Different Than Before

"I just don't get it! Why is it this hard?" He ran his hands through his untidy black hair, his green eyes shining with frustration. The ground around them was wet, the dew seeping through their clothes, though neither seemed to mind. It was too early to talk inside, so when Harry had arrived and begged to talk to Ginny, they had made their way down past the shed and towards the edge of the field. Harry had been in his office – finishing off the paper work he had been made to repeat for the third time – when his boss had told him to go home. Harry had not realised how late it was until he had arrived to find the entire Weasley house asleep.

Ginny looked at him as they sat together in the grass, her lips were slightly upturned in an amused sort of way.
"I've saved the world before! I can follow orders… I mean…" he mumbled a few words and laid his head back in the grass.
"Can you?" Ginny smiled. Her eyes were trained on him, watching his every movement like they mattered.
"Of course I can!" Harry replied adamantly.
"When was the last time you weren't in charge of what was happening? When you weren't calling the shots?" Harry was silent for a moment, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. "You have to stick it out, try again and this time – don't mention that you're the 'chosen one' when your boss asks why you think you're more experienced in fighting evil than he is."
"But I –"
"Doesn't mean he wants to hear it." She smiled, lying beside him, staring at the glowing stars twinkling in the soon to be light sky.

"You're lucky you don't have to deal with 'work', it's so much harder than Hogwarts," Harry sighed softly, reaching a hand out to entwine in hers.
"Yeah… lucky. You're lucky you never had to deal with the final exams. I haven't even gone back to Hogwarts and Mum is already on me about studying." They both continued to stare at the sky, the soft breeze turning colder as the night wore on. "I really don't want to go back next week," Ginny muttered venomously.
"Back to school already? Where did summer go?"
"I have no idea?! Only one more year though…" Her eyes were bright as she stared at the heavens, "I have to hold on for only one more year."

They lay together in the grass as the stars glimmered until the sun rose from its' bed. With telling groans, they managed to lift themselves to their feet, brushing off the grass that accumulated on their clothes. The pair both sighed as they made their way back to the burrow, preparing themselves for what was to come.
"I don't know if I'll be able to come see you… so that leaves what… Christmas?" He tried not to sound too worried as he looked back at his girlfriend, but traitorous sadness flowed from him.
"That's so far away," she groaned, and quickly wrapped her arms around his chest. He returned her hug; his nose finding the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent.
"We can do it," he said softly. "We'll write letters, and you can sneak to the fire late at night…" Harry trailed off, remembering all the times he had broken the rules to send a message out of Hogwarts. "Everything will be fine."
"But I'll miss you."
"We managed it during the war… we can do it again. Besides – it's not like either of us is in much danger anymore." Ginny nodded, heaving a woeful sigh as they made it back to the burrow.
"Breakfast?" She asked softly, nodding towards the front door.
"If I don't go soon, I'll be late – and Harvey hates the tardy!" Harry quoted, rolling his eyes. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek as he headed in the opposite direction, looking back once to see her leaning against the door frame, a soft smile on her lips. Christmas wouldn't come soon enough.

A/N: Words - 681

Flying Lessons #4 - "When you're sure you've had enough, of this life/Well hold on" - Everybody Hurts, R.E.M AND (plot) People are watching the stars in the story

Sept Event - 20. (dialogue) "Back to school already? Where did summer go?"