Touchdown is intended to be a four-chapter fic, so bear with me :)
Without LittleRose13, one would read this chapter wondering why Harry Potter sounds so American when he's clearly as British as can be. Thank you!
First base: sharing intense, passionate, open-mouthed kisses, with a mix of above the belt touching.
His head was spinning as he dropped on top of his bed, still fully clothed. He heard a sound close to vomiting coming from the four-poster next to his, but he just laughed. He'd talk to Ron tomorrow, for he couldn't quite trust his legs to support him should he attempt to stand up again. Harry could never have imagined the day taking such a completely unexpected turn. Of course, he had already made up his mind and was only waiting for the perfect opportunity, whatever that may be, to make his intentions towards Ginny loud and clear. But starting the day in the sublimely heinous company of the Hogwarts' Potions Master had in no way indicated that he would succeed in both securing his spot as Ginny Weasley's boyfriend and kissing her until he felt dizzy.
And such intense kisses she gave. She was like wildfire, unleashing completely when he held her in his arms. And the best part was how she brought to the surface a side of him he never even knew he possessed. As a matter of fact, he had kissed girls before, if a snog shared through tears ever counted, but never quite like that. No. It was different with Ginny. She could only trace his lower lip with her index finger and he came undone against the castle wall. And she enjoyed it, oh how she enjoyed making a fool out of him. He could read it in her eyes, that mischievous glint which reminded him so well of the twins. She was a cheeky one, Ginny. But that made it all the more exciting to him. He was drunk on her, so much better than he had imagined.
Rolling on top of the covers until his head reached the pillows, Harry Potter fell asleep with a strong feeling of content.
When he opened his eyes, it was already morning. The sun was up, there was a happy clatter of Hogwarts students rising to their dormitory windows, and a very wide grin plastered on his face. He was love-struck and it didn't even bother him.
"Ouch! Oi, what was that for?" the dark-haired teenager asked his best mate, who had apparently decided it was a good idea to smack him right between the eyes with a pillow.
"You had that lovesick smile stretched all over your face and it made me nauseous," Ron explained, throwing in a demonstration of his displeasure for good measure. He had put out his tongue and started pointing towards it with his index finger. Harry thought he was acting silly, but knew better than to voice his opinion or remind him of his own endeavours with Lavender Brown not so long ago. Luckily for his eyes, and for their friendship with Hermione, that episode of Ron's life was over.
"Are you feeling well enough to grab breakfast?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Always," the ginger boy smirked. "But hey, no snogging at the table, around the table or anywhere near me, mate, is that clear?" he seriously added, poking Harry in the chest for better clarity.
"Aye, aye," replied the sixteen year old. After all, he felt generous enough to spare some quality kissing opportunities if it meant keeping his best mate in good spirits.
However, Ginny did not feel as generous. She had already finished eating her breakfast – toast and pumpkin juice – and was sat next to Hermione. Her features broke into a dazzling smile when her eyes fell on him. Next thing he knew, two arms were encircled around his neck and a pair of moist lips glided against his own. Getting a grip on himself, or rather feeling the incense of Ron's gaze, he slowly broke the kiss. Shrugging as if to say not my fault, he sat at the table, between Ginny and Hermione.
"Fancy a walk?" the redheaded witch asked, a hand under her chin as she looked at him sideways.
"Yeah, alright," Harry answered, grabbing two pieces of toast.
Making their way towards the ancient entrance doors, they could distinctly hear the sound of Hermione elbowing Ron in the ribs and his not-so-silent mutterings.
"He's such a git," Ginny shook her head, allowing the sun to catch in her superb red locks. Harry was tempted to stretch his hand and caress them, but restrained himself. After all, they have only been together for less than twenty four hours, if that's what they were doing. He was not quite sure yet. They haven't gotten round to much talking the other day, if he had to be honest.
"He just cares for you, is all," he assured her.
"Well, he might as well stop. I won't have any brother of mine tell me who to date," she confidently stated. There was a look of determination on her face that Harry had begun to like so much over the year. It made his stomach do a little back-flip every time he was fortunate enough to witness it.
"So we're dating?" he asked, a small glint of smugness sneaking into his tone. Was it pride he was feeling? The creature in his chest roared and purred, pleased.
"Naturally," Ginny replied as though it was such a silly question to ask.
She smirked and it made him weak in the knees. It should have troubled him that someone held so much power over him so fast, but it didn't and he was happy to surrender. Reaching a particular secluded spot near the lake, he felt his girlfriend – and indeed, it was something soothing in thinking of her as his girlfriend – pulling him down to sit next to her.
"So," he said.
"So," she mimicked.
If he ever doubted that the conversation between the two of them would flounder, all his worries were waived aside. Their lines were flowing effortlessly, as naturally as if they had known each other's minds inside out. How had it taken him so long to notice? Or has it not always been there, just under his nose, waiting for him to finally open his eyes and see? Gone was the little blushing girl, his best mate's sister, and instead he found himself intently gazing at a breathtaking young woman, all confidence and strength in her posture. He wondered how she could carry herself as lightly as she did, after all she'd been through, after all she'd seen. Bravery was etched in Ginny Weasley's features and Harry thought he might be able to love her for it someday, in a brighter future than the one he knew was waiting for him.
Listening to her abuse Zacharias Smith and his abysmal Quidditch commentating skills, Harry relaxed and leaned on the tree bark in the vicinity of which they had taken shelter. He bent his knees to sit more comfortably and was pleasantly surprised to see Ginny move to sit in between his legs, resting her back against the inside of his right thigh. She carried on, going over the finer points of the previous day's match and the raven-haired Gryffindor caught himself bewitched by the sight of her lips. He never before realised how beautiful her lips were. So full, with her lower lip delicately bruised in its right corner, for she always bit it absent-mindedly when she tried to find her words. And the way they curved when she started being smart and sassy, he just had to feel them.
So he did and caught her mid-sentence. Not minding in the slightest, she responded wholeheartedly, her hands automatically flying to his unruly hair. Chapped met tender and warm, their mouths pressing against each other. Easily, she brushed her lips first against his upper one, then against his lower lip and he parted them without indenting to. Ginny pursed her lips further against his, as his hand wandered to the back of her head, pulling her in and as close as he could. He was mollified and, for a moment, Harry felt bold enough to try something he had never done before. He smoothly touched her parted lips with his tongue and immediately sensed her draw in a mouthful of air. He was travelling on new grounds, but he took her response as a positive omen and an encouragement to continue. The tip of his tongue gently collided with hers and the taste nearly sent him into overdrive. Honey was mixed with pumpkin juice and it increased his urgent desire to explore her deeper.
Ginny shifted her position for better access and took over his sheepish attempts. Observing her take control made him more eager and excited, as it allowed him to just let go. Her tongue entered seamlessly into his mouth, making him breathe out aloud. It was peppermint and she felt her heart beat so much faster when his trembling fingers started caressing her waistline through her robe. Softly sucking on his tongue, she set his nerves on fire. Harry heard himself gasp and moan. Realising it had been him whom had made the sound, the teenager turned several shades of red. A silent prayer was raised that the girl he was holding in his arms did not hear it. He drew his head back, finally ending the kiss.
Both of them panted hard, Ginny laying flush against his chest. She could sense the delicate thumping of his heartbeat under her palm and smiled. Snogging a red-faced, messy-haired Harry Potter was definitely becoming one of her favourite activities and it sent shivers down her spine. She wasn't quite the expert in the physical department herself, but seeing him awkwardly venture to discover her brought a wave of pride and pleasure washing over her. It might have been vain to bask in the validation of what she had always hoped – that she would be his first, but she couldn't be arsed to care in that moment. And this particular thought made her understand something else about her own self. She was possessive when it came to Harry Potter and she wasn't even ashamed of it. It was the first time Ginny Weasley felt like she belonged, and nothing the world would throw at her would make her give up this boy, this man that was holding her so dearly, so tenderly against his chest. They were going to learn each other inside and out, memorise every small detail and overcome their fears together. He knew it and she knew it and they agreed upon it silently. It was going to be an interesting journey but it was worth all the effort.