***A/N: sorry for the long wait, I have been lazy lately. No excuse for it, I was lazy. And I'm sorry for it. Thanks for waiting, though! I love you all who reviewed [notice how I profess my love to the reviewers in every chapter? Hehehe] and those who plan on doing so!

And I still don't own any of the characters… [this is getting annoyingly customary, the whole 'I don't own' thing, but heck! That doesn't change the fact that I don't want to get sued by people who claim that I didn't do the whole 'I don't own' thing.] I'm very talkative today…

Ok! On with the story which I have dragged you into!

Chapter 15: Apologies

Harry Potter. That was just about all that occupied any conscious thought that happened to wander in her brain.

Harry Potter. The emerald green eyes. The unruly black hair. The trademark lightning shaped scar. It all belonged to Harry Potter.

Ginny hadn't taken a good look at him since…

It had been a while since Ginny forced herself into ignoring Harry Potter and everything associated with him.

But now that she has a more or less clear look at the boy for the first time since then, and despite the muffled protests in her brain screaming 'no! not again!', she couldn't help but fall helplessly in daze at the mere sight of him. Even if the sight was brought about by the very uncomfortable position that she got them into.

They were still practically sprawled on the floor with Harry wincing in pain and Ginny on top of him, inevitably staring stupidly at the specimen before her, thoughts starting to linger in her addled brain.

I almost forgot how good he looks…

I almost forgot the unique feeling he gives me just by simply being there…

I almost forgot…

"Ginny" Harry started, yanking Ginny out of her own world and pushing her into reality.

Ginny shook her head, as if waking from a dream, which somehow was what she was in. She looked at Harry, her face going from dazed to angry when her mind finally registered that this was wrong. She scrambled to get away from Harry and after succeeding, stood up and eyed Harry as he did the same.

When they were both composed and standing apart from each other, Harry once again was the one who broke the awkward silence.

"Malfoy told me to meet you here."

"He didn't tell me you were going to be here" Ginny said, her voice cold.

"I guess he knew that you would refuse if he did"

"Why would Draco do this?" Ginny demanded angrily

"He wants to let me explain to you all the things I need to" answered Harry

"He wouldn't do that"

"Look, he wouldn't have let me meet you here if he knew I was up to no good. I need to talk to you and you need to listen" Harry's voice was commanding, and this was because he was determined to explain things, no matter what.

Ginny frowned at him, but surprisingly said, "Fine. I came here anyway. So just say what it is you need to. I want to get this over with."

Harry was relieved to hear her say that she would listen. Although she said it in a rather cold manner, it still meant good.

"Thank you. Now where do I start…" his voice trailed off as he scratched his head sheepishly

"Why don't you start by how you kissed Cho?" Ginny said, growing annoyed.

"Gin, I didn't mean that! She was drunk. She was thinking of Cedric at that moment. She needed someone. I happened to be there. She kissed me. I would have pulled away, even if you weren't there. I'm sorry." He said this all without even pausing to breathe, but Ginny caught each word anyway. What triggered her though, was the 'Cho was thinking of Cedric' part.

Slowly her mind opened. What if she was left by a loved one so suddenly, without even a goodbye? What if she was left mourning? Thinking of all the regrets that arrived when she was abandoned? What if all she had were memories to relive and dreams to linger? What if it haunts her every night? Every day? Every hour? Every second?

Her brows furrowed at the similarities that she had with Cho. When she left Harry, she went to Draco.

Oh. My. God.

She was just as bad as Cho.

"Harry, I'm sorry" Ginny whispered, her head bowed down in shame. "I'm so sorry…" she fell to her knees, and buried her face in her hands.

Harry was surprised seeing her do this. Hell, he was supposed to be the one apologizing, right? He knelt down in front of her. "Sorry? For what?" he asked

"For leaving you like that. For not even trying to listen, and understand. For being so damn stubborn!" she said in frustration, still keeping her eyes away from Harry's.

Harry smiled, as he gently cupped her chin and urged her to look at him.

"Look at me, Ginny"

Ginny complied, her brown orbs slowly and rather fearfully moving towards Harry's direction. When their eyes finally locked, Harry, all too suddenly, closed the gap between them with a soft kiss on her lips. Ginny's eyes widened at the momentary shock, but then she never before did succeed in resisting the urge to melt into his kiss, so why start now? And so she felt her heart race, her body grow numb, and her senses lose motility. The world squandered meaning, and all that was there was Harry Potter.

Yup, It was the same old feeling she got when Harry kisses her, same old, and yet it all seemed so new each time he does it.

I almost forgot…

How much I love you…

Harry gently pulled away and held her hands in his. "So you forgive me?"

Ginny smiled. "Yes. do you forgive me?"

He kissed her again.

"I'll take that as a yes" she said when he finished, and took him in a warm embrace. He sighed, closing his eyes as he thought

Ginny…

I lost the will to fight,

the yearning to live.

all reason to be what I am,

the very essence of life itself…

I lost myself

When I lost you.

But now that you're back, here in my arms…

"Don't ever leave me again" Harry whispered in her ear, causing her to tighten her embrace.

"Never." She answered as she pulled away to look at him. "Harry, I want you to know that I never broke my promise. I love you. Even if I thought I didn't. Even when I forced myself not to, I love you. And I always will"

"You don't know how good it feels to hear you say that again" he stated as his face showed all signs of joy.

"Then let me know"

"I love you" Harry affirmed.

Ginny's lips curved into an undeniable smile, then said "My knees are starting to hurt. I know we look romantic and all, but my knees are really starting to hurt."

Harry laughed as he stood up and helped Ginny do the same.

"So do you want to go to the Yule Ball?" Harry asked when they both were on their feet

"No, let's… stay here" she said, "I want to be alone with you tonight"

Harry then got something out of his pocket. "I've been meaning to give this to you. Merry Christmas, Ginny." He said as he handed her the box. Ginny's eyes widened as she opened it, and said, "You didn't have to"

"I know. But I wanted to" he said as he got the necklace out of the box and hooked it around Ginny's neck.

"You really, really didn't have to, Harry" Ginny said, her face growing ashamed again. "I… didn't get you anything"

Harry laughed lightly. "It's fine"

Ginny gave him a weak smile which he repaid with a small kiss.

"It's fine" he said again

They stayed in the Astronomy Tower, in an amount of time unknown and not cared for by both. They let the night treasure them in its comfort and the stars silent witnesses to their promises of love.

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Right outside the door of the Tower, Draco Malfoy smiled to himself.

"It was great while it lasted" he silently told Ginny, and walked away, somehow glad that he made her happy. Even if she was happy with Potter.

***A/N: Poor Draco, you say? Haha! That is where you are wrong! For it is I who shall go to the Yule Ball with him! *chases after Draco as he walks away*

Seriously, this is somewhat the end of my ficcie, but if you want an epilogue, then keep those reviews coming!!! (This is what you call bribery, mwahahahaha) so… PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!! :P

Oh and thanks for all the support you guys have given me when I was *ahem* sick. I appreciate all your comments!