Author's Note: I hope you like it – I've been dry on inspiration lately.

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CHAPTER 26 – Sort of Fairytale

Ginny slowly woke up to the sunrise that next moment, finding Harry's arms wound about her tightly – her bare body against his.

She gentle nuzzled his nose before kissing him full on the mouth with as much love as she could muster.

Harry's arms drew her closer, his lips pressing back vigorously. Ginny sighed into the kiss, and both broke apart to breathe.

"I wish I could wake up every morning that way" Harry hugged her to his chest, resting his head in her hair.

"And I wish you would always be here, so that I could wake up with you." Ginny tightened her grip around Harry's torso.

Harry held her to him for dear life, refusing to linger on the thought of his imminent departure.

"Ginny, um, last night…" Harry ran his hands through his hair. "It was, wow, bloody incredible!"

"I know" Ginny brushed off her arms jokingly "I've got skills."

"You mean besides broomflying? Because you do that very well too" Harry chuckled, drawing her into him again and ksising her head. He wanted so badly to be wrapped in her body again, to feel himself inside of her – but he was sure the Weasley family would come looking for them.

Ginny could almost read Harry's mind through his eyes. "You think they know?"

"I don't know" Harry bit his lip "I forgot to put a silencing charm on the door."

In their haste, he had forgotten to do a lot of things. Ginny moaned softly, cowering back into the covers.

"We're not supposed to be in the same room! And we were really loud last night Harry!!" she whimpered.

Harry drew the covers from over her face, laughing. "Don't hide Ginny, it's all going to be fine."

In staring into Harry's eyes – feeling him by her, she was willing to believe anything he said.

She nodded, kissing him softly again.

"Ginny, I have…uh, an important question to ask."

Harry moved to shift out of the bed, but decided against it. He blushed.

"I was going to get on one knee, but seeing as I'm…nude and all,"

Ginny gasped, cupping her mouth. She sat up, holding the covers over her bare form.

Harry was now fully exposed due to Ginny's actions. "Hey!"

Ginny giggled as Harry toppled out of bed, throwing on his boxers. Ginny scooted to the end of the bed.

"Ginny," Harry got down on his knee, taking her hand. "I know that this isn't the, erm, perfect way to propose." Harry flushed even redder. He ran his hand through his hair nervously. Merlin I'm no good at these things.

"I've been meaning to ask you, for a while now, if…if you would marry me?"

Harry was thrown fully onto the floor by Ginny's weight, her lips crashing onto his.

Harry released a sigh. "I guess that's a yes then?"

"Harry, you've had my heart the moment I met you. Of course it's a yes!"

"Ginny," Harry held her shoulders. "You realize, that we have to keep this secret. Between us. I, I can't endanger you more than I have already."

Ginny nodded understandingly. Her family could wait, and so could she. A minor impediment to her sort of fairytale.

Yet she still couldn't stand the tortured look on his face.

"Harry?"

"Mhm?"

Ginny's fingers began to trace patterns on his chest. "I think you deserve punishment, you know…since it is all your fault…"

Puzzled at Ginny's suggestive words, it only hit him when Ginny threw the large comforter over them both, that Ginny was going to reward him for last night…

After a long, long,…long hot shower together, in which Harry diligently scrubbed every inch of Ginny's body, they finally made their entrance downstairs.

Harry beamed down at the red head, his arm wrapped around her protectively.

"Morning" Ginny chirped at Ron and Hermione in the living room, seating herself in the armchair by the fireplace.

Ron's face held a smug look – Hermione was crimson.

"Um, did we miss something?" Harry asked in concern.

"Uh, no, we heard everything." Ron burst out in amusement, laughing wildly at the horrified expressions plastered on Harry and Ginny's faces.

"Oh Ronald!" Hermione punched him hard. "Don't be a prat!!"

She looked apologizing at them. "I guess you two forgot the silencing spells."

"H-how did you?-"

"I'm in the room right beneath you" Hermione looked at Ginny remorsefully.

"Then what was Ron doing in your room last night if he heard it too?" Ginny turned to Ron with arms crossed.

Ron's laughing ceased. He instantly paled.

It was Harry's turn to laugh.

"Truce?"

"Truce." Ron shook Harry's hand. "I guess you're not angry at me anymore?"

"No," Ron shrugged "I figure, you're in love with her, and you're my best mate – besides, it's obvious you two are getting married."

Harry and Ginny exchanged furtive looks.

"Harry," Hermione broke the awkward silence. "I've been looking up the Horcruxes and thinking a lot lately about their history-"

"Oh, like last night for example?" Ginny teased. Hermione colored more than ever.

"Well, if it weren't for all the groaning and moaning above us, we could have done a lot more than just snog." Hermione folded her arms crossly.

"Uh," Ron ruffled the back of his hair uneasily. Hermione, appalled at her own outburst, covered her mouth instantly.

"I-I mean, w-w-we c-could have researched more on H-Helga's cup!" she stammered uncontrollably.

"Sure, Hermione, sure" Ginny nudged her shoulder. Hermione raced upstairs in embarrassment.

"Ginny!" Ron gave a disapproving look before darting after his new girlfriend.

He found her huddled into the wall on the third landing – her knees up to her chest. At the sight of Ronald on the staircase, Hermione immediately stood up.

"I'm, um,…really sorry about that Ron. I,…" what was she going to say now?!

"Hermione" Ron tenderly retrieved her hands from her face, pulling them down to her sides.

"It's okay. I can wait."

"Are…are you sure Ron?" her eyes scanned his beseechingly.

"Of course, we aren't Ginny and Harry. They were ready. We don't have to be." Ron soothingly wrapped his arms around her body, his fingers rubbing her back. Hermione almost purred at the feeling.

Hermione's body sunk in relief. "Thank you, Ronald" She never imagined Ron to be so…understanding.

If she only knew…Ron stared intently into Hermione's eyes. She's so innocent. I want it to be perfect for her, no matter how long I have to wait.

There was a sudden uproar downstairs – Tonks and Lupin had arrived.

Hermione laid a quick peck on Ron's lips before untangling herself from his arms.

"C'mon," she grabbed his hand, smiling hugely. Ron willingly let himself be pulled down the stairs by Hermione – reveling in the feel of her very hand in his.

"Watcher Harry!" Tonks grabbed Harry into a hug…for the first time. Ron and Harry's eyes got large. Was it her motherly instincts?

"How are you Tonks?" Hermione grinned, hugging Tonks lightly – afraid to touch her large bump.

"Oh, the best" she smiled warmly, her hand on her bump. Lupin stepped closer besides Tonks, unable to keep his flat-affect appearance. A grin was instantly showing on his lips.

"Nice to see you Harry" Lupin hugged him tentively.

"You too" things were still tense after their argument.

"Ginny!" Tonks gracefully leapt towards the littlest Weasley, who's face matched the color of her hair.

"H-hi Tonks."

"Oh Ginny!" Tonks swallowed Ginny in her warmhearted embrace. "I'm so excited for you, and Harry!"

"Congratulations Harry" Lupin gave Harry a heavy pat on the back, cracking a wholesome smile. "You're parents would be proud of you"

Sure, right…my parents would really approve of me impregnating the love of my life before marriage. Harry could just envision their faces.

Where they proud of him? Did they know how much he loved Ginny? That he had promised to marry her?

"C'mon, we have loads to talk about" Tonks grinned excitedly like some love-struck teenager. She led Ginny, with Hermione trailing behind, up the long staircase into the second floor study.

"So, how was it?"

"Hmmm?" Ginny sighed against Harry's chest. All four, including Hermione and Ron, were resting in front of the fireplace after supper – Harry and Ginny claiming the large loveseat on the right, and Hermione and Ron on the left.

Ginny could feel Harry's chest shake – knowing that his he was laughing.

"You're time with Tonks. Did she…help, with anything?"

"Yea, tons actually! Thank Merlin Hermione was there, I wouldn't be able to remember it all." Ginny blushed, burying herself deeper into Harry's sweatshirt – breathing in deeply.

Merlin he smells so good.

She hoped his smell would linger on her and the bed for a while after he left – but she wouldn't let herself believe he was leaving.

When Ginny realized Hermione and Ron were talking amongst themselves, and it was safe, she lifted her head from her hiding place underneath Harry's hold.

"Harry?"

"Ginny?" he cracked a smile.

Ginny struggled to muster the courage to talk – her eyes stuck to Harry's.

"Don't…don't be the hero, okay?" Ginny swallowed hard.

Harry's eyebrows creased into a frown.

"Ginny,-"

"Please, for me. I know that there are so many innocent people out there – but don't do anything stupid. I, I want you back. Please…" Ginny tried to steady her breathing as the wetness poured from her eyes and stung her cheeks.

Harry immediately enfolded Ginny into him. If he could have wrapped his body around her, he would have at that moment.

"Oh Ginny…" he buried his head in her hair, his own tears spilling over. Even he knew, he couldn't promise her that he would return.

"I promise you, Ginny…" but Harry never finished his sentence. Ginny only clutched more fiercely onto his shirt.

Ginny knew, that although Harry couldn't emit the words – he was promising her, that he would try his best to return…but that promises, sometimes, couldn't be kept.

Ginny just about burst into sobs if it weren't for the fact that her older brother and best girlfriend were sitting contently on the other side, chatting amongst themselves.

Eventually, Ginny's body grew heavy in Harry's arms.

"It's okay Ginny, I'll be here when you wake. Just fall asleep."

At Harry's soothing words, Ginny feel completely in Harry's arms. Knowing that at least for tonight, he would not have to go.

"Harry?"

Hermione's voice rose over the crackling of the dying embers in the fireplace. It was after midnight, and most had gone to sleep.

Harry could see the look on Hermione's face. He frowned, reading her all too well.

"Hermione, I'm not leaving her again!" Harry shouted in a warning whisper, his arms still protectively wrapped around Ginny's sleeping form cuddled into his body.

"Harry…"

"We've already found 4, the last two are the hardest, I think it might be the headdress – but I'm not sure, we don't know what that one is yet – but we already know that it's Helga's cup, Nigina – Ron destroyed the locket, and I destroyed the diary, and Dumbledore the ring-"

"Harry, you can't put this off any longer!" Hermione interrupted his intentional rant.

Harry peered back down longingly at Ginny's sleeping form. She was so innocent, so angelic in his arms. Tears started to fall.

"We need to find them Harry, or else you'll never get to be with Ginny. Properly."

Harry reluctantly nodded.

"When do we leave?"

"Tonight"

"Tonight?!"

"We can't make a scene, we need to leave now. I'm already packed, Ron's at the door, ready."

Tears were cascading down his cheeks like a waterfall. How could he bear to leave her again? He had promised her…

Harry nodded, summoning up all of his strength to lay Ginny fully down upon the couch, making her comfortable with a blanket.

"I will come back Ginny. I love you." He whispered into her ear softly. Ginny stirred softly, a smile appearing on her lips. Harry shut his eyes, forcing the tears to not fall, before writing a quick letter, putting down the mirror, and leaving to find his two best friends waiting at the door.