Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for the Oc. The rest belong to JK Rowling.
(Normal POV)
Somehow they managed to down 18 butterbeers and half a bottle of Firewhisky between the two of them. Maria was now swaying as Harry held her up effortlessly by the waist. "Why are you so cute? And handsome at the same time?" Drunken Maria asked a (only) buzzed Harry while swaying dangerously toward his face. He chuckled awkwardly before picking her up bridal style and apparating.
Once back at the Burrow, Harry helped Maria up the many flights of stairs to Ginny's room where she was to be sleeping in until tomorrow morning when they were to go off to Hogwarts. However, this was no easy task. Maria seemed perfectly content, giggling and whispering loudly to Harry about random things. "I think I love breakfast!" Maria giggled. Harry could do nothing more than to smirk amusingly at her. She opened the door to Ginny's room, grabbed his hand and led him inside.
It was dark and a bit small in the room; Hermione and Ginny were sharing the bed, leaving Maria to have the blankets and pillow set up on the floor. "Sleep with me?" Maria whispered while looking longingly into Harry's eyes. "I mean just stay with me tonight. Please? I don't want to be alone anymore…" She trailed off dropping to the floor to get comfortable. Harry decided it was probably better to stay and watch over her to make sure she didn't vomit all over Ginny's room, at least that's what he told himself. He laid down on the blanket and propped himself up on his side with an elbow, facing Maria.
She laid next to him for only a few seconds before getting back up again. "I need to change clothes for bed!" she whispered a tad too loud. Hermione stirred. Harry stilled and contemplated hiding under the sheets for a second, but she only fell back asleep. Maria giggled, and returned in a forest green silk and lace night gown which ended around midthigh. She slipped under the covers and looked at Harry for a minute, once again studying his face and looking into his eyes. Then she smiled and snuggled up to Harry. Not knowing what to do, Harry let her mold her body to his before putting his arm around her. Maria sighed contently. He watched her sleep for only a mere few minutes before falling asleep himself.
In the middle of them night, Harry awoke to choked up whimpers. In the dark, he could see two darkend forms for people huddled together. Upon putting on his glasses, he was shocked to see Ginny clinging onto Maria while crying into her shoulder. Maria stroked her hair and shhh-ed, trying to soothe her. "I miss him so much…" cried Ginny. "I know Gin, I know… I miss him too. He was my best friend."
"Do you know what it's like?" Gin exclaimed. "To love someone so much and then lose them while trying to fight for your own life?" she sobbed. Harry felt his heart sinking and being torn to shreds. 'I did this to her' he thought.
"You know I do Sweetie. But you can't keep doing this to yourself. Fred wouldn't have wanted you to feel like this, to keep holding on to him and never moving on. Chinese people say it makes it harder for the spirit to move on into the afterlife. Do you want Fred stuck in limbo forever?"
"No" Ginny hiccupped. She wiped her face on her sleeves before going back in for another hug. "Don't tell anyone about this… Especially not Harry or Mione. He feels guilty enough and she stresses about everything. She'll probably never leave me my side if she were to find out…" Maria smiled.
Ginny went in for another long hug. "I don't know how I've managed to survive without you all these years."
Maria laughed lightly. "Me either."
Harry pretended to still be sleeping when Maria came back to sleep next to him. She nudged her way under his arm and wrapped herself around his body. Sighing contently, she buried her face into Harry's firm chest and whispered "Stop pretending to be asleep and hold me." At which Harry's face spread into a smile at being caught, and held her closer to him.
"I'm not exactly sure what's going on between us, but it's nice." She whispered before finally falling asleep.