Prologue
She sat quietly, basking in the late afternoon sun under the old oak tree that was situated just off the shores of the lake. A soft breeze blew in off the lake, lightly caressing her fiery red locks. The wind had a sharp bite on the edge of it, reminding her that autumn was now upon them. Hugging her black robes tightly around her tiny lithe figure, Ginny grasped a hold of one of the roots of the ancient oak and hauled herself to her feet.
She dawdled on her way back up to the castle, not wanting to be subjected again to the reality that was pre-dinner Hogwarts. Her feet followed the familiar detour past the greenhouses, inhaling deeply the musky scent of the deadening leaves. Surrounded by the rainbow of the falling leaves, she stopped beside the third greenhouse, thrust back into her memory to a similar afternoon just last year.
He had surprised her outside of this same greenhouse as she was making her way to supper one spring night, just prior to Easter. The sun had just begun to set, and his face was illuminated with the glow that emanated from it. He had appeared before her, scared, and holding a single lily. She had been intrigued, that from all the exotic magical plants that were in the greenhouse, he had chosen one of the Muggle lilies that Professor Sprout grew especially for Easter at Hogwarts. When Ginny realized it must have been the sentimental value that had influenced him to pick it, she was touched. He had chosen the flower his late mother was named after. Intoxicated with his presence, she listened with a skipping heart as he professed his love.
"Gin," he stuttered, staring into his hands, "I've been waiting for so long to find the perfect opportunity to tell you this; I'm – I'm in love with you."
"Oh," she sighed, her eyes closed in bliss, "you can't understand how long I have been waiting to hear that. And I love you too!"
Ginny's heart swelled as she beamed up at the trembling boy, and his hand reached down tentatively stroking her cheek. Thoughtfully tucking a stray curl of hair behind her ear, he pulled her towards him and they shared their first kiss.
Ginny sighed, her eyes closed as she remembered her fairytale worthy kiss with the love of her life. Her Harry.