evening, and we can talk."

"Is your Harry coming with you?" her mother asked hopefully.

Ginny laughed. "I will ask him." She hugged her mother goodbye. "And don't forget to give Dad the Tamiflu pills. You should also Scourgify your clothes and hands before you go home so you don't infect anyone else. I'll be back tomorrow."

Harry was already waiting for Ginny in the visitors' room. When he spotted her, he came towards her, and she leaned her head on his chest and put her arms around his waist.

"How's your dad?"

Ginny sighed. "Not better, but not worse either. I asked Mum to give him the pills and had a long discussion with a healer who fortunately had no objections in the end." She pulled away from the hug and looked at Harry. "The healer doesn't think Dad has a Muggle disease. His magic would prevent that." She bit her bottom lip and shook her head thoughtfully. "That might or might not be true. But how can he be so sure he's always right? They can't find a magical cause for this illness, but Dad is obviously sick. Then he should at least consider that it could be a Muggle disease after all."

"Come on. Let's go home and talk about something else to clear your head. There's nothing you can do now anyway."

"Yeah," Ginny replied with a small smile. "I can't wait to meet your godfather."

** HG **


Harry Apparated them both onto the doorstep of Number 12 Grimmauld Place and gave Ginny an amused smile. "Ready to face the family?"

Ginny snorted and raised an eyebrow at him. "The moment of truth has come. Do you think he approves of me?"

Harry laughed. "Don't worry. Sirius was already impressed with you without ever seeing you."

"What if he changes his mind after seeing me?"

"Then I'll renounce his inheritance and move out," Harry replied dryly.

"Stop joking," Ginny replied, frowning and nudging his arm with her elbow.

"I'm not joking. I'm serious," Harry replied with a solemn look that immediately turned into a wide grin. "It won't be necessary anyway. He will lay at your feet."

"Let's wait and see. How old is your godfather actually?" Ginny asked, astonished that she had never asked herself that before.

"43, wait, 44 in October," said Harry.
"It's not that old," Ginny said. "I thought he was older."

Harry laughed as he finally pushed open the door and let them both in. "If I tell him you thought he was older, he'll laugh his head off."

"Don't you dare," Ginny blurted, hurrying up the stairs after Harry. "I didn't think you were a blabbermouth."

A bark of laughter stopped Ginny in her tracks, and as she glanced around, she spotted a man leaning against the kitchen doorframe who must be Harry's godfather. With his short, curly hair and the well-groomed moustache and whiskers, his blue jeans and short-sleeved T-shirt with Led Zeppelin written on his chest, he actually looked younger than his mid-40s. Ginny noticed his grey eyes resting on her and unconsciously met his gaze while trying to suppress a suddenly rising feeling of panic.

"Blabbermouth? Harry, Harry. I've always told you that you blab too much when you're excited," the man said, chuckling.

"I?" Harry called indignantly. "It was she who thought you were a rickety old man."

"Blabbermouth," Ginny stated, staring at Harry. "And I asked you not to sneak. And I never said the words, rickety old man."

The man...Sirius turned to Ginny with a wide grin. "And the young lady must be your girl. I'm pleased to finally meet you. Harry has hidden you from me long enough. Ginny was your name, right? I'm Sirius Black, by the way."

"The godfather Harry always talks so much about," Ginny nodded with an amused grin.

"Only good things, I hope," Sirius replied, giving Harry a searching look.

When Ginny noticed Harry starting to scowl, she winked at him and moved to his side to put her arm around his waist. "Of course. He only speaks well about his godfather." She pulled Harry a little closer to her and beamed at him as his scowl gave way to a smile.

"I took the liberty of ordering something for dinner from Kreacher," Sirius announced. "I hope sandwiches are okay."
"Who is Kreacher? I thought there were only two of you living here?" Ginny asked in surprise.

"Kreacher is our house-elf," Harry explained.

"He's been in this house for ages, even before I was born, and when we moved in, we didn't have the heart to send him away," Sirius said, and added, "Now we've gotten so used to him and his help that we can't imagine not having him anymore."

"You know house-elves?" Harry asked, giving Ginny an almost anxious look.

Ginny chuckled. "Of course, I know what a house-elf is. Though, I've never seen one in person except in photographs."

"Then go into the dining room, you two. In the meantime, I'll let Kreacher know you're there, and he can serve the food."

Ginny raised an eyebrow as Harry took her hand and led her into the dining room, muttering, "Are you expecting anyone else? You have such a cosy kitchen; it would have been good enough for me."

Harry laughed to himself. "You don't know Sirius. He will not welcome you in the kitchen as long as you are a visitor to him."

"And the fact that I'm now officially your girlfriend doesn't count?" Ginny asked, puzzled.

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "It's only been official since yesterday, and Sirius... well, I haven't told him yet."

"What haven't you told me yet?" Sirius asked as he suddenly stood behind them. "Sit down, you two, before you dig holes in my expensive floor."

Ginny eyed the huge dining table with seating for at least a dozen people, hoping that Harry would sit down first. She rolled her eyes in relief when Sirius finally sat down at the right end of the table, and she and Harry sat opposite him.

However, her attention was immediately caught by something, or better, someone else. A rather old-looking house-elf entered the room, manoeuvring a large plate of sandwiches in front of him. Ginny couldn't take her eyes off the creature whose head was bald, with only tufts of white hair sprouting from his bat-like ears. His huge eyes were grey and watery as if he'd recently been sick. After lowering the plate onto the table, he bowed his head and waited, obviously for further orders.

"This is Miss Ginny, Kreacher," Harry introduced her to the house-elf.

Kreacher bowed his head in her direction, but when he looked up, his huge eyes suddenly grew even bigger, if that was even possible. It took a moment before Kreacher composed himself. "Good evening, Miss Ginny. I hope Miss Ginny is well."

Ginny stared at the house elf with her mouth open, amazed at his somewhat odd behaviour. "Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

Kreacher bowed his head again before asking. "What can Kreacher serve the Masters and Mistress to drink?"

"Butterbeer, please," Harry said, and Ginny nodded in agreement.

"One bottle of bitter for me, please," Sirius said, handing out the plates stacked under the sandwich plate before scratching his beard and glancing at them both. "So, to get back to the topic. What haven't you told me yet?"

Ginny gave Harry a questioning glance, who looked back at her and shrugged his shoulders. "We two are now official," he announced with a smug smile.

"Really?" Sirius blurted out, staring at them, puzzled. "That was quick. Congratulations on your engagement!"

"What?" Ginny exclaimed, her gaze snapping to Harry, who exhaled audibly, shaking his head.

"She's officially my girlfriend," Harry corrected.

"Ah. I see," Sirius replied, chuckling. "Congratulations anyway." A mischievous smile crossed his face. "But you Potters are so spontaneous sometimes, I wouldn't have been surprised." He waved towards the plates and grabbed a sandwich. "Enjoy yourself. Kreacher is coming with the drinks."

When Kreacher had left, they clinked glasses, and Sirius exclaimed, aghast, "Oh, damn. I almost forgot. Belated happy birthday, Ginny."

Ginny giggled. "Thanks."

"How's your dad?" Sirius asked. "Harry mentioned he was sick."

"I don't know," Ginny replied, grimacing. "I'm sure he has a Muggle illness, but his healer is very reluctant to believe me. At least he allowed my dad to take the medicine I got him."

"I hope your dad gets better soon," Sirius said, moving his eyes from Ginny to Harry and back. "But tell me how you two found out you weren't Muggles. Harry hinted at something, but he declined to give any details."

"Oh, no," Ginny groaned, covering her face. "I was silly again when he told me he'd met my brother."

"I'd call it reasonable," Harry interjected.

Ginny rolled her eyes, and together, they told Sirius how they found out and why she was a sceptical at first, constantly correcting each other to make the other feel less guilty.

When the plate of sandwiches was almost empty, and Kreacher had served the third round of butterbeer, Sirius insisted on celebrating the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing with a Firewhisky.

They had just toasted when Harry glanced at Ginny. "I almost forgot. How about we're watching a football match on Saturday? You always wanted to go to the stadium, didn't you? Arsenal plays Everton on Saturday at 4 p.m."

Ginny sighed. "Sorry. I'm afraid I can't. I promised my mother I'd come home on Saturday."

"Oh, that..." Harry looked sad.

"She asked if you were coming too," Ginny added. "And I said I was asking you."

Harry grinned. "It's only fair that I finally meet someone from your family besides your brothers, Ron and Bill, of course."

"You know I have six older brothers," Ginny replied with a smug smile that made Sirius chuckle loudly.

"Yeah, I remember," said Harry. "Will they all be there on Saturday?"

"I doubt it," Ginny said, but when Harry breathed a little too much relief, she added, "But you never know."
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