Thank you to gillyweed41 for some helpful commentary and suggestions- you're amazing! Check out her stories, she's a great writer.
Harry lay awake that night, the scene from last week torturing him in an endless loop.
He tentatively approached Ginny and nervously slid an arm around her slender waist. "I want to talk to you about something." He said.
They walked along for the most part silent except for meaningless small talk about the weather and such. They were both avoiding whatever was bothering Harry, living out there little bliss for as long as they could before the inevitable disruption.
Once they finally reach the bench in the orchard, their bench, Harry gathered up every drop of courage to deliver the news. It can't have been too much of a surprise to her really, I've been talking about becoming an Auror for years now he rationalized to himself.
"KingsleyjustcameandhewantsmetobeanAurorsoI'mgoingtobeonethisyear."
He said it in one breath, as he always did when he had to say something he knew might not end well.
"What? Harry, I can't understand a word you are saying."
"Kinglsey" deep breath "wants me" he paused again, "to become an auror" he waited a second before delivering the blow "Isaidyes."
Ginny's face flashed through more emotions in a few seconds then Harry knew to be possible. Initial shock, then worry, then excitement, then anger, then- was it grief? She buried her face in her arms and Harry saw tears slide down on to her dark green shirt.
He lifted her arms off her face and wiped away her tears. He cleared his breath to speak, but Ginny beat him to it.
"Harry, this it not okay. There is no more Dark Lord and justified flash decisions. I love you Harry and I really want to be with you, but you can't just make these huge decisions without atleast talking to me! WHAT ABOUT ME?"
Harry was dumbstruck. He never wanted Ginny to feel unimportant or second but he was never a natural with girls. He had always talked to Hermione and Ron about these types of things, but then again Ginny had always just been his best mate's little sister until recent times. He knew he had to change.
"Ginny, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, really. I'm just not always so good with these types of things."
"Just because it wasn't purposeful didn't mean you didn't do it. You didn't try to hurt me, but you also didn't pause think of whether you were hurting me."
"Damn it. I'm sorry I really am. It's just, I'm so used to it being just me and Ron and Hermione, but that's not how I want it. I want you by my side, now and always."
Ginny let out another stream of tears. Neither one of them was sure on what type of tears they were.
"Harry, I know nothing I can say will stop you, stubborn git as you are, but just think. You are so young and you've had so many years of uncertainty and danger, can't you at least squeeze in one safe one? A safe one with me? You've fought so hard, so don't give up your right to freedom and security right away. Hogwarts is your home, Harry. And Hogwarts is where I'm going to be. We've been waiting for a chance to have a real, normal teenage relationship for God-know-how-long and I don't fancy waiting anymore. WHAT ABOUT US?"
"Gin, I want to be with you all of the time more than you know. I want to be a normal teenager at school in a normal relationship. But, let's face it, I'm not a normal teenager. I've never been one and I never will be. I can't just ignore everything that's happened and return to a quiet schoolboy life."
"YOU COULD TRY, HARRY, YOU COULD TRY!"
With those words, she stormed off.
Harry couldn't get those words out of his head. He never believed in himself as much as others did. The night of the fight, a few agony-filled and heart-aching hours later, she had came into his room not to apologise, but to discuss what had happened. He knew he was the one who owed her an apology.
They settled on an agreement. They-both of them- would from now on, always consult the other on things like this. Ginny still wasn't having it. As understanding as she was, there are no ways to transfer an experience to someone else and have them fully understand. She could sympathise, but Harry's feelings were something ingrained in to him. She would never know what it was like to have been him and no one ever will. Thus, she hadn't given up on trying to convince him to stay at Hogwarts.
They're on the brink of a pivotal point in their relationship. Next chapter or the one after that will be at Hogwarts.
