Chapter 10
How could she have let herself go that far? She felt incredibly stupid for trusting him. He is famous Harry Potter after all, she thought. What had she been playing at, jumping automatically into trusting him? And just look what it got her.
Alone, in her four-poster bed, the curtains drawn, she silently wept into her already damp pillow.
It was her fault that her heart was now in pieces. She should have known Amy would do that. Slut, Ginny thought bitterly as another tear tailed down her pale face.
A fierce knock on the door made her wince and curl tighter into a ball.
"Ginny!" It was Hermione. She inwardly groaned.
"Go away." She mumbled.
"Not on your life." Hermione let herself in, seeing the only bed with closed curtains. She couldn't help but feel sympathetic for her, even if she didn't know the whole story.
"Ginny, come on out of there and tell me what happened."
"Amy, Harry, narrow dark hallway. You do the math." She said dryly.
Hermione stared at the black curtains in shock. Certainly Harry wouldn't do such a thing. "They were talking?"
"Get a clue Hermione." Ginny sat up and threw back the curtains. "They were kissing! Sucking face, playing bloody tonsil hockey!" Hot tears streamed down her face as she stood to yell some more. "And it's my fault for trusting the bastard!" Her voice broke and she collapsed on the bed, sobbing into her hands.
Hermione didn't say a word as she sat next to Ginny and put an arm around her shoulders.
"Are you sure of what you saw?"
"Hermione," She tuned her blood shot eyes to Hermione's. "I know what I saw. It was obvious. Amy had him pressed against a wall, and had her hands on him, and her lips were connected with his. There weren't any other conclusions I could make."
"Didn't you let him explain?"
"There wasn't much to explain. And the last thing I wanted to hear were excuses."
"Ginny, what if it was a misunderstanding?"
"There was nothing to misunderstand! They were lip-locked!" She'd jumped up, and was now angrily wiping away at her tears. Why was she crying over someone who didn't even care for her? She began to pace.
"You need to talk to him. You shouldn't assume."
"Hermione, if you saw Ron making out with some girl right under your nose, you're jump to conclusions too."
She was right.
"Yes, I would. But, I wouldn't live the rest of my life not talking to him."
The rest of my life...Ginny wondered as the pain in her heart increased at the thought.
"Oh God..." Ginny sat back down on the bed, slightly winded.
"You love him, don't you?" Hermione asked gently.
Ginny stared at her knees. "I-"
She felt the burn of tears again, and allowed them to roll down her cheeks.
"I do..." She thought on it. "I did."
"Oh Ginny." Hermione said compassionately, wrapping her arms around her friend. "I'm sorry."
Ginny was sorry too. Sorry she let herself go like that. Sorry she loved him, and every time she thought of him her heart broke into more pieces. She just clung to Hermione, crying onto her shoulder.
Thud, Thud, Thud.
"Why-" Thud "-me?" Harry was sitting in bed, banging the back of his head lightly on his headboard. "What have I done?"
Nothing, said a voice in his head, Amy attacked you.
Damn right. This isn't my fault, he thought angrily. But was overcome with guilt as he remembered the look on Ginny's face. She had accused him so angrily. Even though it wasn't his doing, he felt guilty for making her feel that way.
He continued to bang his head on his headboard, and squeezed his eyes shut. How could be make such a stupid mistake and blurt out those special words at a ridiculous time? The only other human being he'd ever loved, and he'd blown it in only a few seconds. And he was starting to think she loved him back, and after the events of that day, that certainly wasn't the case.
"Good going," he muttered, banging his head again. "You keep that up mate, you'll loose the few brain cells you have left." Ron closed the dorm door quietly
"I deserve to loose them." Harry looked as his friend as he took a seat on his own bed. "I've screwed everything up Ron."
"Well, from the story to told me earlier, it sounds like Amy screwed everything up."
Harry sat up and put is face in his hands, rubbing hard. "Ron. I told her I loved her."
"Great timing."
"You're telling me. She told me to go to hell, and that's the last I've seen her."
"Feel like your in hell?"
"You have no idea..." Harry tipped his head back and closed his eyes. When Ron didn't say anything, Harry opened one eye to look at him. "I got your point."
"I just can't believe you hurt her, unintentionally." He added when Harry fully glared at him. "I should beat the living daylights out of you for breaking my little sister's heart, but I'm going to let you slide this time."
"Why?" He asked suspiciously.
"Because. I know you're going to get off your sorry arse and find her, and apologize to her."
"What makes you say so?"
"You love her, you can't stand having her angry with you."
"I hate it when you're right. And I hate it when you're mature." He stood.
"It had to happen some time. We both have to keep the other in line, especially when it involves my sister's feelings." Ron rose too. "Go find her, and make things right."
"Not now. It's too soon." Harry exited the dorm, with Ron in tow.
"Need to be alone?"
"You know it. Now leave me alone. I have to think."
They left the common room, Harry heading toward his thinking place, and Ron heading toward lunch.
"I can't believe you're making me do this." Ginny grumbled.
"You've been locked up in this dorm for too long. You need to get out." Hermione said, fixing Ginny's robes.
It had been a week since she'd seen or talked to Harry, and she was numb inside. Except for the depression that sat like a boulder in her stomach. She felt lost without him.
"Honestly Hermione." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Okay, I will be. You've been moping for too long, you need air! Look outside, it's beautiful. We're going to go get lunch in Hogsmeade, and you're coming with whether you like it or not. Now grab your shoes, I'll meet you in the common room." Hermione strode out of the dorm.
Why had she caved? Ginny didn't want to go anywhere. Especially Hogsmeade. In fact, she didn't want to be anywhere she might see Harry. She was doing fine on her own, getting over him. She convinced herself she was getting over him, but somewhere in her heart she knew she wasn't.
Slipping into her shoes, she grabbed her cloak and headed downstairs.
"I don't want to go." Harry told Ron, who had just proposed a trip to Hogsmeade.
"Come on Harry. It'll be good for you. Amy won't be there, I promise. She's, well..." he hesitated. "She's with Dean now."
"Slut..." Harry mumbled, tying his shoes.
"You got that right. Now hurry up, we're going to be late."
"Late? For what?" He draped his scarf around his neck and stared suspiciously at Ron.
"Uh, nothing, just come on." Ron turned to exit.
"Ron."
"Hm?"
"What's going on?"
"Nothing! Let's go!" He left before Harry could ask another question. As they descended the stairs, Ron grinned.
It was a cloudy gray day as the snow fell delicately towards the little village of Hogsmeade.
"Hermione, I can't believe you talked me into being here." Ginny scowled slightly at the rest of the happy students milling around the square. Hermione and Ginny were making their way toward a little café, trudging through the snow.
"You needed it, trust me. You need this."
"What is it I need?" Ginny asked, dodging an oncoming student.
"Fresh air, good food, and a little shopping." And to make up with Harry, Hermione thought. But she opted to leave that a surprise. She and Ron had been planning this for a few days, and so far, there were no hitches... that she knew of anyway.
Ginny just quickened her pace to keep up with Hermione, trying not to snarl at all the people who looked so happy and carefree. Life just wasn't treating her well at all, she thought.
When they reached the little café, Hermione held the door open for Ginny, and she eyed her distrustfully. She just entered the cute little place, and brushed the snow off her shoulders.
The walls were a shade of deep pink, and the carpet was burgundy. On one side of the room were a row of booths, and in the back were a few small, round wooden tables covered with red tablecloths and with chairs to match. Ginny glanced at the bartender who was drying a glass mug and humming to herself merrily. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
She felt Hermione stride up next to her. Then she saw Ron out of the corner of her eye.
"Ron!" She said, as he walked toward her.
"Hey Gin. How's it going?" He asked Hermione, with a grin on his face.
"Great. Where is he?"
"Where's who?" Ginny said, looking from one to the other, her brow furrowed.
"Back there." Ron motioned to the back of the room, to a table in the corner.
Ginny felt her stomach drop to her feet. Harry was sitting at a table for two, staring into his glass of Butterbeer.
"No."
"Yes." Ron and Hermione said together.
"You can't make me. I knew this was a mistake. I'm leaving." Before she could so much as turn to run, Hermione and Ron were guiding her back toward the table.
"I am going to kill both of you." She hissed. "How dare you meddle..." She was cut off, as she arrived at the table. As not to risk eye contact, she stared at her feet.
"Sit." Hermione ordered, and pushed her into the empty seat. Ginny glared up at her. "Not listen you two," placed her palms flat on the table, leaning forward, "you're going to work this out. If we have to stay here until it gets dark, so be it. But we're not leaving until it's settled. Got it?" Ginny just continued to glare, and Harry just nodded grimly.
"Okay, let's go find us a table Ron." Hermione spun around and tucked an arm into Ron's, heading toward an empty booth.
Ginny continued to throw glares at the pair until they slipped into a booth. Hermione grinned and waved, then slid from sight.
"I'm going to kill both of them." She said nastily.
"I can't believe I fell for that. I should have known."
The second she heard him speak, the boulder in her stomach grew.
"They'll learn the meaning of revenge." She said angrily, taking the tablecloth and twisting it in her hands.
"Being in my company can't be all that horrible." Harry said quietly.
She looked up then, to see his green eyes watching her, and her heart nearly stopped. Her breath caught. She quickly looked back at the cloth she was twisting madly in her hands.
"It isn't," she murmured.
"That's a start." He said. "Ginny. Look at me."
She shook her head slightly. Harry reached over the small table and tipped her face up. Tears were brimming in her brown eyes, and it was a stab in the heart for him. Those eyes had so much hurt in them; it set a fresh wave of guilt over him.
"Ginny, I'm sorry."
She shook him off, and stared at him, determined not to look back down. Cowardice was not at option for Ginny Weasley. Although hiding in her dorm for a week did look rather spineless, she realized.
"Sorry isn't enough this time." She said flatly. She continued to wring the cloth in her hands.
"I know it isn't, but it's all I've got." He looked at her helplessly.
"How about an explanation?" She said.
"I thought you didn't want one."
"Well I want one now."
"Okay." He told her exactly what happened, and her face seemed to ease slightly.
"She had me pinned. What you saw was not what it seemed. You saw the first second of something I never planned, something I did not, under and circumstances, wanted."
She'd quit playing with the tablecloth, and folded her hands on the table. "Oh." She said weakly. Now she felt really dumb. "I really feel stupid. Sorry I didn't let you explain."
"I understood where you were coming from. I'm sorry." He covered her hands with his.
Ginny stared down at the joined hands, and then looked back up into his eyes, and their gaze held. A powerful emotion was in his eyes, and it made her stomach tie in knots around the boulder.
"And trust me, and entire week without seeing you is hell."
She blinked, and then understood. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly. Speechless, she looked back down at their hands, and grasped his.
"I missed you." She said quietly.
His eyes softened. "I missed you too."
"You hurt me." She said after a moment. She just watched his thumb stroke the back of her hand.
"Not intentionally. You know that. Ron threatened to kill me, but let me off this hook this time."
She looked back up at him.
"This time?"
"He told me on the way here, if I ever pulled anything on you, he'd break my neck."
Ginny smiled. She loved her brother deeply.
"Ah, there's the smile I love." He'd said it before he could stop himself, and then the smile vanished, and she went pale. Oh no, he thought. What now? How do you tell the only person you've ever loved that you're head over heals?
"Ginny," He stared into her eyes, wanting the color to come back into her cheeks. "I've never felt this way before. I knew it was beyond 'like' when I couldn't get my mind off you." He squeezed her now limp hands. "I'm in love with you Ginny. There is nothing in this world that could change that."
She stared at him, and blinked. She couldn't say anything; she didn't know what to say to something like that.
"The Dursleys never showed me love, and I hadn't realized what it was until I was welcomed into your family." He took a deep breath. "Your mom treated me as if I were her very own, and I'd never experienced that."
She was thrown violently back in love with him, and boy did that hurt. She tried to breath evenly. A lump was forming in her throat, and her eyes threatened more tears.
"Sirius showed me a different kind of love, unlike the kind your mother shared with me. He was the closest thing to a father for me, and you made me realized that. You made me *believe* that. As I thought about you more, I realized there was another kind of love."
The tears threatened her fiercely. His eyes were so soft. The words he spoke came directly form his heart; there was no doubt about it.
"I love you Ginny. You don't know what a shock it was for me to realize this. I never thought I could ever feel as strongly for one person as I do for you."
The tears came, and slid silently down her cheeks. The rock in her stomach melted away, and loved filled her heart.
"Don't cry." He wiped away the tears with his thumbs. As he withdrew his hand from her face, her hand shot up and grabbed it. Closing her eyes, she held that hand to her damp cheek. It cupped her cheek so perfectly it was hard to believe it wasn't made especially for her. Then again, maybe it was. Before she opened her eyes she pressed her lips to the palm of his hand.
More tears swam, and she wiped them away.
"Please say something." He said pleadingly.
She shut her eyes again and released his hands. What do you say to something like that? She wondered. 'I love you too would work,' said a little voice in her head. But she hadn't decided if she did entirely or not. She hadn't decided if she was willing to give her heart, and her trust, back to him. Ginny wasn't one to take big leaps into oblivion. Risks were *not* something she was usually willing to take.
"I see." With a grim look on his face he rose. "Bye Ginny." Feeling deflated and defeated, he made his way toward the door.
Usually.
"Harry wait!" She jumped up as he looked back at her. He was halfway toward the door. She sprinted toward him as one last tear rolled down her face. She slammed into him, flinging her arms around him and clinging strongly.
"I love you too Harry. I'm sorry." She was holding on as if she'd never let go. He was her weakness. She cried onto his shoulder, but these were not sad tears. She was happy for the first time in over a week. "I love you Harry." She sounded muffled as she buried her face in his chest.
He hugged her tightly around the waist and pressed his cheek to her hair. Love filled his heart so much, he felt as if it would burst. He kissed the top of her forehead, and rocked gently.
When she tipped her face up to look at him, there was a brilliant smile on her face, her eyes were dancing, and her cheeks were flushed. This was right, she thought, this is just how it's supposed to be.
"Kiss me you idiot." She said laughingly.
He willingly obliged, picking her up off her toes to do so, and spinning her around. The bubbling laughter that escaped her sent his heart soaring, beat for beat with hers.
How could she have let herself go that far? She felt incredibly stupid for trusting him. He is famous Harry Potter after all, she thought. What had she been playing at, jumping automatically into trusting him? And just look what it got her.
Alone, in her four-poster bed, the curtains drawn, she silently wept into her already damp pillow.
It was her fault that her heart was now in pieces. She should have known Amy would do that. Slut, Ginny thought bitterly as another tear tailed down her pale face.
A fierce knock on the door made her wince and curl tighter into a ball.
"Ginny!" It was Hermione. She inwardly groaned.
"Go away." She mumbled.
"Not on your life." Hermione let herself in, seeing the only bed with closed curtains. She couldn't help but feel sympathetic for her, even if she didn't know the whole story.
"Ginny, come on out of there and tell me what happened."
"Amy, Harry, narrow dark hallway. You do the math." She said dryly.
Hermione stared at the black curtains in shock. Certainly Harry wouldn't do such a thing. "They were talking?"
"Get a clue Hermione." Ginny sat up and threw back the curtains. "They were kissing! Sucking face, playing bloody tonsil hockey!" Hot tears streamed down her face as she stood to yell some more. "And it's my fault for trusting the bastard!" Her voice broke and she collapsed on the bed, sobbing into her hands.
Hermione didn't say a word as she sat next to Ginny and put an arm around her shoulders.
"Are you sure of what you saw?"
"Hermione," She tuned her blood shot eyes to Hermione's. "I know what I saw. It was obvious. Amy had him pressed against a wall, and had her hands on him, and her lips were connected with his. There weren't any other conclusions I could make."
"Didn't you let him explain?"
"There wasn't much to explain. And the last thing I wanted to hear were excuses."
"Ginny, what if it was a misunderstanding?"
"There was nothing to misunderstand! They were lip-locked!" She'd jumped up, and was now angrily wiping away at her tears. Why was she crying over someone who didn't even care for her? She began to pace.
"You need to talk to him. You shouldn't assume."
"Hermione, if you saw Ron making out with some girl right under your nose, you're jump to conclusions too."
She was right.
"Yes, I would. But, I wouldn't live the rest of my life not talking to him."
The rest of my life...Ginny wondered as the pain in her heart increased at the thought.
"Oh God..." Ginny sat back down on the bed, slightly winded.
"You love him, don't you?" Hermione asked gently.
Ginny stared at her knees. "I-"
She felt the burn of tears again, and allowed them to roll down her cheeks.
"I do..." She thought on it. "I did."
"Oh Ginny." Hermione said compassionately, wrapping her arms around her friend. "I'm sorry."
Ginny was sorry too. Sorry she let herself go like that. Sorry she loved him, and every time she thought of him her heart broke into more pieces. She just clung to Hermione, crying onto her shoulder.
Thud, Thud, Thud.
"Why-" Thud "-me?" Harry was sitting in bed, banging the back of his head lightly on his headboard. "What have I done?"
Nothing, said a voice in his head, Amy attacked you.
Damn right. This isn't my fault, he thought angrily. But was overcome with guilt as he remembered the look on Ginny's face. She had accused him so angrily. Even though it wasn't his doing, he felt guilty for making her feel that way.
He continued to bang his head on his headboard, and squeezed his eyes shut. How could be make such a stupid mistake and blurt out those special words at a ridiculous time? The only other human being he'd ever loved, and he'd blown it in only a few seconds. And he was starting to think she loved him back, and after the events of that day, that certainly wasn't the case.
"Good going," he muttered, banging his head again. "You keep that up mate, you'll loose the few brain cells you have left." Ron closed the dorm door quietly
"I deserve to loose them." Harry looked as his friend as he took a seat on his own bed. "I've screwed everything up Ron."
"Well, from the story to told me earlier, it sounds like Amy screwed everything up."
Harry sat up and put is face in his hands, rubbing hard. "Ron. I told her I loved her."
"Great timing."
"You're telling me. She told me to go to hell, and that's the last I've seen her."
"Feel like your in hell?"
"You have no idea..." Harry tipped his head back and closed his eyes. When Ron didn't say anything, Harry opened one eye to look at him. "I got your point."
"I just can't believe you hurt her, unintentionally." He added when Harry fully glared at him. "I should beat the living daylights out of you for breaking my little sister's heart, but I'm going to let you slide this time."
"Why?" He asked suspiciously.
"Because. I know you're going to get off your sorry arse and find her, and apologize to her."
"What makes you say so?"
"You love her, you can't stand having her angry with you."
"I hate it when you're right. And I hate it when you're mature." He stood.
"It had to happen some time. We both have to keep the other in line, especially when it involves my sister's feelings." Ron rose too. "Go find her, and make things right."
"Not now. It's too soon." Harry exited the dorm, with Ron in tow.
"Need to be alone?"
"You know it. Now leave me alone. I have to think."
They left the common room, Harry heading toward his thinking place, and Ron heading toward lunch.
"I can't believe you're making me do this." Ginny grumbled.
"You've been locked up in this dorm for too long. You need to get out." Hermione said, fixing Ginny's robes.
It had been a week since she'd seen or talked to Harry, and she was numb inside. Except for the depression that sat like a boulder in her stomach. She felt lost without him.
"Honestly Hermione." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Okay, I will be. You've been moping for too long, you need air! Look outside, it's beautiful. We're going to go get lunch in Hogsmeade, and you're coming with whether you like it or not. Now grab your shoes, I'll meet you in the common room." Hermione strode out of the dorm.
Why had she caved? Ginny didn't want to go anywhere. Especially Hogsmeade. In fact, she didn't want to be anywhere she might see Harry. She was doing fine on her own, getting over him. She convinced herself she was getting over him, but somewhere in her heart she knew she wasn't.
Slipping into her shoes, she grabbed her cloak and headed downstairs.
"I don't want to go." Harry told Ron, who had just proposed a trip to Hogsmeade.
"Come on Harry. It'll be good for you. Amy won't be there, I promise. She's, well..." he hesitated. "She's with Dean now."
"Slut..." Harry mumbled, tying his shoes.
"You got that right. Now hurry up, we're going to be late."
"Late? For what?" He draped his scarf around his neck and stared suspiciously at Ron.
"Uh, nothing, just come on." Ron turned to exit.
"Ron."
"Hm?"
"What's going on?"
"Nothing! Let's go!" He left before Harry could ask another question. As they descended the stairs, Ron grinned.
It was a cloudy gray day as the snow fell delicately towards the little village of Hogsmeade.
"Hermione, I can't believe you talked me into being here." Ginny scowled slightly at the rest of the happy students milling around the square. Hermione and Ginny were making their way toward a little café, trudging through the snow.
"You needed it, trust me. You need this."
"What is it I need?" Ginny asked, dodging an oncoming student.
"Fresh air, good food, and a little shopping." And to make up with Harry, Hermione thought. But she opted to leave that a surprise. She and Ron had been planning this for a few days, and so far, there were no hitches... that she knew of anyway.
Ginny just quickened her pace to keep up with Hermione, trying not to snarl at all the people who looked so happy and carefree. Life just wasn't treating her well at all, she thought.
When they reached the little café, Hermione held the door open for Ginny, and she eyed her distrustfully. She just entered the cute little place, and brushed the snow off her shoulders.
The walls were a shade of deep pink, and the carpet was burgundy. On one side of the room were a row of booths, and in the back were a few small, round wooden tables covered with red tablecloths and with chairs to match. Ginny glanced at the bartender who was drying a glass mug and humming to herself merrily. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
She felt Hermione stride up next to her. Then she saw Ron out of the corner of her eye.
"Ron!" She said, as he walked toward her.
"Hey Gin. How's it going?" He asked Hermione, with a grin on his face.
"Great. Where is he?"
"Where's who?" Ginny said, looking from one to the other, her brow furrowed.
"Back there." Ron motioned to the back of the room, to a table in the corner.
Ginny felt her stomach drop to her feet. Harry was sitting at a table for two, staring into his glass of Butterbeer.
"No."
"Yes." Ron and Hermione said together.
"You can't make me. I knew this was a mistake. I'm leaving." Before she could so much as turn to run, Hermione and Ron were guiding her back toward the table.
"I am going to kill both of you." She hissed. "How dare you meddle..." She was cut off, as she arrived at the table. As not to risk eye contact, she stared at her feet.
"Sit." Hermione ordered, and pushed her into the empty seat. Ginny glared up at her. "Not listen you two," placed her palms flat on the table, leaning forward, "you're going to work this out. If we have to stay here until it gets dark, so be it. But we're not leaving until it's settled. Got it?" Ginny just continued to glare, and Harry just nodded grimly.
"Okay, let's go find us a table Ron." Hermione spun around and tucked an arm into Ron's, heading toward an empty booth.
Ginny continued to throw glares at the pair until they slipped into a booth. Hermione grinned and waved, then slid from sight.
"I'm going to kill both of them." She said nastily.
"I can't believe I fell for that. I should have known."
The second she heard him speak, the boulder in her stomach grew.
"They'll learn the meaning of revenge." She said angrily, taking the tablecloth and twisting it in her hands.
"Being in my company can't be all that horrible." Harry said quietly.
She looked up then, to see his green eyes watching her, and her heart nearly stopped. Her breath caught. She quickly looked back at the cloth she was twisting madly in her hands.
"It isn't," she murmured.
"That's a start." He said. "Ginny. Look at me."
She shook her head slightly. Harry reached over the small table and tipped her face up. Tears were brimming in her brown eyes, and it was a stab in the heart for him. Those eyes had so much hurt in them; it set a fresh wave of guilt over him.
"Ginny, I'm sorry."
She shook him off, and stared at him, determined not to look back down. Cowardice was not at option for Ginny Weasley. Although hiding in her dorm for a week did look rather spineless, she realized.
"Sorry isn't enough this time." She said flatly. She continued to wring the cloth in her hands.
"I know it isn't, but it's all I've got." He looked at her helplessly.
"How about an explanation?" She said.
"I thought you didn't want one."
"Well I want one now."
"Okay." He told her exactly what happened, and her face seemed to ease slightly.
"She had me pinned. What you saw was not what it seemed. You saw the first second of something I never planned, something I did not, under and circumstances, wanted."
She'd quit playing with the tablecloth, and folded her hands on the table. "Oh." She said weakly. Now she felt really dumb. "I really feel stupid. Sorry I didn't let you explain."
"I understood where you were coming from. I'm sorry." He covered her hands with his.
Ginny stared down at the joined hands, and then looked back up into his eyes, and their gaze held. A powerful emotion was in his eyes, and it made her stomach tie in knots around the boulder.
"And trust me, and entire week without seeing you is hell."
She blinked, and then understood. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly. Speechless, she looked back down at their hands, and grasped his.
"I missed you." She said quietly.
His eyes softened. "I missed you too."
"You hurt me." She said after a moment. She just watched his thumb stroke the back of her hand.
"Not intentionally. You know that. Ron threatened to kill me, but let me off this hook this time."
She looked back up at him.
"This time?"
"He told me on the way here, if I ever pulled anything on you, he'd break my neck."
Ginny smiled. She loved her brother deeply.
"Ah, there's the smile I love." He'd said it before he could stop himself, and then the smile vanished, and she went pale. Oh no, he thought. What now? How do you tell the only person you've ever loved that you're head over heals?
"Ginny," He stared into her eyes, wanting the color to come back into her cheeks. "I've never felt this way before. I knew it was beyond 'like' when I couldn't get my mind off you." He squeezed her now limp hands. "I'm in love with you Ginny. There is nothing in this world that could change that."
She stared at him, and blinked. She couldn't say anything; she didn't know what to say to something like that.
"The Dursleys never showed me love, and I hadn't realized what it was until I was welcomed into your family." He took a deep breath. "Your mom treated me as if I were her very own, and I'd never experienced that."
She was thrown violently back in love with him, and boy did that hurt. She tried to breath evenly. A lump was forming in her throat, and her eyes threatened more tears.
"Sirius showed me a different kind of love, unlike the kind your mother shared with me. He was the closest thing to a father for me, and you made me realized that. You made me *believe* that. As I thought about you more, I realized there was another kind of love."
The tears threatened her fiercely. His eyes were so soft. The words he spoke came directly form his heart; there was no doubt about it.
"I love you Ginny. You don't know what a shock it was for me to realize this. I never thought I could ever feel as strongly for one person as I do for you."
The tears came, and slid silently down her cheeks. The rock in her stomach melted away, and loved filled her heart.
"Don't cry." He wiped away the tears with his thumbs. As he withdrew his hand from her face, her hand shot up and grabbed it. Closing her eyes, she held that hand to her damp cheek. It cupped her cheek so perfectly it was hard to believe it wasn't made especially for her. Then again, maybe it was. Before she opened her eyes she pressed her lips to the palm of his hand.
More tears swam, and she wiped them away.
"Please say something." He said pleadingly.
She shut her eyes again and released his hands. What do you say to something like that? She wondered. 'I love you too would work,' said a little voice in her head. But she hadn't decided if she did entirely or not. She hadn't decided if she was willing to give her heart, and her trust, back to him. Ginny wasn't one to take big leaps into oblivion. Risks were *not* something she was usually willing to take.
"I see." With a grim look on his face he rose. "Bye Ginny." Feeling deflated and defeated, he made his way toward the door.
Usually.
"Harry wait!" She jumped up as he looked back at her. He was halfway toward the door. She sprinted toward him as one last tear rolled down her face. She slammed into him, flinging her arms around him and clinging strongly.
"I love you too Harry. I'm sorry." She was holding on as if she'd never let go. He was her weakness. She cried onto his shoulder, but these were not sad tears. She was happy for the first time in over a week. "I love you Harry." She sounded muffled as she buried her face in his chest.
He hugged her tightly around the waist and pressed his cheek to her hair. Love filled his heart so much, he felt as if it would burst. He kissed the top of her forehead, and rocked gently.
When she tipped her face up to look at him, there was a brilliant smile on her face, her eyes were dancing, and her cheeks were flushed. This was right, she thought, this is just how it's supposed to be.
"Kiss me you idiot." She said laughingly.
He willingly obliged, picking her up off her toes to do so, and spinning her around. The bubbling laughter that escaped her sent his heart soaring, beat for beat with hers.