A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters
Word Count: 1164
The air swirled with frosty white flakes of snow. There was already a decent amount of snow on the ground. It crunched as Ginny walked. She loved the sound, loved the feel of the freshness of the world. The whiteness covered everything like a gentle blanket, softening every little angle.
This was the only time where she could understand the hopefulness of the world. She'd come to the smallish park for a chance to just get away from everything. Here, no one knew who she was. No one knew she was a war heroine, no one knew she was a chaser for the Harpies. Here, she was just a redhaired woman walking in the snow.
She tilted her head up and caught a few of the snowflakes on her tongue. She smiled at the innocence of the act. It reminded her of childhood, when everything had made sense and she hadn't known evil yet.
"Ginny? Hey! Wait up!"
Ginny paused, shoving her gloved hands in her coat pockets. It was cold enough the knitted gloved didn't quite keep them warm. She wondered who had found her here. It wasn't like it was too far from where she lived. She knew there were several entrances to the wizarding world nearby. She waited until the footsteps caught up to her and turned to see who had managed to find her.
"Neville, what a surprise. I thought you were staying at the school this holiday?" she asked, as she fell into step with him.
"I was planning to, but Gran... she had a bad spell and I had to come home. She's fine now."
"Good. How did you find me?"
"I didn't, not really. I was coming here myself and I happened to see your hair."
"There's more than one red haired woman in this world, Neville,"Ginny countered, biting back a laugh.
"True, but none of them move like you do, the way you favor being on your toes, the way you move with confidence even through the snow. It couldn't have been anyone else," Neville stated. Ginny felt her face flush slightly. He'd noticed how she walked? That wasn't something most people paid attention to. They always talked about her hair, her eyes, how pretty she would be if she wore make up.
"I never thought about that. Where are you heading?" she asked.
"There's a little coffee shop just on the other side of the park. I thought I'd get a cup of tea. They have this really good vanilla chai-" Neville started saying. Ginny burst out laughing, interrupting him.
"Sorry, I never thought you for the chai type, but you're right, they do have the best vanilla. I was going to grab one myself, if you'd care to join me?" she asked. Neville blinked but nodded.
"I'd like that, Ginny. It'd be nice to catch up with someone who isn't asking me the same questions over and over again."
"Same. How's Hogwarts?" she asked, as they walked through the park. They passed a group of screaming children making snow angels.
"It's both the same and different from when we were there. I mean, classes are pretty similar and obviously the students don't change much. There's a girl in second year Slytherin that kind of reminds me of you actually."
"Really? How so?" Ginny asked, wondering what would have happened if the she'd agreed with the hat and been placed in Slytherin.
"She's got the same confidence you do and she's a terror on a broom. Gryffindor's lost the last three matches against Slytherin."
"Shame, maybe there'll be some new players next year. I mean, eventually the school will be full of Weasleys again. Bill and Fleur have one. Percy's getting married next year. I think most of us want large families."
"What about you?"
"No, not happening. I am not having more than three kids. Just thinking about it, what Mum had to deal with with the seven of us, and then adding Harry into the mix. He was like yet another brother. She might as well have adopted him."
"I thought you and him?"
"I thought so too, but it didn't work out. What about you, Neville? Seeing anyone?" Ginny asked, as they reached the end of the path. The open street was ahead of them and across from it the Gingerbread Shack stood with its green and red awnings.
"No, I'm not seeing anyone at the moment. Hannah and I tried, but we're just not as compatable as we thought. Besides, she didn't like vanilla chai and walks in the snowy park," Neville added. Ginny giggled.
"Those are two very important things I think one should look for in a partner," she laughed.
"Um, Ginny, I was wondering..."
"Yes?" Ginny asked, wondering if Neville had realized what she'd been hinting at, or if he was still sweetly oblivious.
"There's going to be an opening for a Quidditch instructor at Hogwarts in the Autumn. Would you be interested?" Neville blurted out. Ginny blinked. That had not been what she'd hoped he would ask.
"I might be, I mean, we'd get to see each other a lot more," she replied as they headed into the coffee shop.
"True, you'd have a very flexible schedule, so you wouldn't have to quit playing. The students would probably love to be taught by a real life pro player."
"I know I would have been over the moon at the idea," Ginny laughed, as they walked to the counter.
"Two vanilla chais please," Neville ordered. Ginny looked at him. He smiled at her. She felt her heart melt slightly. She wondered why she'd never realized how cute he was, and why she had wasted so much time chasing Harry during their school years.
"Um, thank you," she said softly, tucking a strand of hair that had come loose from her hat behind her ear.
"I know it's falling out of fashion, but I think the guy should pay for drinks on the first date, if you'd be alright with that?" Neville asked. Ginny felt her face flush again.
"I.. yes, that's fine with me," she stuttered. "And what about the rules of teachers dating one another?" she asked, as Neville grabbed their drinks and carried them over to a small table in the corner.
"Nothing against it. I checked," he stated. Ginny giggled, sliding into her seat.
"Good, in that case, owl me the details about the position, I think I am interested in it after all," she added, giving Neville a large smile as she took a sip of her drink. "And definitely getting to know a certain herbology professor a whole lot better," she added.
"Good, I'll let you know about the position and I'd love it if we could meet up again, next Hogsemeade weekend maybe?"
"That sounds perfect, I'm really glad I ran into you," Ginny agreed as they drank their drinks in relative silence, lost in each others eyes and what might be.
