Chapter 1: Have a real life?
"We're going to be late boys! Seriously!"
Hermione sighed and folded herself over the arm of the sofa in defeat. Honestly, wasn't she the one who was supposed to run late for fancy occasions?
"We're coming Herms!"
Hermione wrinkled her nose and faked a gag. "Call me that again Potty and you'll be sneezing bats for a week!"
Harry wisely didn't respond. He knew she was serious.
At long last, the two boys, or young men rather (Hermione didn't really like admitting that), emerged from the end of the hall, Ron still fiddling with his tie.
"Sorry Hermione," Ron said without looking up from what was quickly becoming a tangled mess of silk, "Harry still can't tie his own tie. And apparently I can't either while I'm moving," he added under his breath.
Hermione suppressed a laugh and took Ron's hands away from his neck and began to fix the tie for him. Ron looked up in surprise, not realizing she had been right in front of him. His eyes widened and he swallowed thickly.
"How do you do it?" he asked, before he could stop himself.
"Hmm?" Hermione responded, brow furrowed at Ron's tie.
"Look even more amazing every time we have to go to one of these stupid things."
Hermione pulled the silk tight and looked up at Ron, whose ears had already turned pink.
Harry smirked at his best friends and shook his head. They could fight death eaters till dawn and not bat an eye, but a genuine compliment from one or the other turned them into terrified kids.
Harry had actually been taken back the first time he realized that Hermione was pretty. She wasn't stunning or anything of that nature, but Harry could at least see that puberty had been rather kind to his friend. It was a bit awkward to think about, so he mostly chose to ignore it and entertained himself with watching Ron squirm anytime Hermione was within a foot of him.
"Do we have to go?" Harry asked suddenly, deciding to forgo his entertainment and rescue his friends from their awkward moment.
Hermione laughed and nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
"Nah, we don't. What are they gonna do if we just don't show up?" Ron asked, only half joking.
"I hate these," Harry mumbled. "This is the last one I'm going to, I mean it."
Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement. Since the defeat of Voldermort, the trio had become the subject of just about every social event in the wizarding world. There had been galas and parties and tributes to them for a month now. They had known the wizarding world would respond like this, they just hadn't really counted on how long they would drag it out. They had enough plaques between the three of them to fill a small vault at gringotts.
Harry was thankful that they hadn't exactly returned to the wizarding world until a month and a half after Voldermort's actual defeat. They'd hid out at the burrow for a few days before heading off to Romania for a bit of a 'vacation' with Charlie. They simply hadn't been ready to face the world that now hailed them as heroes.
Inevitably however, they would have to face the spotlight, and had returned to England ready (or as ready as they were going to be) to relive everything to the public. Tonight was to be a formal dinner hosted by the ministry of magic to honor those that had fought against Voldermort. The entire Order was to receive recognition—or something like that anyway. The trio had long since tuned out the details.
A loud crack filled the room and Fred's voice filled Harry and Ron's modest flat.
"You kiddies coming? Mum sent me to make sure you'd wiped the dirt off your noses and combed your hair properly and other such nonsense."
Fred appeared from inside the kitchen, a half eaten apple in his hand and a wide, amused, grin plastered across his face.
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered, "Who does she think she is?"
"Who does she think she's kidding is more like it," Fred answered, his mouth full of apple. "I mean, has she ever seen Harry's hair. I don't think all the proper brushing in the world could do anything to help that mop. And yours could definitely use a cut Ron."
Harry rolled his eyes and punched Fred playfully on the arm. "Like I haven't heard that a thousand times. We're coming."
"But only to remind our dear mum that Harry and I are 19 years old, paying our own rent, and buying our own bloody groceries," Ron growled.
Hermione laughed and shook her head. "And by that, of course, you mean that all your award and fame money is paying rent, and that you send me out to buy you two bachelors groceries and plan meals, right?"
Ron scowled as Fred smirked and winked at Hermione.
"Come on. Let's get this over with," Harry sighed.
The four Gryffindors spun on their heels and apparated simultaneously to the ballroom entrance at the ministry of magic.
"We're at a separate table than you three, as usual," Fred said, once they'd all reappeared. "I think you three are seated with Scrimgeour."
To his credit, Fred at least had the decency to sound sorry for the trio. They nodded to him and he headed off to find George and the rest of the Weasleys before the dinner started. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him wistfully as the table of red heads greeted Fred warmly and he gestured to his mother that the "kiddies" were present and all in one piece.
"This is going to be a long night," Harry muttered.
"Mmm. Last one though boys. We can do this."
Ron laughed and shook his head. "Shows how mature we are. We need a pep talk just to go to a dinner. Honestly Hermione, I think you used that same line before our history of magic OWL."
"Which I failed miserably," Harry pointed out.
Hermione rolled her eyes and linked arms with her two friends. "Come on, let's get this over with so we can get back to the apartment."
"Who said you were invited over?" Ron asked playfully.
Hermione elbowed him in the ribs but smirked all the same.
The meal dragged by without much incident. The minister had greeted the rather large crowd and introduced the Order members (who were now just as publicly known as Harry) and then of course forced Harry, Ron, and Hermione to stand, announcing them as the wizarding world's "Golden Trio." The three had only just managed to stop dry heaving at the title last week. The Daily Prophet had bestowed it upon them, an act which Ron swore was their revenge for the trio only giving an exclusive interview to the Quibbler after Voldermort's demise.
Scrimgeour had droned on and on for the entire meal (which the table's youngest occupants only consumed about a quarter of). The trio tried to be polite, but their patience was wearing thin. The ministry was not exactly a bright spot in any of their memories, its behavior during the war having been absolutely ghastly.
Desert had at long last been served, and Scrimgeour was loudly informing the other dignitaries seated at the table that their heroes were officially the youngest recipients of the Order of Merlin, First Class, when a sharp bang echoed across the ballroom.
The response was instant. The Order members had their wands drawn before the rest of the guests even had a chance to register the noise. Ron had instantly stood, knocking his chair over in the process, and cast a shield charm that surrounded himself, Harry, and Hermione. Hermione began shouting reveal spells in the direction of the disturbance and Harry magically parted the tables and guests out of the way.
It was all purely instinctual. It was several minutes before Hermione and Harry lowered their wands, almost sheepishly, and Ron took down the shield. One of the waiters looked apologetically at the crowd from the floor, his tray and its contents strewn around him. The poor man had only tripped, causing the loud clatter.
The order members and the trio sank to their seats while the rest of the guests watched open mouthed, some still with their forks half way to their mouths. Ron groaned and shoved a piece of trifle into his mouth for lack of anything better to do.
"Well," the minister said dumbly, "Um, how bout that, huh?"
"Yeah," Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione, "How about that?"
Across the room, Tonks and Lupin sighed wearily and looked away from the minister's table.
"Those three are something else," Lupin said, shaking his head.
"Crying shame they lost their interest in being aurors," Moody replied.
"Can't blame them though. They've seen more than enough evil for one lifetime I'm sure," Kingsley Shackbolt said, not bothering to hide the hint of sadness in his voice.
"Maybe so," Tonks agreed, "But I really don't think any of this is over for them. Not emotionally and mentally anyway."
Lupin nodded in agreement. "Mmm. But there isn't anything we can do about that. It's a battle they'll have to fight with themselves. We're going to have to help them—assimilate them back into the real world, wouldn't you agree Moody?"
The scarred auror grunted in response. "Give 'em time. They've got each other, and Weasley's got enough family to make a support network not just a system. Just don't tell 'em we're keeping an eye on them."
Lupin sighed again and idly swirled his wine around its glass. As if he could avoid helping James' only son even if he wanted to. James and Lily would be proud, no doubt, but had they been alive, there probably wouldn't be nearly as many pieces of Harry scattered around to be put back together in the first place.
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Ron, Harry, and Hermione sat around the sparsely decorated living room of Harry and Ron's flat, mulling over the evening. None of them had bothered to change out of their dress robes and Hermione knew she was going to have to remind them how to do an ironing charm later. She entertained the idea of making them do it the muggle way and smirked into her water glass.
The trio's lives were quite off kilter, and they knew it. No one had really come right out and said it to them, but they weren't even all that fabulous at communicating to their old friends and family anymore. Anything social outside the three of them felt rather foreign.
The fact of the matter was that none of them had ever really thought about what to do with themselves after the war. Sure they'd considered careers and what not, but it was all so distant and far away. The war and final battle had loomed over them for as long as they could remember. Even now that the battle was over, they couldn't get on with a "normal" life until everyone calmed down a bit.
None of them liked to admit it, but talking about the battle like it was this pretty and neatly packaged tale of triumph was almost unbearable. The fact was that they were all a bit scarred from the whole thing, both literally and figuratively. Ron had a 5 inch scar across the back of his left shoulder that he didn't even know how he had received for example, and people wanted them to talk about how they happily flicked their wands and made the bad guys go away.
"I'm gonna get to bed," Ron announced, "I'll see you in the morning."
Hermione and Harry bid him goodnight and Ron disappeared into his room. Harry watched his door closed and then swung his gaze over to Hermione.
"So…"
"So." Hermione responded, giving Harry a questioning look.
"So when are you two going to… you know… admit your crazy about each other and all of that?"
Hermione pursed her lips and regarded Harry very carefully. "I believe I'm not going to answer that question, Mr. Potter, until your own love life is untangled, hm?"
Harry scowled and took a long sip of his drink, stalling. "Low blow Hermione. It's different."
"Oh Harry," Hermione sighed. "I think we're all still so in shock. I mean, it's hard to go from living life unsure of whether you were going to get blasted into nothingness, to just living life. Me, You, and Ron… I just don't think we process emotions like we used to. Or like the rest of the world for that matter."
Harry slumped further into the couch cushion and wrinkled his nose in frustration. "I think that's the best way I've heard it put. I mean, I laugh at Fred and George and it feels… weird to me, like I'm only doing it because somewhere in the back of my mind I know I'm supposed to be laughing. These past couple of weeks have just felt so… I dunno… numb I guess. Like I'm waiting for permission to feel again, you know?
Hermione nodded slowly.
"Harry… we have permission."
"I know," he answered quietly, "I just don't think I want to acknowledge that just yet."
Hermione nodded in understanding and stood up. She didn't want to admit it, but she felt the exact same way.
"Well, I'm heading home. See you tomorrow Harry.
Harry nodded and pulled himself off the couch and walked her to the door. At the last second, he stuck his arm out and grabbed Hermione's elbow.
"Hermione, tomorrow… tomorrow let's talk about this. Let's, you know, actually decide to do something. I… I miss the feeling I used to have at the burrow when we'd all have dinner together. I miss the feeling of a quiditch match. I miss… I miss the way I felt around Ginny."
Hermione looked up at Harry and met his gaze. She swallowed hard and nodded.
"Ok," she said softly.
"Ok. Ok, good."
Hermione gave Harry's arm a gentle squeeze and she headed out the door. She sighed as Harry closed the door behind her. She hated that after all they'd been through, after all the darkness of the war, they still couldn't seem to just be done. Perhaps normal is something they would never be, but done with all of this darkness? That was something she was more than willing to give up. She and her friends had always kept high spirits, always kept their heads just above the water, but now that everything was supposed to be over, it was going to be more of a challenge to stay afloat. They were just so isolated it seemed.
The lift came to a halt two floors below Ron and Harry's and Hermione stepped out and headed towards her own flat. It was rather pathetic, she knew, but at least she'd actually got her own place instead of just bunking with Harry and Ron. She unlocked the door and stepped in only to face yet another red headed teen.
"You didn't tell them."
Hermione sighed and looked apologetically at Ginny. The comment had been a statement, not a question.
"Hermione, I still don't see what the big deal is."
Hermione turned away as she shoved her shoes into a corner. Ginny had already changed out of her dress robes and was sitting in a dressing gown, tea in hand, waiting for Hermione to return from the boys' flat.
"Everything is just so complicated right now Ginny. I mean, it's just been the three of us for so long now. Everything just feels so weird and foreign. I mean, I had to get used to sleeping on a bed again Gin!"
Ginny glared at Hermione and set her tea down rather forcefully on the table. Squaring her shoulders, she waited stubbornly for Hermione to turn around and face her.
"You three," Ginny started, getting up and stepping closer to Hermione, "need to get over yourselves."
Hermione's jaw dropped and she starred, wide eyed at her closest female friend. Ginny was the only one Hermione ever really confided anything to, and while in Romania, Hermione realized that Ginny living with her was the perfect solution to both Hermione's need for company and Ginny's financial need for a roommate. The youngest Weasley had moved in the day before, and somehow managed to keep Harry and Ron from finding out.
The two had arranged everything via owling and, upon Hermione's request, had not informed Harry and Ron that Ginny was moving in. It wasn't that she thought they'd be angry or anything, she just didn't want them to feel abandoned, or something strange like that. Ginny didn't really get it, but she also knew that there were a lot of things that was never going to get when it came to the trio. They'd been through some things together that Ginny just couldn't relate to and she accepted that.
Ginny shook her head at Hermione and her expression softened.
"Look Hermione… it's just time to let it go. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but the three of you have to flip the 'on' switches up. The only time you guys even act like normal people is when you're around each other. We've all been very understanding and patient and all of that, but I'm really getting annoyed now."
Hermione continued to stare at Ginny with a mixture of shock and admiration. She knew Ginny was right, and she also knew that Ginny Weasley was not a patient woman (except when Harry was involved).
Hermione finally dropped her gaze as her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"I know Ginny. We all do. Harry and I were just discussing it actually. We're going to make some plans tomorrow. I'm just… we're all just… afraid."
Ginny raised an eyebrow. She hadn't quite been expecting that.
"Um… of what exactly?"
"Of what we're going to feel. If I just stay like this… if I just stay numb to everything…"
"You don't have to feel any of what Voldermort and his scum did to you," Ginny finished for her.
Hermione nodded. "We let this limbo stage go, and it's all right there waiting for us… all those inner demons… all those terrifying images…"
Ginny sighed and put a hand on Hermione's shoulder, forcing the older girl to look up.
"You have to do it. You know that."
"Yeah. Yeah, we all do."
"Ron and Harry can come over here for breakfast tomorrow. We'll tell them I'm living here and they'll have to deal with the fact that time didn't stop when you guys left. I finished Hogwarts and started a real job. You accepted that; they will too."
Hermione nodded and let out a long sigh.
"Harry will kill me for not warning him ahead of time. You know that don't you?"
Ginny grinned and nodded with a very pleased look on her face.
"I love when he's flustered."
"You're a mean one you are."
"Yep. I most certainly am. And forgive me for thinking I have a bit of a right to be."
Hermione giggled and shook her head. "Whatever. I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning Gin."
Two flights above the girls, Harry pulled his pillow and duvet off his bed and trudged towards the living room. Ron appeared from inside his room as well, pillow and all. Neither said anything to the other as they walked toward the balcony door and stepped out into the brisk night air.
Ron shook his head dropped his pillow on the ground as Harry did the same on the opposite side of the balcony. Both boys settled onto the hard ground and curled up under their duvets.
"We belong in St. Mungo's, you know that right?" Ron informed Harry.
"Probably," Harry agreed.
"Night mate."
"Night Ron."
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"Eat more," Ginny commanded, sliding a plate of bacon to her brother with a stern look. "It's absolutely unnerving to see you leave food on your plate."
Ron looked up and gave Hermione and Harry a pleading look, but they just smiled in return.
"Traitors," Ron mumbled, stabbing at another piece of bacon.
"You too." Ginny instructed Hermione and Harry.
The grins instantly vanished off both their faces and Ron let out an "Aha!" of triumph.
"What are you, your mother?" Harry teased, forcing himself to swallow another biscuit.
"If that's what it takes," Ginny answered bluntly. "I don't care if you've been all cleared by St. Mungo's; they still said you guys needed to get up to date nutritionally and all the replenishing potions in the world can't do it for you. Now eat up."
"I still can't believe you didn't tell us you were rooming with her Hermione," Ron accused.
"Oh can we please just drop it?" Hermione answered, looking at her half eaten biscuit as though another bite may just kill her. "I told you, I don't know what came over me."
The boys sniggered and shook their heads at Hermione's blush. She really wasn't too sure why she felt they would care. They had actually been quite thrilled at the idea. Neither had been too keen on Hermione living alone in the first place, even if she was only two floors below them.
"So," Ron said finally, after eating enough food to satisfy his little sister, "about this whole getting on with out lives thing."
"That's not funny Ronald," Hermione scolded, her wide smile giving her away instantly.
"Actually Ronald," Harry chuckled, "it's bloody hilarious."
Ron and Harry both burst into laughter while Ginny and Hermione just shook their heads, grinning.
"Seriously though you guys, we can't keep just sitting around our flats all day," Ron said, once he'd calmed down slightly. "I guess we should think about jobs eh? Not that we really need them."
"Course we need them, don't be ridiculous," Hermione snapped. "There's no way I'm depending on the money defeating stupid Voldermort brought in. I had no idea there'd be money involved!"
The two boys nodded in agreement. It had been a little weird at first, when they began receiving money from all sorts of wizarding organizations. In the end, they had opened a joint account at Gringotts and had been storing anything related to the war in a vault. They really didn't know what they were going to do with it, other than pay rent until they had jobs.
"Well," Ginny said thoughtfully, "What did you all fancy doing when you were at Hogwarts?"
"Aurors." Ron and Harry responded promptly.
"No way in hell though," Ron added, "I'm done."
Harry nodded and curled his lip in disgust.
"Ok," Ginny said, wondering if this was how McGonagal felt when doing career counseling with the fifth years.
"I um, I actually had a kind of a thought… maybe."
The three teens looked curiously at Ron, whose ears had begun to turn pink, a trademark among all of the Weasley children—though Ron seemed to have managed to turn it into an art form. Family trait or not, Ginny couldn't think of a single person who blushed as much as Ron.
"I was thinking I might like to be a Healer," Ron said hurriedly.
The room fell silent for a moment before Harry broke into a wide smile. "That's a brilliant idea mate! What do you look so bent out of shape over it for?"
Ron, unbeknownst to anyone other than Harry and Hermione, actually had quite a knack for Healing. His bone mending charm was flawless, and he had figured out some rather tricky spells in the middle of some rather tricky situations when Hermione or Harry had been injured. They'd don't a lot of self-heeling while horcrux hunting and it was surprisingly Ron who had picked up on it. He'd tried not to let it show, because it wasn't exactly a good thing that he needed to be healing one of his friends, but he had come to rather enjoy it.
Ron however, was now looking very apprehensive and began to fidget slightly.
"Um, Healing is kind of… well kind of prestigious and all of that. You've got to be all smart and have NEWTs in just about everything. Let's be serious you guys, there's no way I'd get accepted to the program. I didn't even take my NEWTs, and I somehow doubt a handful of E's on my OWLs is going to cut it. I'll just have to…"
"Actually," Ginny interrupted, "there is a way you can get your required NEWTs for the program. You can sit a comprehensive exam at the department of education at the ministry. Lots of kids from my year have done it and yours as well. Parents wouldn't let their kids go back to Hogwarts for safety and all of that."
"I could tutor you Ron!" Hermione squealed, sounding way too excited about the idea.
"I dunno…" Ron said uncertainly. "I'm rubbish at school, you all know that."
"Oh don't be so down on yourself," Ginny chided, "Besides, the Healing program doesn't just look at grades. You have experience that tops most of the applicants hands down."
"How do you know all this?" Harry asked suddenly.
Ginny smiled and turned to face him. "I work for the ministry, you know that. I did some research while you guys were in Romania, talked to some people and all of that. I knew you guys would need to know where to start as far as getting jobs and all. I didn't think you'd fancy working for Fred and George.
Hermione made a face and Ginny had to laugh.
"Oh come on, it wouldn't be so bad."
Hermione just shook her head sheepishly.
"You did that for us?" Harry asked quietly.
"'Course," Ginny replied, looking up at him in confusion. "Why wouldn't I?"
Harry nodded and for some reason felt his mouth go completely dry. He smiled weakly at her and stood up, heading for the balcony.
Ginny looked over at Ron and Hermione, confusion written across her face. Ron and Hermione shrugged, but exchanged knowing glances.
"You three are impossible, you know that?" Ginny said, not unkindly.
Ron didn't reply, but instead just jerked his head toward the balcony door, indicating that Ginny should go and talk to her ex/paused boyfriend. The two of them hadn't had a private conversation since the trio had returned, and to be honest, Ginny didn't have any idea what Harry thought of her or the relationship he had left sort of in the balance. She had no intention of pushing it, but she wasn't about to just ignore Harry. He was her friend before he had ever been her boyfriend, and that wasn't going to change as far as she was concerned.
"Hey, what was that all about?" Ginny asked as she stepped onto the tiny balcony and closed the door behind her.
Harry turned to her and once again smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry… it was weird, I know. I just… I just needed to get outside. It happens sometimes. Or at least… it does now. Since… since… you know."
Ginny nodded and hopped onto the balcony railing, ignoring the look of concern Harry was casting her precariously balanced body. She didn't really know how she was supposed to behave. She'd always been comfortable around Harry since they had started dating, but she knew a lot had changed since then. Harry had changed. How could he not have?
"So Harry," she decided to just act like nothing was going unsaid between them. When Harry decided he was ready to address the subject of their relationship, she'd be waiting. "I don't really know what you had in mind as far as getting a job, but I happen to have an idea."
Harry quirked an eyebrow at the red head and instantly felt nervous from the mischievous look in her eyes. He knew that look, and he was actually quite relieved to find that it was having the same effect it always had on him. A mix of frightened excitement—a kind only Ginny could coax from him it seemed.
"You know my department?"
Harry smirked, "'Course I do. I remember Fred and George being rather thrilled at the prospect of free quiditch tickets floating around the family. You'll be after Bagman's old position in no time."
Ginny grinned, revealing her sparkling white teeth and Harry felt something lurch deep in his stomach. He'd actually forgotten what her smile looked like, and was rather appalled that he could have forgotten such a sight.
"I'm low on the totem pole, but maybe one day. Ginny Weasley, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Nice ring, don'chya think?"
Harry swallowed to keep from voicing another name that had a rather nice ring to it in his opinion. He couldn't believe how utterly awkward and tongue tied he felt. He didn't really expect everything to come back to him like this. He'd forced himself not to think about Ginny for so long now, for her own protection and his own sanity, that he'd really forgotten what it felt like to be near her. He silently hoped his cheeks weren't burning because he knew she'd notice, she always noticed, and he really wasn't ready to broach the subject just yet. He couldn't imagine Ginny actually felt the same way about him anymore. It had been 2 years since they had been involved; why would she wait around for a boy she once fancied back when she was 15, and who may not even ever return home?
"Anyway," Ginny continued, "Next month Puddlemere United is holding quiditch tryouts."
Harry just stared at her for a minute before what she was saying actually sunk in. When it finally did, he exploded in a fit of laughter.
Ginny couldn't help but smile. Despite the fact she had been totally serious about Harry trying out, it was good to hear him laugh fully like this. He hadn't done nearly enough of it since he'd been back—in her humble opinion at least.
"You're serious?" Harry gasped out, now that he could breathe normally again.
"Of course I am."
Harry calmed himself down and studied Ginny carefully. Realizing that she was indeed serious about trying out, Harry bit his lip and ran a hand through his hair.
"Ginny, I can't. First of all there's no way I'd be good enough. Second of all," he plowed on, preventing Ginny from arguing, "I can just see the headlines now: "Wizarding World's Hero Lives for Life of Fame! The prophet would have an absolute field day. I don't want to be a professional quiditch player because I'm famous, and nothing you can say will convince me that they won't just let me sign on because of my name."
"Harry," Ginny said firmly, "Give me some credit, will you? Of course you'd just get signed because of your name. However, I happen to be involved in the tryouts and can promise you they won't know it's you until after the selections have been made; I can make sure of it."
Harry shook his head, but Ginny could tell that she'd gotten his attention at the very least.
"Ginny," he said warningly, "I'm not even a halfway decent keeper, and chasing isn't my forte. Beating, yeah ok, I could probably pull that off…"
"Harry," Ginny said sharply, the mischievous glint in her eyes even more prevalent than before, making Harry swallow thickly, "They need a seeker."
She smirked in satisfaction at the look on Harry's face. He was running out of arguments and they both knew it.
"Ok fine, I'm a pretty good seeker, but Ginny… the whole spotlight thing? Come on! I get gawked at enough as it is."
Ginny tilted her head and studied her former boyfriend, an idea striking her as she took in his stressed expression.
"Harry," she said, her voice much softer now, "When you're in the air, in the midst of a game… it's the most incredible feeling. You feel like you should have been born to be in the air, not on the ground with gravity and all its inconveniences. You feel invincible… like…"
"Like nothing can touch you. Like everything stressful in life is hundreds of feet below you," Harry finished for her, staring off into the distance.
Ginny smiled in spite of herself. She knew how much Harry loved flying. She knew because she loved it too. Harry belonged in the air, doing what he loved; he didn't belong fighting in duels or hunched over paperwork.
"Nothing else makes me feel like that," Harry nearly whispered after a moment, "Except… except you."
Ginny snapped her head up in surprise, nearly losing her balance on the rail as she did. That was the last thing she had expected to come out of his mouth, and she wasn't prepared for it at all. She slid off the railing and bit her lower lip, wondering if Harry had even realized what he said.
Harry turned around and forced himself to meet Ginny's eyes. When he finally matched her gaze, he wanted to kick himself. It had taken him a full 30 seconds to realized he'd actually been talking out loud.
"Ginny I… I umm…"
"Don't," Ginny whispered, "Just… just don't. Not until you know what you want to say."
Harry visibly relaxed with relief. He knew he cared more about Ginny than he had any other girl in his life; or at least he cared about her differently than he cared about any other girl, but there was so much that Ginny could never understand. And why would she want to?
"So you'll tryout then?" Ginny asked, her voice now back to normal, though the effort it was taking to keep it there was not hidden from either of them.
Harry stood quietly a moment before nodding slowly. "Yeah… yeah I think I will."
Ginny grinned and bounded to the door before turning around and looking expectantly at Harry. Her smile faltered as she looked at him, a pained expression on his face.
"Thank you Ginny," He said suddenly, "and… and not just for the whole… the whole tryout help thing."
Ginny nodded and reached her hand out for his. He gripped tightly before releasing it and nodding for her to head inside.
