Title: Winter Wonderland

Author's name: Heather

Email: feather@udatt.zzn.com

Spoilers: I guess all the books, but nothing's mentioned really.

Summery: It's Ginny's final Yule Ball, and Harry comes back especially to spend it with her. Plenty of H/G fluff, you know you want to read it. Please R/R! :)

Ships: H/G & R/Hr

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing; J.K. Rowling is of course the wonderful woman who came up with the Harry Potter-verse.

* * * * * * *

Swirls of blue, purple, and pink (the residue of sunset) lined the sky as Harry and Ginny stepped onto the balcony. Harry held onto her hand tightly and led her to the railings. He rested one of his hands on top of them, laid out flat, and pointed at one very bright star with the other. "That's the North Star," he told Ginny, smiling at her brightly.

Ginny leant against the railings, pressing her body close, as she peered over the edge and downwards. She raised an eyebrow in concentration and looked over all the people. "Where are they?" she asked, voice quiet. She then realised she'd ignored Harry and took her gaze upwards a moment, to answer him. "Interesting," she said.

"I thought so," he answered. "They'll be here. If you stop wishing they'd hurry, they might get here quicker. Stop worrying." Harry placed his hand on top of hers gently and squeezed. "Ginny?"

She spun her body around and rested her back against the marble of the railings, taking in her surroundings. She looked at the building, Hogwarts Castle. She'd spent her last seven years there. Harry also had, but of course it had been a year ago when he'd last set foot inside the grounds. The reason he was there now was because Ginny had invited him to her final Yule Ball; after all he'd missed his own. Now that, was a very long story, a very long story Ginny begged herself not to think about again. She blinked a couple of times as she let her gaze glide over the stone walls of the castle again.

"Gin?" Harry's voice whispered in her ear, before she felt his lips press against the base of her neck. She closed her eyes slowly, drifting away in the warmth she began to feel. A slight moan escaped her lips and she brought her hand up and rubbed his chest with the palm of it.

"Harry…" she said with her voice full of want, although it shouldn't have been. "Not now… can we wait?" she asked. The warmth stopped and he moved away from her. Her eyebrows furrowed as she frowned, and she immediately decided she'd just made a mistake. Turning her body to face him, she studied his face carefully, taking in every detail. His eyes were downcast, but still shone in the darkness. The intense emerald green that she loved. She let her eyes travel upward moving across his lighting scar then to his coal black hair. Ginny smiled softly then lent forward and kissed the tip of his nose.

Harry looked back up from the floor and returned her intense gaze. "We can wait, Gin," he answered her. He reached his hand forward and traced his fingertips across her lips gently, letting them linger a little. "As long as you need."

She smiled again and kissed his fingers just before he took them away. "Thank you," she replied, voice gentle and calm, "so, so much." She let her hand move down his chest slowly and to his stomach. "Later, OK."

"I know." He nodded reassuringly then looked over the balcony again. "They're only running a little late," said Harry. Glancing over his shoulder he smirked and suppressed a laugh. "It's not unusual though."

Ginny shook her head and covered her ears with her hands. "No!" she cried. "Don't say another word, I don't want to hear it!" She stared at him sternly with her bright blue eyes. "I hear enough thank you."

"OK, I won't say anymore… but on one condition," Harry retorted with a raised eyebrow.

"What?" she asked, sighing slightly.

"That you let me kiss you, Gin. You know it's killing me." Harry waited silently, after confessing his condition. His face was unreadable.

She let her eyes drift up and down his physique several times, before she stepped closer and whispered to him. "OK."

Harry smiled and leant down on her capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. He moved his arms, wrapping them loosely around her slim waist, urging her to move closer. She smiled against his soft lips and then did as he wanted; inching closer pressing herself against him. His arms tightened a little as he deepened the kiss, giving more passion to her with each passing second. He trailed his tongue along her lips asking her for entry, and moved it into her mouth as she parted her lips. The kiss went on for another minute or so as they explored each other's mouths, until Harry pulled back needing to breathe.

Biting her lip Ginny hid her smile as her eyes fell upon Ron and Hermione, who were standing at the doors leading onto the balcony. She closed her arms around herself as nervousness washed over her whole body. "Hi," she said meekly, then attempting to keep her composure, she added, "you're late."

"Yes, we know," Hermione began and walked over to them, pulling Ginny into a tight hug immediately. A few moments later she let her go and kissed her cheek. "Ron—"

"No I didn't," said Ron as he walked over to his sister and best friend. "Whatever she's about to say, I didn't do it, I swear." He gave Ginny an innocent smile, but she knew that it wasn't anything of the sort. She didn't get chance to say anything though as she saw Hermione's attention move to Ron in an instant.

She stepped up close to him; her mouth set in a determined, sneaky smile. "What did you say?" asked Hermione, patronisingly.

Ginny cringed, any moment now her brother and best friend we going to take part in either a full-blown argument, or tear each other's clothes off in a desperate struggle of fiery kisses. And sure enough she watched as Hermione practically jumped him, kissing him passionately.

Her watching was interrupted as she found Harry's hand grabbing onto her own. "Shall we leave them to it?" he asked.

She nodded and dragged him back inside quickly. "Let's go!" she squeaked.

*

Ginny led Harry into the 7th Year girl's dormitory and then shut the door carefully behind him. She walked over to her bed and then looked at him, chewing her lower lip a little. She lowered herself to sitting then smiled. "You can come over here, Harry," she said.

He smiled rather shyly then walked over and seated himself beside her, placing his hand on her knee and rubbing it back and forth slowly. "So," he started gently. "Are we done waiting now?"

She looked at him, her breath catching slightly as her heart started to race. Now was the time to tell him everything, her fears, her doubts, and most importantly how deeply she felt for him. "I'm scared Harry," she whispered and leant her head on his shoulder. "But I know I'll be OK. After all, I'm with you… you'll take care of me, right?"

"You know I will," replied Harry, kissing her softly at the temple. "Always and forever."

Looking up into his eyes, Ginny was shocked at the passion she found there. Her lips moved into a bright smile and she leant closer to kiss him. He did the same and their lips met tenderly, just brushing at first until Ginny gave into the kiss. She edged closer on the bed and moaned quietly against his lips as he nipped at her lower lip a little. "Harry," she murmured pulling back slightly. "I love you."

"I love you too, Gin," he replied as he leant back slightly to look at her face. He took his hand from her knee and trailed it through her silky red hair, his face filled with concentration.

"Now…" Ginny said as she took her shoes off and crawled back on the bed. She smiled and stared at him, she nodded a little and then he advanced on her, crawling on his hands and knees. She closed her eyes as she felt him press his lips against her collarbone, and moaned quietly into his ear. As he moved closer, she trailed her hands up into his hair then led them down his neck, massaging as they went.

Harry moved away and looked at her with uncertainty. "Are you sure?" he asked tentatively.

"I told you," she replied, smiling gleefully and fumbling to undo her dress robes.

"Let me help," he said and moved closer to her once again. He brought his hand to her left side and it took him a moment or two until his hand found the zip. Once he did, he undid it in one swift movement, his hand grazing her skin, causing her to moan in pleasure once more. Smiling Harry descended upon her again, this time kissing down towards her chest as he helped her to remove the clothing.

Ginny threw her dress robes to the floor and squirmed slightly under Harry's weight, she moved her mouth to his ear again. "I think you need to remove a few things," she whispered seductively. Leading her hands down his body she began to pull at the fabric of his robes, wanting him to help. His hands met hers moments later and together (through giggles and almost ripping the offending garment) they made Harry's robes join hers in a pile on the dormitory floor.

She stared up at him and bit her lip, and then gradually she moved, sliding down the bed so she was lying on her back. She draped her arms around his neck as he kissed her lips again and she parted them knowingly allowing him early access with his tongue. Moaning gently as he explored the confinement of her mouth, she rubbed her palms across his shoulder blades, enjoying the feel of his bare skin beneath her fingers.

Her hands wandered back down his body, playing with the top of his boxers. This was the no going back moment. Luckily she didn't want to go back, she wanted this with her entire being. She broke the kiss so she could whisper to him again. "Let's do this," she said enthusiastically, and tugged hard on his boxers.

A few moments silence followed as they removed the remainder of each other's clothes. It was soon broken as Ginny moaned once more as Harry placed one of his hands on her right breast, massaging it gently. She closed her eyes for a second then opened then again, her eyelids flittering as her body tingled with a sensation she'd never felt before. Harry gently released his weight upon her after kissing her lips tenderly, and moved his other hand past her stomach and in-between her legs, carefully rubbing his fingers against her.

Ginny bit her lip to contain the loud moan wanting to escape her, and grasped at the bed sheets helplessly. She took a few deep breaths and loosed her hands from the bed sheets as Harry stopped what he was doing. Then a jolt of pain shot through her body as he entered her, she whimpered lightly and screwed her eyes up tightly.

Silence followed until she found Harry's mouth against her ear. "You OK?" he asked her, his warm breath tickling her skin.

"Yes," Ginny whispered back. She moved her arms back around his body, resting her palms on his back.

His movements were slow at first, letting her acclimatise to the new feeling, then gradually as she starting moving her hips with his, he sped up. Ginny's mind began to drift as she lost herself in the pleasure of this new experience. Her body seemed to be floating, lost on a cloud in heaven. This was the type of thing she only dreamt about, never had she once thought it would actually happen. She was sharing the most intimate action possible with the one man she had always loved. The stuff dreams were made of.

She felt a sudden rush of warmth over her entire body and she moaned again, as the feeling grew and her body started to shake with pleasure, she clawed her nails at his back. "Oh, Harry!" she cried as the feeling overtook her.

"Gin…" was Harry's breathless reply. He kissed her shoulder lightly before whispering her name again and rolling off her.

Ginny looked over at him trying to calm her heavy breathing and smiled shyly. "Well, that was new," she said, giggling a little. Turning over she lay on her side and looked at him as he pulled the covers over them. She looked at him carefully, he was lightly flushed and his face shone with perspiration. "I love you," she whispered once more.

Smiling, Harry edged closer and kissed her cheek. "I love you too," he answered, tracing his hand across her cheek lightly. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her against him, and she rested her head on his chest. "Sleep could work right now."

*

Ginny raced down the stairs and into the Gryffindor common room and looked around furiously. "Hermione?" she asked as she walked past the couches, looking down at the sleeping bodies filling the floor. Stalking her way around the room she found Hermione curled up on one of the chairs near the portrait hole. Ginny bent down and shook Hermione gently, gritting her teeth slightly. "Hermione?" she pressed. "Wake up, I need to talk to you."

Hermione's eyelids fluttered a little as she stirred. "Mmm, what…?" she whispered, opening her eyes and staring at Ginny. She moved her eyes right and then left as she ran a hand through her hair. "What time is it?" she asked hoarsely. "Is… is it time to leave already?" Her eyes darted again and she sat up. "Ron? Where's Ron?"

Shrugging Ginny stepped away from the chair. Maybe it had been a bad idea waking Hermione up, from what she'd remembered Ron saying; Hermione wasn't really a morning person. "He's…" she began and scanned the room. "I don't know. But I need to talk to you about something."

"Now?" Hermione raised an eyebrow in annoyance.

"Yes, now," replied Ginny and she took her hand pulling her up and across the room to a secluded corner. She sat down, after showing Hermione to the chair opposite, and cleared her throat. It was time. Ginny'd been meaning to have this conversation with Hermione for a long time but had never had the chance, now seemed perfect. "'Mione, I just… I just had sex." She grinned brightly, and then laughed as Hermione clapped a little.

"About time as well," Hermione replied. "We are talking with Harry, right?"

"Yes." Ginny giggled. "It was… well it was new, never imagined it'd feel like that. You can't imagine I suppose, something you have to witness first hand," she said and watched as Hermione nodded. "So you and Ron," – (unbelievably, she was asking about her brother's sex life, very disturbing) – "do you?" she paused and took a breath. "Did you? Umm…"

"What?" Hermione asked gently then immediately transferred her focus to her hair with a pout.

"When you…" Ginny stopped again, her breath catching, what was she doing… she just couldn't ask it, but she had too. "The first time you slept together, what was it like?"

Hermione smiled and leant back in her chair, giving all of her attention back to Ginny again. Ginny prepared herself for a long-winded speech. "It was new, as you said, and," she paused hesitantly, leaning forward in her chair again and biting her lower lip. "Just what kind of details are you after here?"

"I don't know," said Ginny, shying away from the conversation slightly. "Feeling's and… and stuff." She laughed shyly.

"Feelings? OK," Hermione paused again thoughtfully, remembering the moment. "Ron and I… well you know we fight a lot, did then, do now." Ginny nodded. "It was after a fight, we were both kind of buzzing with adrenaline, the way it always is. And I suppose it's fair to say, it just happened. It wasn't as if we'd planned it or anything, probably just heat of the moment originally." She smiled and looked down at her hands. "But it became more, not just the adrenaline, there was a strong sense of desire and want, and of course—"

"Love?" Ginny interrupted.

"Love," repeated Hermione, with a slight nod, her smile widening with each word, "of course. You know how much I love your brother, and yeah you can't understand why, but I do."

Smiling Ginny leant forward and rested her elbows on the table, enjoying watching the happiness on her friends' face.

"We were nervous, naturally. Still, knowing we were facing it together made it all right, made it easier," she stopped and giggled lightly. "This is so weird telling you all this."

"I want to know though."

"I'm not telling you anything else…" Getting to her feet, Hermione searched around the room. "Need to find Ron."

Ginny laughed out loud and covered her mouth with her hand as Hermione persisted to stand on a few people's hands as she looked around at all the bodies strewn across the floor. She shot a look to Ginny, and Ginny shrugged. "Don't know where he is."

Hermione's raised an eyebrow, mouth set into a frown. She stalked over to the window finding him sitting beside it; arms rested on the ledge and head on top of them. "Ron!" she hissed and shook his arm. Ron mumbled and opened his eyes slightly. "Wake up," said Hermione looking at him. He yawned a little and closed his half-open eyes again, settling himself once more. "Ron!" she persisted and shook his arm again, this time more violently. "Listen to me."

He opened both of his eyes fully and looked back at her in bewilderment. "What?" he croaked, coughing lightly.

Ginny watched as Hermione rolled her eyes and leant in to whisper in his ear. Ron's tired appearance soon disintegrated and he smiled, a blush spreading across his face and making its way to his ears. Ginny smiled, trying to imagine what Hermione was whispering to him.

"OK," Ron said suddenly, jumping to his feet and taking Hermione's hand tightly. They made their way to the portrait hole, smiling at Ginny as they passed her.

"We'll do this again sometime," Hermione said just before being pulled from view.

Staring at the hole as the portrait swung closed again, Ginny smiled softly. "Yeah, sure," she whispered.

*

Morning arrived in a flash, and before she knew what was happening, Ginny was miserably saying goodbye to Harry, Hermione, and Ron at the train station.

Harry was stood behind her, arms wrapped around her waist, pawing at her hips with his hands and whispering into her ear, hot breath tickling her skin and making her tingle. He lowered his mouth and kissed a spot just behind her ear gently then let his tongue wander down the side of her throat. She closed her eyes and bit her lip hard, restraining an excitable moan. Her eyes flew open again as Harry nipped at the skin of her shoulder. "God," she whimpered as he stepped away from her.

"See you soon," said Harry and he started for one of the doors of the train. By soon he meant on her next trip to Hogsmeade, they'd planned last night that they were going to meet up there. He smiled and stepped onto the train shutting the door behind him.

A whistle sounded a little further down the platform, and Ginny held back the tears that were verging on spilling over, she could save that until later. She waved at him and tried to smile brightly, she managed it just. A few moments later the whistle went again and the train began to move, Ginny found herself running along with it. "I love you, Harry Potter," she yelled after the train… and then it was gone.

Staring at the once again empty track, she blinked and a tear slid down her cheek, she didn't bother to wipe it away. Ginny turned around and headed back across the platform, joining Colin Creevey beside a bench. "Let's get back, shall we?" she asked. Colin nodded and they started their walk.

The Yule Ball was over, but Ginny's life had only just begun.

The end…