Disclaimer: I obviously do not own Harry Potter and Company (characters, and all other inventions created by the masterful J.K. Rowling). If I did then you'd see my published works in your local bookstore and I wouldn't bother to write fan fiction, now would I?

Also the song lyrics in the beginning are not mine. It is "You" by Switchfoot. (The inspiration for this ficlet)


There's always something in the way
There's always something getting through
But it's not me it's You
Sometimes ignorance rings true
But hope is not in what I know
Not in me it's in You
It's all I know
And I find peace when I'm confused
I find hope when I'm let down
Not in me but in You
I hope to lose myself for good
I hope to find it in the end
Not in me
It's You
It's all I know


The light from Harry's door shone in the night, beckoning Ginny towards his room. In the still of the night, when everything else seemed so...dead, when it seemed impossible that outside the walls of the Burrow an actual war raged on in the wizarding world, Harry paced restlessly in his room. Every night, Ginny noticed this light, but resisted the temptation to knock on his door.

But not tonight.

Today had been the last straw. Ginny was tired of Harry's façade - that he was over her. For the past month he had been at the Burrow, Ginny had not failed to notice the lingering glances when he thought she did not see, the innocent and casual brushing of hands and legs at the dinner table, and yet not a word. It was all too much for Ginny. The need to be with him at every waking moment overwhelmed her, yet she denied all her urges. But today, well today was all too much, and she could no longer deny herself. She drew in a steadying breath as memories of the morning rushed back to her.


Several Hours Earlier:

Hermione and Ron were in Ron's room "talking." Well they were using their lips at any rate. Harry was avoiding them because this was not a "conversation" he wished to join in on. He wandered to Ginny's room, looking for company. At first the conversation was a bit uneasy and awkward. They had yet to realize the boundaries between boyfriend and girlfriend and just friends and were overly cautious to discuss anything that may overstep the friend boundaries.

Soon though, the conversation inevitably turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"When are you three leaving?"" Although she did not ask for what purpose or to where. She would not make that mistake again and risk the wrath of Ron who did not take lightly to be interrogated by a "little busybody who should mind her own arse and stop mucking about in other peoples business"...or something to that affect. All she knew is that the three of them were leaving her behind to return to Hogwart's while they set out on their adventure.

"After Bill and Fleur's wedding." Harry refused to meet her gaze.

"I'll miss you." Ginny said, without a blush or any reservations.

"Please don't Ginny. You can't say things like that anymore..."

"But..."

"No!" Harry continued. "It's over, we're over."

Ginny laughed sarcastically. "Oh are we then?" With the gracefulness of a panther on the prowl, Ginny pushed Harry down on her bed and straddled his lap, her face hovered above his for a moment before she wickedly smiled and then preceded to kiss him. Her lips gently massaging his, the kiss gained passion and force when Harry flipped her down on her back. Careful not to crush her with his weight, he continued to kiss her forcefully then trailed his way down her neck, not caring that the door was unlocked and slightly ajar.

"Let me go with you..." she whispered breathlessly as she arched her body into his. Harry growled at their proximity, at the way she taunted and teased him, at how much he wanted her at this moment, and how he probably would have taken her right there on his bed if she had not said those words. He rolled over onto his back next to Ginny, both panting for breath.

"No," was all he could manage.

"Why not?" Ginny pressed, "I'm just as capable as you Ron and Hermione. Even more so then that stubborn prat."

"It's different, I don't have a choice with them."

"And what makes you think you have a choice with me? Who are you to decide for me?"

"I...I...need to protect you." Harry stuttered. Ginny sat up abruptly and refastened the top button of her blouse that Harry had slyly undone during the heat of the moment. Harry made a grab for her arm but she pulled it away. She stood up from the bed and Harry sat up, still trying to find the words to bring her back. She continued to walk away but stopped in the doorframe resting her hand against it as if to steady herself. Without looking back towards Harry she addressed him in a shaky voice, "Harry...I know you want me. I just don't understand why you don't want to be with me. I can't accept what you've said. You're not protecting me, you're hurting me. You're treating me like a child. Not like the woman you love."

She took another step but then turned her head glancing at Harry over her shoulder "This isn't over with us." Despite the misty clouds in her eyes of tears threatening to spill over, a fierce passion shown in them challenging Harry- it both scared and excited him. He glanced down at the bed where she lay only a few seconds before and up again, to find she had left.


Ginny took a deep steadying breath and approached his door. She tapped lightly with the pads of her fingers, careful not to disturb anybody in the adjacent rooms.

"Harry?" she whispered, but came in without waiting for his response. Harry stopped mid-pace and glanced towards her with a hesitant smile.

"Can I help you?"

"I don't know, can you?" Ginny would not look into those piercing green eyes, she knew if she did, her resolve would melt.

Harry's expression changed immediately sensing that something was wrong. "I can try." He responded with a sincerity so genuine it made Ginny's heart ache.

"You see," she began. "I have this problem...my problem is that I am in love with the biggest prat in the world."

Not wanting to have this conversation Harry attempted to side track her, "That is quite the problem...seeing as how he's your brother." Ginny glared menacingly at Harry and for the first time that night looked directly into his eyes.

"Be strong girl,"she mentally coached herself, and continued as if Harry had not spoken "The problem is, he doesn't love me..."

It was as if Harry was hit with the Cruciatus curse. "Ginny, don't you dare...how could you! I love you more than you could possibly..."

"...more than I could possibly understand?" Ginny snorted.

"I love you Gin..." whispered Harry desperately.

"But not enough, apparently."

"Too much!"" He shouted, but then whispered fiercly, "Too much, that's why I want you to stay behind. That's why I want us to end things now before it gets to the point where I can't say no to you."

"Well what about what I want?" Ginny demanded. "Doesn't that matter?"

"Of course it does." Harry whispered, praying that Ginny didn't wake the house with her rage. "But one of us has to be strong here."

"And this is strong? Giving up on us is being strong?"

"You don't understand Gin..." Harry shook his head in defeat.

"No you don't understand Harry...being strong is sticking it out! Being strong is fighting even though things may seem hopeless, or even if there is a chance one of us could get hurt, or killed. I don't care about the consequences. Look at me when I speak to you!" She demanded.

"Listen to me Harry. No you listen," holding up her hand to stop Harry from interrupting. She drew in a shaky breath. "I don't understand everything that's happened these past few years. But when I'm with you, things feel right. What we have is real, and it's pure, and it's love through and through. And I won't let anybody or anything take that away from us, not Voldemort, not the war, not even you Harry. What we have, it makes sense, we make sense together. When I'm with you, I don't feel confused, I find peace, and...and...sanctuary." Ginny pleaded. After taking another breath to try and regain a sense of control she continued. "And I don't see why we should let anything stop us from loving each other. Won't you still love me even if we're apart? Wouldn't it hurt just as much, if not more, if Merlin forbid something happens to one of us and the last thing we can think of is that we didn't get to say 'I love you' the night before. I want nothing more than to be with you, every night and day, not just because it makes me happy, nor for any other superficial reason. It's because I don't know how to keep going if I thought something could happen to one of us, and we couldn't be together because you're too scared. Isn't this what a relationship is supposed to be? I'm supposed to stand by your side and fight with you, because I love you. Either way Harry, I'm going to be by your side fighting with you, fighting for you. And I can either do it as your girlfriend, or as the girl who loves you. But I am not letting you turn me away. Not tonight, not ever."

Silent tears streamed down her face, betraying her facade of composure.

Harry gently took her hand and held her close as she cried into his shoulder, then slowly led her to his bed where they lay down together.

Ginny pulled away, her eyes parted slightly and choked out in a whisper barely audible even to Harry. "Please, just let me stay..."

He felt his resolve to remain strong fade away completely. Gently he touched his lips to her forehead, then just below the creases of her eyes where her tears trailed down her cheeks, kissing away her tears, then hesitantly, her lips. Slowly, at first, they kissed, memories of stolen kisses in the hallways of Hogwarts began to flood Harry's mind like the rushing of a waterfall. The familiar taste of honey, and the smell of vanilla were the last things that entered his thoughts before Harry nodded off into a peaceful sleep, with Ginny in his arms. He finally found the peace he was looking for, and he knew that Ginny was correct before. They were right together. In her arms, he found the serenity he needed. The escape from the harsh reality he knew he must soon confront. At least for tonight he had found...sanctuary.