Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and the related.
A/N: This is for ix3youlots's "Colorful Phrases" Challenge. I had Harry/Ginny and the phrase "pinky promise".
"So you're leaving again?" Ginny questioned Harry as they walked side-by-side down the lane. It was funny how that seemed to be the only thing he had to tell her when they went on their walks. First, after Dumbledore's funeral and now...
"Hermione is going to Australia to look for her parents, and I thought I'd go with her. I thought it'd be nice to get away from some of the attention after the battle, and she seems like she could use a friend to help support her," Harry tried to explain calmly to the red-head beside him.
"Why can't Ron go instead? Why can't I go? I'm Hermione's friend. Or is this a protection thing? 'No, Ginny, you can't go away with us.' and 'Stay in the Room of Requirement where it's safe, Ginny.' Well you know what, I'm sick of people trying to protect me! I did my part in this war as much as anyone, I think-" Ginny's furious tirade was cut off by Harry twisting him toward her and holding both shoulders firmly. The girl glanced up curiously at her boyfriend.
"It's nothing like that, Ginny. I know you participated with the best of them; I saw you hold your own with Luna and Hermione against Bellatrix. You're a strong girl. It's just... I don't want to separate you from your family right now. Percy's been estranged for so long, and now that you've got him back, Fred's..." Harry trailed off as a slight sob tore itself from Ginny's throat at the reminder.
Hugging her close to him and stroking her hair to soothe her, Harry continued. "I know your family feels as through Hermione and I are a part of it, but we feel that for right now, it's best to let you mend and cope with your grief with just Weasleys. There's a lot of things that we weren't a part of, and no matter how much we care and miss him, we can't help but feel like outsiders at some of the reminiscing. With Hermione wanting to try to repair any damaged caused in the relationship with her own parents, it seemed like as good as a time to make this trip as any. We'll only be gone at max for the summer because Hermione wants to try to finish her final year, and I'll have auror training come fall."
Gently pushing her back so there was a minimal space between them so he could tilt her head up to look solemnly into her brown eyes, Harry reaffirmed, "We just don't want to take either of you from your family at this time. If she can't find them this summer, Hermione's going to go back, and I'm sure she'd love your company then."
Ginny still looked torn between wanting to protest and accepting this as truth. Harry sighed. "Would it help if I pinky promised you?"
Ginny looked at Harry suspiciously. "That's not like a prank version of the Unbreakable Vow, is it? Like, you turn pink if you break the promise?"
Harry couldn't help the small chuckle at escaped him at the look on her face. "No, it must be a Muggle only thing. Here," he said, grasping her small hand. Holding it up into a comfortable position for both of them, he wrapped his pinky around hers to seal his words. "This is a pinky promise, see? I've seen other children do it when I lived with the Dursleys, but I've never had anyone to do one with before now."
Ginny looked between the interlocked fingers and Harry's face as though trying to determine the real strength of a promise behind such a simple gesture. Finally, she decided that if it was good enough for him, it was good enough for her. Nodding her acceptance, she was rewarded with his warm arms around her as though he never wanted to let her go.