routinely perfect.
Harry often forgets how long he has known Ginny.
Correction: How long he has been in love with Ginny.
Scratch that again: How long he has been in love with Ginny, she in love with him, with both parties aware of this. (Aka a couple.)
Truthfully, he's known her from day one, from the moment he before he stepped on the platform 9 ¾, to before he reached Hogwarts, back to when he first met Ron. She had been the little red haired girl tagging along with plump red-haired lady, and the one, two, three, four, red haired boys, that had been the Weasley family (at least part of it). Not his future girlfriend. How was he to know that one day, the seemingly shy girl with an enormous crush on him would "blossom" into a confident, intelligent, young lady that would capture his heart.
Not that he would admit that openly…
Anyway, perhaps their long history makes their actual time together (approximately 1 month, 1 week, 3 days, and 8 hours- but who's counting?) seem much longer than it really is. So when he jokes about knocking out mountain trolls being great group therapy, he is surprised to see her the puzzled expression in her eyes. Ah- she wouldn't know would she, she wasn't even at Hogwarts.
Actually, she doesn't know half of his adventures, Harry realizes. She was not there to find the Sorceror's Stone, missed most of the Chamber of Secrets adventure (well, she was there, only- well, possessed. But he had no desire to go there.), never got to see Peter Pettigrew transform from Scabbers (cowardly git), nor venture into the labyrinth of the Triwizard Cup (nor the nightmare that followed). She was not there in Little Whinging (Cupboards can barely fit one), nor there, when he got his scar (not that he remembers much).
Yet, somehow she's been awkwardly inserted into all those memories. Which, seeing Ginny's face pop out of Quirrell's turban, is absolutely ludicrous, reasons Harry. This is definitely screwed-
"-up to this point, you've faced so many dangers, I can't count." Ginny's voice jerks him back to reality. "And countless more. Things I've never heard or imagined. I'm a little jealous." Her voice drops to a murmur, as if ashamed of her desire. "My life is so… routine. Well, less so after I met you." Her eyes glisten.
The wind blows, bringing a faint smell of burning ash from Hagrid's direction. (He hastily pushes the image of blast-ended shrewts from his mind.) The giant squid swims carelessly through the clear moat, two students tickling its tentacles (coughbadidea). Students frolic in the fields humming and studying for exams. Ginny ( 3), lying on the grass, head in his lap, staring up at him carelessly.
Really, adventures are nice, but I'd fancy more days like this. Harry wants to tell her. Just you and me, no raving lunatic trying to kill everyone. He has enough of that already.
Because she should not- she does not fit with his memories of nervous, brain-wracking, James Bond-esque missions. She's at the Burrow, standing under an apple tree, Cleansweep in her hand. She's at Grimmauld Place, concentration on her face as she flicks dungbombs at a door. She's in the Quidditch Pitch, mimicking Ron as she scores another goal. She's listening to a grieving Harry reminisce about his godfather…
He doesn't have to open his mouth though, because Ginny's brow crinkles as she continues, pondering for a moment, before re-evaluating what she had just said. "But," she notes, "routine is good, isn't it?"
Looking at her smile, he can only marvel at her insight and kisses her on the forehead.
He'd have to agree.
A/N: My life is quite routine. .. ;;