Ron and Harry took the trunks down from the top shelf, while Hermione and Ginny watched – Hermione alternating between giggling along with Ginny and worrying that they might injure themselves. When the last trunk rested on the floor Harry pushed his hair out of his eyes and said, "What exactly is so funny?"
Ginny smiled at him. "Oh nothing," she said, "Just remembering a time when I didn't have two such gallants as you and Ron to retrieve my trunk for me."
"What do you mean?"
"In first year I nearly killed myself trying to get my trunk down – it fell on top of me."
"I don't remember that."
"Shocking Harry! You not remembering something about my first year!"
"Hey! I said I was sorry."
Harry couldn't keep the injured tone from his voice and Ginny turned around in surprise. "I know Harry. I was only teasing."
He sighed and said, "I think we should get going. Hermione and Ron are miles ahead of us."
Ginny laughed. "Of course they are. Ron's trying to impress her parents – do you want to go and watch, or would that be too cruel?"
Harry lowered his trunk from the train with difficulty and said, "A little bit yeah."
Hopping down to the platform he gave Ginny a hand with her trunk, which, especially due to a broken strap, was rather more difficult to handle than his own. She grinned at him, "Thanks Harry. Fred and George always used to help with that – I wonder how on earth I'll manage in Seventh Year when I'm all alone."
"You could always get Luna to float it down for you. Or commandeer one of your fanclub."
"My fanclub! I thought that was your department Harry."
He laughed shortly, and reached his hands up to catch her. "Well, come on," he said, "I won't drop you."
"Are you sure now Harry? Might I not be a bit too heavy?"
"You're just a little girl Weasley! I can catch you easy."
Something crossed Ginny's face, it might have been irritation, but she sighed and jumped down. Harry caught her under the armpits, and steadied her against him – she had landed badly and her balance wasn't good. She looked up and smiled at him, saying "Thanks Harry." Her voice seemed shy almost, and Harry was considering what to say next when Mrs. Weasley hailed them. Ginny flashed him a second smile and then ran to greet her family – Harry followed her at a slightly more sedate pace.
Mrs. Weasley fussed over her son and daughter, and Harry and Hermione, and Charlie, who had now returned to England, quickly engaged in an enthusiastic reunion with Ginny. They made their way off the platform quite quickly – Harry suspected members of the Order were following them, but knew better than to mention it.
Harry's Aunt Petunia waited for him, and clearly was not in the mood to wait long. He hugged Hermione briefly, squeezing her tight and saying, "Be careful!" in a low voice. She smiled at him, and pecked his cheek before returning to her parents. His Aunt glared at him, and, realising he was going to have to get going immediately Harry hefted his trunk with a sigh.
Waving to Ron and Hermione her turned to walk out of the station but was arrested by a shout of "Harry!" He turned to see Ginny come tumbling towards him in a cloud of red hair. Her face was glowing and a bright smile was spread across it; she was happy to see her family again.
She slowed down as she approached him and said, "You aren't going to leave without saying goodbye?"
Harry cleared his throat and said awkwardly, "It's just, I couldn't see you and my aunt she..."
Ginny nodded in understanding and Harry's voice trailed off. She leaned around him and waved to Aunt Petunia – Harry thought he heard a sniff of disapproval. Looking down at Ginny's smiling face he said, "Well, have a good summer." He couldn't think of anything to say that would let her know how much he would miss her – yet he felt quite strongly that Ginny needed to know that. He needed to tell her.
Harry was somewhat chagrined when Ginny burst out laughing. "Have a good summer! How polite you are Harry!" He felt himself blush and saw the smile drop off Ginny's face.
She reached up to hug him, her slender arms around his neck, and whispered, "Take care of yourself Harry."
He could smell the clean scent of her hair, could feel her soft weight against him, and surprised himself by locking his arms around her waist. His voice was oddly deep as he said, "You too."
Harry took a deep breath, trying to think of something else to say, and was so busy racking his brains that Ginny caught him completely off-guard when she stretched up to kiss his cheek. He felt himself go rigid with shock – it was only the lightest touch, her lips feeling like a fading rose petal against his skin, but it knocked him for six.
Ginny must have felt his shock for she drew away from him and seemed about to say something when Harry said, "I'll see you soon." He didn't want her to apologise.
Ginny, of all things, looked slightly pink but she drew herself up and said, "Write to me Harry?"
He nodded, "Of course."
She smiled, looking almost shy, and said, "And I'll write to you. Great long letters."
Harry grinned, and, unable to think of anything else to say, nodded at her before turning to follow Aunt Petunia. He nearly missed the identical smirks on Ron and Hermione's faces as they waved goodbye to him, he was so caught up in the amazing knowledge he had just acquired.
He was dazed by his realization that he nearly walked into a ticket agent, and then, after apologizing profusely for his clumsiness, tripped over his own feet, nearly whacking his head against his trolley. He sighed as he heard Ron's burst of laughter behind him and kicked himself inwardly for such stupidity. His feeling of idiocy was compounded when Ginny called out, "Harry? Are you okay? That looked nasty."
"I'm fine. I'm fine." He waved at them one last time and then got going, glad to escape the humiliation.
But it didn't really matter, not now. Not when he had just realised something so obvious he was almost ashamed he hadn't seen it before. He liked Ginny. No, he didn't just like her – he absolutely adored her. She was perfect. She was his – or at least, she soon would be.
Author's NoteApologies for the shortness of this chapter – Harry took surprisingly little time to figure things out (once he actually started to think that is.) The chapter title comes from "Romeo and Juliet" Act Two, Scene Two – "Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow."