Grinning, Harry took her hand and they ran out of the common room and through the portrait hole together, ignoring the lingering wolf-whistles. Once they were in the privacy of the empty corridor and out of earshot of the Fat Lady ("It's about time!" She yelled after them) Harry dared to look down at her. As soon as their eyes met, they burst out laughing. Seeing her like this- holding his hand, shaking with laughter and beaming with some kind of mixture of satisfaction and pride- made Harry's heart swell. She was still laughing when he kissed her again, and this time it wasn't a blazing, intense one- the kiss was sweet and lasting. She wrapped her arms around him and the kiss slowly turned into a hug.
"You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that for," She whispered in his ear.
Harry ran his hand through her red, red hair. "Neither do you."
She looks up at him, arms still around his neck.
"Tell me."
Harry laughed and kissed her again. Then her grabbed her hand and pulled her along the corridor, down the stairs and out to the courtyard.
There was a warm spring breeze, birds were chirping and the Black Lake was shining in the warm sun. And when Ginny kissed him against a willow tree, Harry Potter thought he'd never been so happy.
He sat down in the shade of the tree, and Ginny sat down beside him. They were still holding hands.
"When did you know?" She asked him.
Harry looked out towards the lake. "I think it's been a long time coming. But mostly the moment I saw you with Dean- I just wanted to blast the little nerd into pieces."
Ginny smirked. "You're not such a tiny nerd yourself."
"Isn't that what makes me so charming?"
She snorted. "I could still change my mind you know."
"Well I think you're stuck with me for now since I suppose the news has reached everyone at Hogwarts by now."
Ginny put her hand on Harry's cheek. "Then you're stuck with me as well."
He pulled her closer to him. "I could learn to live with that."
"Is that some weird way you nerds ask people out?"
"Take it or leave it."
She climbed onto his lap and kissed him hard. "I'll take it," She whispered.
Harry stroked the sides of her face, silently marveling at her radiance.
Ginny studied him. "What made you kiss me up there?"
Harry ran his fingers through a strand of her hair. "I don't know- when you hugged me I guess I just knew I was done being stupid."
She laughed. "You were pretty stupid."
"We could've been together years ago! Think of all the time we missed out on."
"Yes because we were both ready for an adult relationship at the ripe old age of eleven."
"You're only sixteen now."
"Yes and my mum and dad are going to kill you."
"Damn it you're right." Harry kissed her again, just because he could. "But you've had boyfriends before."
Ginny snorted. "That was different."
"Why?"
"They weren't you."
And then they were kissing again. And it was only at nightfall when they reappeared in the castle, Ginny's hair slightly messy and Harry's tie undone.
