III. Harry: Holding Her Hand
It started that night we flew the thestrals to the Ministry of Magic. I was busy fighting the Dark Lord and then Dumbledore portkeyed me back to Hogwarts. So, no, I didn't see it that first time, but I know it happened. I doubt they themselves even know when it began, but I do.
It was all so innocent, too. She had a broken ankle. I am sure he had offered her his hand, and she took it. He had shown her basic consideration, and maybe later she offered her hand to him for comfort when he needed it.
It wasn't as if his was the only hand she had been holding. By that time she had many boyfriends. She had already been with Michael and was probably making plans for Dean, Seamus, Colin, or Neville. She was never with me, though. I had never let myself even consider holding her hand, had never thought of her as a possibility.
I don't even know why I started to notice them in particular. Maybe it was because when Voldemort returned we all were involved in battle in some form or another. When she would stumble or fall, he would be there to pick her up. He always reached for her with his hands--those of a man whose mouth spoke without duplicity, but whose hands showed the beginning of desire.
After time, I noticed their hands lingering together. It was never more than fingers entwined as they stood together surveying the damage. There was always damage, and most of it was disturbing. So even then it didn't seem inappropriate for them to hold hands. They were two people fighting in the same war and sharing the same scars.
Simple hand-holding led to smiles and looks. No doubt they still didn't realize it themselves, but their looks were unique and reserved only for each other. Ginny never looked at any of her many boyfriends like that, and she certainly didn't look at me like that any more. As for Remus, well... I had honestly never before seen him look at any other female in a way that actually suggested interest.
It was after the fighting that I saw her with the face of a dirty angel and her hair fallen all around her like a crimson halo. Remus, never far away, came to her yet again. His long fingers reached for hers as she in turn reached for his. When he pulled her closer, I snapped with the rage of jealousy that had been building inside me.
"You were supposed to love me!"
Ginny looked to me at first surprised, and then truly angry. "I did love you, but you never loved me back."
She reached closer for Remus and I taunted her in a way that would have actually made Malfoy proud.
"Does your mother know you're in love with a werewolf?"
They both stared at me in shock, as if the thought had never crossed their minds. Then I saw their expressions change from shock to a blushing look of new regard. He smiled to her and I saw it accepted in her eyes.
I walked away in disgust, and he was still holding her hand.
