A/N: Alright pals, this was my favorite chapter to write to date! It just had such a fun balance of fluff and fun for me. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Five: The Party

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"She's beautiful. Like…so gorgeous I can't believe I didn't truly notice until this week. And funny. Merlin, is she funny! Today, we just talked for hours. And my cheeks hurt from the smiling. We talked about real things, and about dumb things. She's as good as me at Quidditch. And when we were on our brooms together, it just felt right, you know?

"She does this thing. It's silly, and it's funny. But it's important. She pretends like I'm a big deal. But she's pretending. And she knows she's pretending, and I know she's pretending, and anyone who overhears us knows she's just joking around. She'll say, 'Oh, the great Harry Potter has graced us with his presence.' But it's funny and charming and good-humored; not like when Malfoy does it. Not at all like that.

"And because she's pretending I'm a big deal…I'm not a big deal. You know? We joke about me being the Chosen One, so when I'm with her I'm not the Chosen One. Because it's a joke, right?

"I don't know if this makes any sense. But it feels so right. And it feels so good to be with her. And I think I really fucked things up."

Harry took a sharp breath. "Sorry for my language, Mum."

And it struck Harry then that he didn't know if his mum would be offended by such language. He didn't know her at all. He looked at the tombstones of his parents. They were simple. Names, dates, and a short inscription.

'Unified in love, in life, and in death. Their sacrifice will be felt forever.'

The word hadn't been peculiar to Harry until today. Unified. Had his parents entered a Magical Union together? Were they reaping the rewards even in death?

Harry hoped so. And he hoped he could too. He regretted how things ended with Ginny today. He wished he'd been able to express himself better. That he could explain his hesitations and his hopes. But how could he put feelings into words when those feelings were so jumbled Harry couldn't even make sense of them?

He didn't know. But, he'd learned that he could at least try. He owed Ginny that much.

And so he made a plan. He went to his vault to fetch his mum's wedding ring, just in case. Then he went home, and cleaned Grimmauld Place with the help of Kreacher, just in case. His bedroom was of particular focus, just in case. He bought candles and wine, just in case. And after fretting about his lack of experience, he went to a muggle store he'd seen a pair of times in his travels and bought a film, just in case.

It felt wrong to be watching such a film on the day of his marriage and possible consummation. But Harry justified it by saying it was to rid him of ignorance. At the store, he had even asked the clerk for a film that would show him how to make it a good experience for the girl. And while Harry was very aroused while watching the film, he didn't even rub one out and relieve himself. Instead, he took parchment and quill, and took meticulous notes, rewinding certain parts to make sure he was seeing things right. Miraculously, he thought of Ginny all the while, and wondered if he could do this with her tonight.

After another stretch of cleaning to cool down, Harry showered and readied himself for the evening.

It was time he talked to Ginny.

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Harry loved the Weasleys. He was an honorary Weasley, after all. Arthur treated him like a son. Ron was a brother to him. He had even been added to the family clock despite spending most of the past year in "Mortal Peril," and aging Molly an extra few years in the process. The family was loving, and tight-knit, and everything he imagined a family should be.

And he wished they would all just go away.

Getting Ginny alone for a minute at a family function was the equivalent of grabbing a soaring snitch without a broom. He'd tried to distract Ron by convincing the Twins to light his pants on fire, only to be pulled aside by Arthur to be asked about where he could purchase a Chia pet. He made an escape by telling him, "Hermione got to use the internet this summer," and vowed to apologize to her later for it when Arthur went scurrying off to find her.

Unfortunately, the brief interaction caught Bill's attention, and the older Weasley blocked the doorway. "I saw you chatting with Ranok the Goblin at the Ministry yesterday," he said while nursing a Butterbeer. Harry peered over Bill's shoulder to see Ginny in the kitchen with her mother. "He didn't give you any problems, right?"

Harry bit back a scoff. He'd certainly been a messenger of a pretty big problem. "No," Harry answered instead. "Ranok has been nothing but helpful these last couple of years. Has made my vault situation easy to understand and I feel like my parent's fortune has been well taken care of."

Bill looked satisfied, but didn't move. "Yes, he's one of the better Goblins at Gringotts. Made me feel as welcome as—"

Harry tuned Bill out. Not intentionally. Or because he wasn't interested. Well, he wasn't. But that's only because he had much more pressing concerns right now. Normally, he'd love to chat with Bill. He didn't know him nearly as well as he'd like. And he knew that Bill had always been Ginny's favorite.

A smile came to his face, and his focus returned to Bill.

"Bill," Harry interrupted him in the middle of a story about Bill accidentally walking into the Goblin restroom and needing to have his memory wiped. "Sorry to interrupt, but could you tell me about Ginny?"

Bill's eyes narrowed, and Harry wanted to kick himself for his lack of tact or subtlety. "Why?" the eldest Weasley asked in a low voice.

Harry felt sweat form on his forehead. "Erm…bought her a birthday present and wanted to know if she'd like it? And you're her favorite brother, so I figured you'd know."

It must have been a believable enough request. Or the flattery distracted him. Either way, while he still looked at him appraisingly, Bill's suspicious tone disappeared. "What did you get her?"

Harry didn't mention the wedding ring, or that he'd thought about getting a certain toy that might help him in the bedroom later. Probably not a great idea.

"Tickets to the Harpy's next week," he answered instead. He'd actually bought them a few days ago when Molly had first told him they'd be having a party today.

Bill smiled. "Good one, Harry. Quidditch is a safe bet for any Ginny gift. And the Harpy's are her dream of course."

Harry nodded. He knew all of this. "Safe, huh? So if I wanted to branch out at Christmas?"

Bill's eyes narrowed again. "Got a thing for my sister, Potter?"

Harry shrugged. "Yeah."

Bill was taken aback. Harry supposed the man expected to be an intimidating older brother. And maybe he was, under different circumstances. But having a deadline to determine the duration of a Magical Union tended to put a new perspective on things.

Also, Harry killed fucking Voldemort a week ago. He wasn't going to be scared by an older brother, no matter how cool the guy was.

"Oh…okay, then," Bill finally responded. Harry wasn't sure if that meant he had Bill's approval or if he'd just taken him by surprise. He continued anyways. "Ginny puts up this strong front—and she is strong, don't get me wrong. But the tough exterior is actually just a way to keep all of us in check. The second someone needs her help, Ginny is there. She's not too tough or smart or proud for anyone. The best gift is to be that person to her, too."

Harry felt himself smiling, and glanced behind Bill again to where Ginny was helping her mum organize a platter of food. It was clear Molly was stressed as all the guests arrived, and despite it being her birthday and her party, Ginny was more concerned about her mum.

"How bad you got it for her, Potter?" Bill asked, a smirk on his lips.

"Getting worse every minute, Bill," Harry replied with a chuckle. "Excuse me."

Bill let Harry by and into the kitchen, where he caught the two Weasley women's attention at last. Ginny looked right back down to the platter of crackers and cheese she was laying out, while Molly positively beamed at Harry.

"Oh, Harry dear, I'm so glad you could make it. Will you help Ginny with the cheese and crackers?"

"Gladly," Harry responded, trying to get Ginny's attention. She wouldn't look up.

Molly moved to the other end of the kitchen to start frosting the cake, leaving Harry and Ginny in relative privacy. "I figured she'd try to pair us off again," Harry said with a smile.

Ginny lifted her head at last, but there was no amusement in her eyes. But Harry noted she wasn't angry either. Ginny was simply distracted. She had something on her mind. Harry knew the feeling, but had at least drawn one conclusion in his mess of a mind. Be honest.

"I want to apologize," he said under his breath. "The truth is that I really, really, really liked our day together. Hell, I'll say it, I really, really, really like you. And that should make things easy, right? But it doesn't. It makes it harder. Because if we'd had an awful day together, then saying 'no' would be simple, you know? But instead, I can legitimately envision a…future with you. And that scares me. It scares me to think I have this potentially great thing to commit to that I can't even begin to fathom. And it's not just committing to marriage. It's a Magical Union, and the commitment starts with…well, it starts with sex. Like, tonight, Ginny, and I have no idea what I'm doing. And what if none of this works out, right? What if a month from now, the way I eat starts to get on your nerves? Like, I chew loudly or something? Or maybe I leave toe nail clippings on the bathroom floor and it grosses you out? You realize I'm a slob and you hate the idea of being married to me, and we split, and now I've basically forced myself on you to save this potential Union that neither of us can possibly know the success of, even if I hope so badly it will work."

Harry took a deep, long breath. Ginny merely stared at him, wide-eyed. He blushed and glanced at Molly to make sure she hadn't caught what he'd been saying. She appeared focused on her cake still. "So, I'm sorry I didn't want to talk about it earlier. I don't even know what I'm thinking and feeling, so I didn't have any idea how to express it. I still don't."

Ginny pulled him into a fierce hug and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. It felt nice. Better than nice. It felt right.

"I'm sorry, too," Ginny said. "I guess it was unfair to expect you to talk when you have so much you're unsure about."

He rubbed his hands up and down her back. "Unfair or not, it's the reality of the situation, and we needed to talk. We still do."

Ginny pulled back. "First of all, Harry, please don't worry about 'forcing yourself on me' as you put it. If we decide to do this, it will be a mutual decision. If we do it, and it ends up being a mistake, it's one that I would be able to own. I can't speak for you, of course, but I promise you wouldn't have to worry about me."

And an unknown weight lifted. This hypothetical scenario that had been bothering him was no longer a bother.

"Secondly," she continued with a smile. "Are you a slob?"

Harry shrugged, fighting a smile of his own. "I don't think so. But I don't think people are the best at seeing their own faults."

"No, that's what spouses are for, right?"

They grinned at each other, and Harry's heart thudded painfully in his chest. He really liked this girl.

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "And I had a really nice day, too, Harry."

She blushed, and it was adorable. Harry's stomach fluttered and he wished so badly he had months to court this girl instead of hours. But it was undeniable at this point that he wanted to court her.

And then Molly was in their bubble, berating them for not finishing their platter yet, asking Harry to set up tables outside, and telling Ginny to go get dressed for the party. Harry thought she looked great in the shorts and shirt she'd been in all day, but shrugged when Ginny sent him an apologetic look and hurried to the stairs.

A minute later, Ron found him and asked to help set up a few tables and chairs outside.

"So," Harry began as he settled the table in place and gave it an experimental shuffle, as if afraid it might scurry away if he didn't get it just right. "Your little sister is of age now."

Ron's head shot up, and his eyes narrowed at Harry. "Could you have phrased that any more creepily?"

Harry cursed himself again. Where was his subtlety the last couple of days? Must have left it at the figurative alter.

He chuckled in what he hoped was a lighthearted manner. "I just mean…must be pretty strange for you. She's probably still that little, annoying sister of six that wouldn't leave you alone, eh?"

Ron stayed frowning, but seemed mollified. "I guess," he replied. "But in truth, she might have talked a lot as a kid, but she was never annoying. I actually sort of missed her when you showed up and she forgot how to talk." He grinned. Harry didn't feel like grinning.

"Why didn't we ever hang out with her?"

Ron's smile faded too. He shrugged. "We had just shared this incredible first year, and even though Mum knew I was involved, she didn't know how dangerous it was, did she? So I couldn't really share it with my family. That sort of meant you and Hermione were all who I wanted to be around. Y'know?"

Harry did know. And now he regretted it. Thinking of the years he could have spent getting to know Ginny better. Spend time with her. Who knows? Maybe he would have fallen in love over these past few years, and tonight wouldn't even be a big deal.

"No," Ron said again when it became apparent Harry wasn't going to respond. Ron studied him while he spoke. "Ginny was never the annoying sister I made her out to be, and we got close again this past year when you were off with Dumbledore all the time. The only thing that feels weird about her coming of age is that now she can actually use the magic she so often threatens me with when I annoy her."

Instead of shuddering with fear, Ron actually smiled at the thought of Ginny hexing him.

"Not scared, I see?" Harry asked with a smile.

"Terrified," Ron corrected, grinning back at him. Then his eyes flitted over Harry's shoulder. "But we all know Ginny's bark can be worse than her bite. And her love is much bigger than her temper."

Harry turned around to see where Ron was looking, and time stopped. Harry was sure of it. Trees ceased their rustle in the wind. Charlie froze mid-step while balancing cups and plates in his arms. And Harry's heart stopped beating.

Because Ginny stepped out of the house, and she was a vision. Her hair was down, the red shades framing her face and falling over her shoulders carelessly. Her pale blue sundress left those shoulders mostly bare, but for thin straps that merely drew Harry's eyes to her exposed collarbone. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the evening sunlight. The dress wasn't particularly low cut, but it didn't stop Harry from tracing her skin down to the blue fabric where the swell of her breasts was visible. His eyes tracked down further, where the dress fanned out and her shapely legs carried her out of the house and into the yard.

Time resumed, and she walked across the grass, barefoot and carefree and beautiful.

"Might want to close that mouth of yours, mate," Harry heard Ron say from his side. "Might make a bloke wonder about the things you're thinking about his sister."

Harry swiveled to look at Ron, snapping his mouth shut in the process. His best mate of seven years looked on the edge of laughter and anger.

"Listen, Ron," Harry started, but it was much harder to admit this sort of thing to Ron than to Molly or Bill. Why was that?

"Harry," Ron shook his head, the amusement winning out over any anger on his face. "I missed you this past year, what with you being gone with Dumbledore so much of the school year. But even when you came back, you weren't quite yourself."

Harry frowned. He'd really tried to separate his Voldemort-hunting self from the person that his friends saw. It was his frequent returns to Hogwarts that had kept him sane the past year. But it saddened him to learn he wasn't a good friend. Or at least, the friend they knew.

Ron continued, a smile on his lips. "When you came back, you were present, but absent at the same time. You had a lot to worry about, so I understood. Hermione and I tried our best to be supportive, to be your friends who you could just have some fun with. But you know the one time I saw Harry Potter, my best mate?"

Harry shook his head.

"When you were around her," he chuckled, nodding his head at Ginny.

Harry looked back across the yard at her. She was laughing at something Bill was telling her. Her smile made Harry's stomach flip, and he thought back on the last year. The laughs that had come from her. The freedom that she had made him feel even when he'd been a slave to a prophecy and a duty.

"How did I never see it?" Harry asked softly.

Ron shrugged to his side. "You were distracted. Hell, I went through the same thing with Hermione. It wasn't until you left and took all your drama with you that she and I realized what we had together."

Harry laughed and finally turned back to his oldest friend. "So you're blaming me for your thick head?"

Ron nodded. "I think you mooning over my sister now that your own drama is gone is all the proof we need."

Harry shook his head. "I'm afraid the drama is just starting, Ron. But thank you anyway for bringing my own thick head to my attention."

Harry bid farewell to Ron in a misguided attempt to find and isolate Ginny. He needed to talk to her again. He felt ready to explode with all of the confusing feelings inside of him, and just needed to get it all out there. He wanted to hold her hand, and touch the bare skin of her arms, run his thumb over her cheeks. He wanted to kiss her!

However, getting Ginny alone again proved impossible. And he tried. But with a dozen family members and a couple dozen more friends all here for her, Harry couldn't exactly take her away from them. At least not yet.

Tonight…

Well tonight was another matter. And it just added to the swirling mess in his stomach and heart and head. The mere idea that tonight could find their limbs tangled together with bed sheets made Harry's breath catch in his chest. All he could do was look across the party at her, seemingly careless as she chatted with Luna and Neville over plates of cake.

She caught him staring more than once, and they'd share a look. Like the look now. Neville was oblivious to her inattention. He probably blabbered on about some herb or rare plant, but Harry saw in her eyes where her mind was. On him. On her husband.

And dare he believe it, when she blinked and bit her bottom lip. She might just be thinking of his husbandly duties. A fire lit in his gut.

"If this party goes much longer," Harry jumped at the sudden interruption to his left. "I'm afraid the other guests are going to become voyeurs when you and Ginny can't resist each other any longer."

"Sweet Fucking Merlin, Hermione," Harry said, clutching at his thumping heart. "You're lucky I didn't reach for my wand and hex you. Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Harry," Hermione placated, like talking to a four-year-old. She squeezed his arm. "A slight breeze would have startled you. I've never seen you so lost in another world. And that's saying something."

"Well, I've got a lot on my mind," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. After another quick glance at Ginny, he finally turned and appraised Hermione completely.

She looked nice, dressed neatly for a summer night, bushy hair as wild as ever. But the look in her eyes prevented Harry from inspecting her much more. She looked positively calculating.

"I think you've got exactly one thing on your mind," she responded with a smirk. "Or one person, rather."

He groaned and turned back to Ginny, who had given her attention back to Neville. He made large gesticulations with his arms and hands that could have represented an ejaculating hippogriff for all Harry knew.

"At this rate, the entirety of Britain will know that I fancy her by night's end."

Hermione looked taken aback. "Wow, Harry…I did not expect you to be so forthright about it. When did this happen?"

Harry shrugged. "A lot has happened in the last day, Hermione. But I'm starting to wonder if I haven't fancied her for a lot longer than I realize."

She frowned, studying Harry even deeper. Knowing his good friend, Harry wouldn't be shocked if she were to deduce the complete happenings of the past day just from his facial expressions and vague explanations. But she didn't.

"I always thought you two had a deeper connection than you let on—I even asked Ron last year if he thought you two might be in a sort of secret relationship. But you're telling me you didn't even realize it until yesterday?"

Harry sighed. "I was pretty busy last year, I guess."

Hermione nodded. "If anyone has an excuse, it's you, Harry."

They fell into companionable silence for a moment, but Harry decided to continue taking advantage of this time he couldn't be talking to Ginny by talking about Ginny. "So, what do you think?" he asked. "Have I got a shot? Have I hit the jackpot here?"

Hermione laughed. "Have you ever," she scoffed. "Near top of her class in marks. Quidditch Captain. Not a prefect, and won't be Head Girl, which I suspect is a check in the 'pro' column for a rule-breaker like yourself. Knockout beauty, powerful witch, fiercely loyal. And the best thing of all…she likes you for some reason."

Hermione smiled at him good-naturedly. Harry shook his head. "Careful, Hermione. Ron's rubbed off on you. Sarcasm? Soon you'll be saying 'Bloody hell' through a mouthful of sweets."

She continued smiling, but did adopt a much more matter-of-fact tone when she spoke again. "Harry, in all seriousness, she's amazing. She's been my best girl friend for years, and I can't have asked for better. She's kind, and caring, and loyal, and everything a guy could hope for."

He turned back to Ginny across the party and resumed his borderline creepy observation of her.

"I'm starting to think that, too, Hermione."

The rest of the evening seemed to go splendidly for the guests of the party. Not for Harry, necessarily. He alternated between checking his watch and checking out Ginny, with the periodic interruption of a guest talking to him. He managed to steer most of the conversations toward the birthday girl, with subtlety at varying levels of success.

Fred and George teased him about his interest, but didn't dwell on a potential crush he may or may not have. Instead they told him about her devious side. The only sibling they feared, and the one they respected the most.

Remus stopped to talk with him, and Harry jumped at the opportunity to ask about a Magical Union.

"Why do you ask?" Remus said, gaze askance. "Did you know I've been thinking about asking Tonks?"

Harry felt his mouth drop. "Remus, that's great! Congratulations!"

"Well, it's not official yet." Remus held his hands out in front of him in a gesture for Harry to keep it down. "It's just, with Teddy being born a few months ago, and seeing her with him...I just know I want her forever, you know?"

Harry's heart thudded wonderfully against his chest. "I brought it up because I saw the word "Unified" on my parents gravestones, and wondered..."

Remus gave a soft smile. "Yes, they actually entered into a Magical Union with their marriage. It was more common back then than it is now, particularly with the war going on. People just didn't know how long they'd have, you see. But still, it was rare."

Harry bit back a scoff, wondering if he should ask Remus if his and Ginny's situation was rarer. Instead, he nodded. "I'm glad they had that," he admitted.

"If anyone was ready for the Union, it was them."

"What do you mean?" Harry wondered. "Just that they knew they wanted forever with each other?"

"Well, yes," Remus said. "But the magic of the Union isn't just about after death. It intensifies everything. Attraction, frustration, love, hate. And your parents had figured out the frustration and hate part during their years at Hogwarts. When it came time for the Union, most of what was left was just the love. And it showed."

"So, it doesn't manufacture the love?"

"Oh no." Remus shook his head. "The reason marriage and the Union are often separated is because arranged marriages were common until just a few decades ago. And nothing would ruin a marriage faster than the heightened experience of the Union."

A week ago, Harry had been on a battlefield. There were dozens of people, creatures, and spells flying around him. Death and pain and terror swirled about the battle like a tempest, and it was all so overwhelming. Harry hadn't been able to think.

And then Voldemort appeared, and everything became clear and focused.

After Remus's words, Harry felt that same sense of disorder as he had on the battlefield. Brief thoughts of a doomed marriage and of unfair feelings and magic flitted about his mind. But he couldn't grasp onto a single thought. Couldn't make sense of his feelings and hopes and thoughts. There was an incessant buzz, and Harry just couldn't escape it.

And then Ginny appeared, and everything became clear and focused.

She stood, speaking with Luna across the way, eyes alight with life and love.

She was so beautiful. And that was a pre-existing thought before the Union amplified it.

He loved the day spent with her. And that feeling wasn't created by magic. It was authentically his.

She was funny. She was kind. She understood him. He wanted to be around her. Had he been paired with someone else, he might find that person excessively dull, mean, antagonistic, and he'd want to be as far away as possible.

The Union hadn't made him want Ginny. That was all himself.

"Thank you, Remus," Harry said, voice shaking. He managed to pull his eyes off of Ginny for the briefest of moments.

"You're welcome, Harry," Remus said with a smile before moving on his way. The man likely thought he'd just shared some lovely information about James and Lily—and he had, certainly. But what he'd unwittingly done is make Harry certain. Secure.

He found Ginny again, and this time could not look away from her. Because now he knew what tonight would mean, if he could convince her. Her eyes met his after a moment, and a fire erupted in Harry's chest.

Luna turned to follow Ginny's gaze, and quirked her head. She walked away from Ginny without a word, and came straight to him. Harry tried to busy himself, finding a drink and pretending to be observing everyone at the party, not just Ginny. Despite this, he knew he'd want to talk with Luna about Ginny anyways, figuring the childhood friend might have something of interest to say.

As it turned out, Harry didn't need to bring up the topic. The first thing Luna did when seeing Harry was say, "You and Ginny have a particularly strong sexual aura tonight."

Harry spit out the punch he was drinking, and coughed for a good ten seconds before he could ask in a whisper, "What!"

She didn't appear phased by his reaction. "Oh yes. When the female Snorkack is in heat and finds the male it wants to mate with, they give off a distinct magical aura."

Face flushed, Harry tried to keep her attention diverted. "You've finally found the Snorkack, have you?"

"No," Luna said, dreamy expression. "But now that I've felt the energy between you and Ginny, I'll know what to look for. I'm leaving for Sweden first thing tomorrow."

"Great Godric Gryffindor," Harry managed, looking up to the sky. He needed all of this embarrassment and torture to end. "Help me finish this night."

"Oh, I assume it will be Ginny who helps you finish," Luna commented, not a hint of irony to her voice.

She turned and left Harry to sputter and blush on his own. Blessedly, this was when the party started to wrap up. Soft pops signaled the disapparation of several guests, as the Weasleys and Harry began to clean up.

Albus Dumbledore, who had made a late appearance to the happy gathering, made his way over to Harry while he stacked discarded plates and brushed crumbs from the tables.

"Harry," the aged professor said. "Might I enquire as to your and Miss Weasley's decision regarding your Union?"

Harry sighed. It was honestly a little relieving to have someone to talk to. Harry wondered if Ginny had told anyone. He figured she hadn't. Molly would either be having a conniption or throwing a second party. Perhaps both. Arthur would have set him down for a talk. Any of her brothers would have told the other brothers, and they'd be having a sit-down with Harry to threaten him and ask his intentions—as if any of this had been intended. Hermione would have cornered him and tried to figure out how the Union contract got signed, as if that was more important than the decision they had to make.

No. She hadn't told anyone. And this made him sad for her, that she was dealing with this mostly on her own.

"We haven't made a decision one way or the other, sir," Harry explained, choosing not to reveal his own thoughts on the matter until he had discussed them with Ginny. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, and Harry knew he was wondering if he needed to state the obvious.

They had less than two hours to make a decision.

"We had a great day," Harry continued. "Like…really great. So much so that I'm terrified I'm going to fall in love with this girl. And if a Magical Union isn't possible with her a few months or years from now when we had the chance to preserve it…"

Dumbledore nodded. "I see you've made an effort to weigh your options. I'm proud of both of you."

And with that, the man turned to leave. The gall!

"What?" Harry pestered. "That's it? No advice? No wisdom for me?"

Dumbledore turned, a twinkle in his eye, expression caught somewhere between amusement and sadness. "My dear boy," he said with a shake of his head. "After all you've been through, to have this situation forced upon you, you've had enough of your life dictated to you. I'm not going to do anything to sway your choices. They're yours."

Dumbledore hesitated, and in the beat of silence Harry felt immense gratitude for the notion. Then he spoke again. "Once you've made your decision, I'll share my thoughts. Assuming you made the right one, of course," he added with a wink.

And then he was gone, too, and Harry was left with only the Weasleys. A small enough number of people that Ginny could at least approach him and give him a brief message.

"I'll meet you at Grimmauld Place in half an hour."

He couldn't read her expression. Her voice was tight. She couldn't seem to make up her mind whether she should maintain eye contact with him or study whatever lint or dandruff he apparently had on his shoulder. But, Merlin, was she beautiful. That's something Harry could see plain as day.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Good idea."

And then she was gone, too. Inside the house. Perhaps plotting her escape.

An escape to his home. Where they'd be alone at last. To…well, to do anything.

The next thirty minutes passed in a hazy blur of anxiety. He vaguely registered his actions in helping clean up the party. He may or may not have said goodbye to Ron. Maybe he got a hug from Molly. When he got home, he paced in his sitting room. Kreacher came in at one point and asked him something. Harry didn't really hear him, and sent him away. He'd probably have to apologize later for his dismissive behavior.

Crack.

And there she was, standing in front of him. She tucked her wand away and then her fingers played at the hem of her dress. He was glad she hadn't changed out of it.

"Hey," he said, breathless.

"Hi," was her simple reply.

"You look really pretty tonight, Gin," he said, because his mind couldn't really form thoughts beyond simple truths.

"I felt you watching me," she said with a nervous smile.

"Couldn't stop thinking about you. About tonight."

"And what thoughts were those?" she asked. In a different tone, it might have been sexy, inviting. But she was nervous. Genuinely curious what he was thinking. It broke his heart. How could she not know?

"That if you'll have me, I want to be your husband, Ginny. And that means we've got less than an hour to have sex."

A/N: Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun! Surely you can guess what the next chapter will entail. A little talking. And a little not-talking.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading, and do leave a thought or two if you feel so inclined!