Dedicated to lightprincess and aPPle-FrrEAk

Chapter 15:  It Is You (I Have Loved)

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There is something that I see

In the way you look at me

There's a smile

There's a truth in your eyes

But an unexpected way

On this unexpected day

Could it be this I where I belong?

It is you I have loved all along

It's no more mystery

It is finally clear to me

You're the home my heart searched for

So long

It is you I have loved all along

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It is you (I have loved) – Dana Glover

Complete silence.

Ginny bit her lip, watching in utter fear as her family and friends stared at her. No one moved. She decided to make the first move.

"I know I shouldn't have run off. And I'm sorry, all of you. I've been so terrible to you all. But I'm really truly sorry. I don't have an excuse for what I did, and I'm not going to make one up. And if you want me to go, I will. But Harry said I should come back and I said I would but not at that time. And I wanted to come back so much. But I was so afraid you wouldn't want me here, and I understand if you don't."

"Ginny, you're babbling." Hermione said matter-of-factly, getting to her feet. She crossed to the younger girl and hugged her.

"I'm so glad you're home." Hermione whispered. Everyone descended on Ginny, hugging her all at once. Except Harry, he stepped back and watched them, joy rising up inside of him.

Ginny was in tears by the time they had all sat down. She took the chair next to Harry's and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Harry… thanks for getting me to come home!" She gasped between sobs. He hugged her back.

"What, was I just supposed to leave you there?"

"You KNEW where she was?"

"Yes. But she asked me not to tell you. She wanted to sort herself out before coming back." Harry explained. Fred slapped Harry on the back.

"It's OK. Everything's sorted itself out now anyway." Ginny grinned and yawned suddenly. She smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry. I just apparated over from Switzerland."

"Don't be silly. Go and get some sleep." Mrs Weasley said, pushing Ginny towards the house. She disappeared and all of the Weasley's turned to look at Harry.

"Why didn't you tell us where she was?"

"I can't believe it!"

"We were panicking and you didn't even tell us!"

"Hey! She didn't want me to, OK? She needed time, so I gave it to her. She was scared that you lot would either show up and drag her home, or she'd come back and find you didn't want her. Just give me a break." Harry said defensively. Fleur nodded.

"Yes. Harry, you did right. And they all know it." She said, glancing around at the family. They grudgingly nodded and apologised. Harry glanced at his watch.

"I've got work to do. I'll see you all later."

He disapparated. Fleur looked around at her family.

"You should all be ashamed! He brings back your daughter and you shout at him!" She continued in her furious tone in a stream of French. Hermione, who could understand, flushed to bright red. They all glanced at her and she shook her head.

"There's no way I'm going to repeat that!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It wasn't until a week later that Harry saw Ginny again. Moody had kept him busy with all of his work. Harry was in Diagon Alley, picking up something food for Hedwig, when he ran into Ginny outside Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

She blushed and smiled. For a few moments they stood awkwardly.

"I was going to come and see you." Harry offered as a conversation starter.

"Same here. To see you, I mean." Why was this so awkward? It shouldn't be. Harry cleared his throat.

"How are you?"

"Good. Getting back into the swing of things. I've opened the shop again."

"Oh, that's great."

"How have you been, Harry?"

"OK, I guess. Busy, with work and everything."

"Oh, OK." Ginny nodded, and then said, "Well, I'd better be-"

"Yeah, me too…"

Harry had walked forward a few steps, but then stopped, turned and ran after Ginny.

"Ginny!"

She turned, face hopeful. Harry took a deep breath.

"Ginny… have dinner with me tonight?"

"Yes! I mean… that would be great."

"I'll pick you up at seven? Is a restaurant alright with you?"

"That sounds good. I'll… see you tonight?"

"Yeah. Tonight."

Ginny smiled, and then continued to walk down the street. But she stopped dead after a few minutes.

"What am I going to wear?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry stood in front of his mirror, trying to do his tie. The Weasley brothers watched in amusement. Harry gave an angry groan and threw the tie down in frustration. Hermione came and saw them laughing at him. She rolled her eyes and crossed to him, doing the tie.

"Harry, you have to relax. You see Ginny all the time."

"Yes but this time she's not just Ginny. She's my date. Ginny's my date." Harry said, panic rising in his voice. Ron chortled.

"Don't worry mate. Where are you taking her?"

"A London restaurant."

"Ooh, classy. Hey Harry, can I date you next time?" George asked. Fred pushed him.

"Hey! Harry and I have a date set for Tuesday. You'll just have to wait."

Harry squeezed his eyes shut. Hermione finished doing the tie and stepped back.

"There. You look great."

"As good as me?" Ron asked. Hermione glanced him up and down. He was wearing a Chudley Cannons shirt and torn jeans.

"He looks well groomed. You look… comfortable." Hermione said tactically. While Ron tried to figure this statement out, Harry pulled on his jacket.

"I'd better get going. Oh, and guys?"

They all turned to look at him, as he prepared to disapparate.

"Get the hell out of my apartment!" He said, grinning.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny pulled on the new robes she had finished that day, especially for this dinner. She glanced in the mirror. At least the robes looked good. Ginny ran a brush through her black hair. She had considered dying it back to red. But she knew it wouldn't be real and she if she couldn't have old hair back, she would keep her new hair.

She bit her lip and tied her hair back into a ponytail. She was going on a date with Harry! She felt mixed feelings of sickness and excitement at the thought.

Kara sat on her perch, hooting happily. Ginny stroked her smooth head and fed her an owl treat. There was a knock at the door.

Harry rocked back and forward on his feet nervously. But as the door opened and he saw Ginny, his mouth dropped open.

Her robes were pure white, with a low neckline. They were sleeveless and trimmed with golden thread.

"Uh…" Was all Harry could muster from his vocabulary. Ginny giggled nervously.

"I hope that's a good 'uh'."

"Yeah. Very good 'uh'." Harry grinned. Ginny picked her bag up off the table and turned to him.

"I'm ready."

"Great. You look wonderful, Ginny."

"You too. Did Hermione do your tie for you?"

"What? How-?"

"Oh, please. Like you could do it!"

"Hey!" Harry said. Ginny shrugged.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny stared around at the restaurant. It was extravagantly decorated. Harry smiled at her look of awe.

"I know the owner. It usually takes months to get a reservation here."

"It's… beautiful." Ginny mumbled. She looked at Harry and smiled. He cleared his throat and asked,

"So what have you been up to lately?"

"Just… getting back into things. I'm trying to find some assistants to help me in the shop."

"How come?"

"Well, Sara was killed. The others…Thomas, Jack, Annabelle, Rebecca and Kathleen… they didn't want to stay. I can understand it. They were afraid. Their boss had been possessed by the Dark Lord. It's understandable that they didn't want to come back."

"It wasn't your fault. They shouldn't have-"

"It doesn't matter. I can hire new people." Harry sat back in his chair, surveying her from across the table. Ginny took a bite of her salad, and glanced up at him.

"What are you staring at?"

"I was just thinking…"

"What about?"

"You. And me. I just can't believe how amazing you are."

"Oh, I can." Ginny joked. Harry leant forward, and took her hand across the table.

"Ginny, you are the most wonderful person I have ever met."

"Harry, you don't have to say those things."

Now it was Harry's turn to look confused. Ginny smiled at the look on his face.

"All that time… I thought that I was maybe in love with Draco Malfoy. No, let me finish. This is a hard thing to say, so just let me get it out."

She took a deep breath and continued,

"When you came to the mountains that day… I was terrified. And then you kissed me, and it was like none of it mattered. Because it's about you. It's always been about you. Ever since that day at the party, and I thought you would never feel about me the way I feel about you, I just can't stop thinking about you. It is you I have loved all along. No one else. Just you."

She stopped and looked up at him. After a few seconds she said,

"Ok. Now you go."

"… Do you want to go back to my place?" Harry asked, a twinkle in his eye.

Ginny smiled.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Later that night Harry watched Ginny sleeping. Her pale skin was almost luminous next to her black hair. Harry just gazed at her.

She was so beautiful.

And she was his.

He loved her beyond anything.

Ginny's eyes flickered and opened. She smiled as she saw him looking at her.

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I just wanted to stay like this forever. Going to sleep means having to wake up tomorrow."

"Who knew you were such a hopeless romantic?" Ginny laughed. She laid her head on his bare chest and yawned. Harry stroked her hair absently.

"I love you Ginny."

"I love you too." She said sleepily.

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I know, fluff-o-matic. But I, too, am I hopeless romantic.

There's still one more chapter to come, so please come back! I both read and appreciate every single review.

I'm very tempted to go against my firm beliefs of Ron/Hermione, and write a Remus/Hermione. I still love Ron/Hermione, but I need to explore my writing abilities. Anyone think I should? No point in writing something if no one wants to read it!

Also, feel free to check out my live journal! The address is in my Bio.

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie