Hello readers! So I promised a chapter over in Jily Drabble (working on it) but I've just started re-reading the series again and I've started thinking more about Harry/Ginny stuff and this sort of popped into my mind. SO… I've created a Drabble story for them! I'm not sure what their celeb couple name is though. Garry? Hinny? Hanny? Girry? None of those really work for me. (If you know what it is, please tell me so I can stop looking stupid).
As always… I am not JKR. Therefore, I own nothing.
At least it's not too cold out here... the last couple of nights have been absolutely bitter and it made sitting watch a complete nightmare. The breeze, too, had disappeared, so it was just me, the dark sky, and the still forest. It felt like we were the only things in the entire universe. It almost reminded me of the night in the forbidden forest all those years ago... except this time I wasn't battling against the fear that something was probably going to jump out of the trees and try to kill and/or eat me.
Merlin, I missed Hogwarts. I knew that it wasn't the school I'd left, not the place I'd come to think of as home... but I couldn't help think about it sometimes. The feasts alone would have been wonderful right now... but above all, I missed Ginny.
I don't think I will ever be able to tell Ginny how much I miss her. Not because I don't want to, but because there would never be the right words to explain the constant ache in my stomach. I didn't just miss her, I craved her… I needed her presence, to feel her hands on my skin, to taste her. I needed to wrap my arms around her, to have her hold me tightly and tell me that everything was going to be okay.
But I couldn't have any of those things… so I did the next best thing.
I'd gotten into the habit, on these quiet nights when I was sitting watch, of sitting with the Marauder's Map and watching Ginny's dot move through the castle. Maybe Hermione suspected that I was doing it, but I don't think she knew. She probably would have brought it up if she did. There was something nice about being able to indulge in this habit of mine. I felt closer to Ginny even when I was miles away from her… even when I was on a mission that she knew nothing about.
Tonight, Ginny was up in Gryffindor tower, sitting in the common room with Neville. They'd been spending a lot of time together lately…
I groaned and flopped back against the tree behind me, ruffling my hair in frustration. I didn't want to be jealous of Neville… he and Ginny were just friends after all. But it was hard not to be at least a little jealous. He understood what she was going through right now, he was there to help her through it all. I couldn't even write her a bloody letter to tell her that I hadn't stopped thinking about her since the wedding, that I loved her more than I could even begin to articulate, that, even though I wasn't there, I spent every night wishing that she was alright.
I folded the map out beside me and grabbed a spare jumper I'd brought out from the tent. I balled it up and laid down, shoving the jumper underneath my head. As utterly terrifying as this journey was, I did enjoy the small moments like this. Laying out here, in the chill of the winter air, staring up at the clear, black sky, I almost forgot that there was a war… that Voldemort existed… that I was responsible for killing him. I almost forgot who I was, almost forgot the fact that nearly everyone I loved was dead because of this war. Almost.
And then my scar would prickle again or Hermione would come yawning out of the tent and I would come crashing back into the reality of my life.
Things had been even worse since Ron left. Hermione and I, obviously, got on well but there was that gap in the air between us that neither one of us wanted to acknowledge. I found that I wasn't laughing nearly as much as I used to, that Hermione wasn't nearly as talkative as she normally was. Without Ron, we both sort of shut down… just going through the motions of the journey we knew we had to take. But at least we were still working towards our goal. I guess.
I felt that same gap whenever I thought about Ginny. She was always there, dancing around the fringes of my mind, waiting until I could give her the attention that she so deserved. During the day, I felt her absence like a dull ache in my chest, a slight pain in my heart that I couldn't quite shake. As soon as all was quiet and I could let me mind wander, she found her way back in. And then I would think about our first kiss, that reckless kiss in Gryffindor Tower that could have gone horribly wrong. I'd think about those trysts by the lake, in the shade of the tree that soon became our favourite. I thought about the way the soft skin of her stomach felt under my trembling fingertips as they eased their way under her shirt. I could almost hear the soft gasp that fell from her lips the first time we'd dared to explore concealed skin, could nearly feel the way her stomach muscles had quivered with desire before she'd pushed me onto my back and climbed on top of me. I remembered the time she'd found me after our morning classes and dragged me into an abandoned classroom to spend our break… the way she had no qualms about pushing me up against the wall and pressing her hips against mine while snaking her hands up the front of my shirt. I love that she isn't afraid to go after what she wants. Even more, I love that she wants me.
I rolled over onto my side and looked at the map again. Ginny was upstairs in her dormitory now and I hoped that she was going to be able to sleep tonight. I traced my finger over her dot and smiled a sad smile, "I love you, Gin." I'd barely whispered it but I felt myself hoping that she'd heard it… even though I knew it was impossible.
Just then, the tent rustled behind me and I sat up, quickly folding the map and stuffing it back into my pocket. My gaze met Hermione's tired eyes and she smiled a small smile – "My turn," I nodded and stood up and watched as she took my place against the tree. I started to walk back towards the tent when Hermione spoke again, "She knows, Harry." I turned around and caught Hermione's eye and raised my eyebrow. "She knows you love her." Hermione smiled and I laughed quietly, walked back towards her and sat down, "I take it you heard me?" Hermione nodded but, for once, the smile didn't immediately fade from her face, "You really hurt her when you decided to break up with her last June… but she knew it was for the best. And she's forgiven you for it." I sighed, "And she loves you too." Hermione leaned back against the tree and I smiled, "I hope that's true…" Hermione just rolled her eyes and I couldn't contain the laugh that escaped.
"What?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. "It's just that," I said, still fighting laughter, "you haven't properly rolled your eyes since…" I broke off abruptly and Hermione's smile fell from her face. We sat there quietly for a few moments before I looked at her again, "You must know he loves you, Hermione." She looked up at me with tears in her eyes, "I'm not holding out hope for that anymore, Harry." I slung my arm over her shoulder and pulled her into my side. "Well, I'm holding out hope for you," I said, rubbing the top of her arm. "Ron won't be a prat forever. You know how he gets sometimes." Hermione laughed and I felt her ribs vibrating against mine. It had been a while since either of us had eaten a proper meal. "Oh, I know," she said, reaching up to wipe her eyes. We sat there in silence for a while just staring out into the quiet forest before Hermione spoke again, "Look at us… desperately in love with two of the Weasleys. Who would have imagined?" I laughed, "I never would have imagined it… but they're just what we need." Hermione smiled and rested her head against my shoulder.
We fell asleep against the tree that night. When the sun came up a few hours later, Hermione stirred against my side and I woke up. I caught her eye and she just sighed, "Well, that was a pretty ineffective watch." She stood up and stretched and I followed suit. She went to walk back into the tent but I grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug. "Thanks for being a brilliant friend, Hermione." She hugged me back before pulling away. "I could say the same to you, Harry." She smiled and dropped my hand, "Fancy a cup of a tea?" I nodded and we walked into the tent together, determined to face another day… fighting for the ones we love.
So, there's going to be more to this but I'm not sure when I'll be inspired to write more of this pairing... I'm sure that I will though as, like I said, I'm re-reading! (Also, you should re-read. It's SUCH an amazing experience!) Let me know what you think and, if you have a scene you've been dying to see (or whatever :D) just let me know! Cheers!