Chapter 6: Waiting for love
"Ron." Hermione was staring at the body of Lord Voldemort lying on the floor of the clearing, clearly dead. "The curse rebounded, Ginny should be alive." together Ron and Hermione sat Ginny up and revived her, she was in shock over Harry's death, and kept rubbing her forehead. She clung in Ron's arms shaking from fear, shock, and loss. When she had stopped, his hand shaking Ron pulled back the hair on her forehead, only to find a small cut shaped like a lightning bolt.
The next few weeks were probably the most difficult Ginny ever had to face, she was immensely glad to be going home soon, but dreading her mother's reaction. Ron and Hermione were almost always in Ginnys company, they never said much, just quietly read, or had a silent game of chess, for they knew that the whole school were talking about them, and none of them felt like discussing their experiences just yet.
The end of term feast came too quickly for Ginny, she wasn't looking forward to having to face the whole school. Whispers and nudges followed her around school, so lessons were becoming too tedious to describe. She preferred to be alone to dwell on her thoughts or with Ron or Hermione, for a quiet conversation on trivial matters.
Finally the day arrived, silence fell when Ginny stepped into the great hall, but the babble of talk rose again when she started walking between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables to join Ron and Hermione in her usual space. Dumbledore stood up and silence filled the hall, he looked mournfully round the houses, Ginny could see a tear glinting in his eye, but when it trickled into his beard he looked as old and as weary as ever. He took a deep shaky breath and began his speech.
"The end of a year." he began "a time, to reflect on our actions, and their consequences, over this last year." Ginny had tears rolling down her face "some of our actions can do good, others do the opposite." Dumbledore paused to regain his strength before he continued "Some of us would give up something valued and treasured for a friend, a piece of jewellery, a piece of information, our life." for the first time during his speech, Dumbledore's voice shook. He continued again "Not many of you can imagine a situation in which you would lay down your life for a friend. Two days ago a student found himself in a situation where he had limited options, he gave his life to save his friends, and in doing so not only saved their lives but eliminated a threat that has already affected many of your families." more tears trickled into Dumbledore's beard "In his seven years at Hogwarts, Harry Potter has shouldered a grown wizards burden many times, and every single time he has emerged, tired but strong. He has been able to support the future of the wizarding community on his shoulders all his life, he has always been strong, even when times were tough." Dumbledore coughed, which Ginny was sure was hiding a sob "So I beg you please to raise your glasses in honour of Harry Potter." Ginny raised her goblet but was unable to say his name, her mouth was dry, yet tears were rolling down her cheeks. She looked to the heavens of the great hall, the stars were shining brighter then ever. He was waiting for her, she could feel it. "Harry Potter," Dumbledore continued "was exemplary in all the qualities associated with Gryffindor house, he was incredibly brave, and has shown courage beyond anything that I expected from him. Remember to love your friends, remember that they are always there for you, remember Harry Potter." suddenly the doors flew open, banging in the wind, which blew out the candles. These Dumbledore re-lit with a wave of his hand and Mr Filch secured the doors, leaving them open.
Sitting in the doorway, but in a completely different world was a skinny dark-haired boy with green almond shaped eyes, shining with tears.
"Its ok Harry." his mum said, trying to comfort him, but nothing would comfort Harry, he wouldn't be able to talk to her until she died. Suddenly he made up his mind and turned to his parents.
"I'm going to wait for her." he said
"But that's going to be well over 20 years!" his dad protested, but fell silent at the look his wife gave him.
"I know dad, but I just don't want to go on without her."
"We understand love, and if she means this much to you then we'll wait with you." Lily told him
"Really? But you've already waited sixteen years, and Ginnys going to be a lot longer."
"We're waiting with you," James insisted "and besides we've got sixteen years to catch up on."
Smiling Harry walked down the corridor with his mum and dad.
Ginny dragged her eyes away from the doorway and down to the table where the food had just appeared, it smelt delicious, but Ginny didn't want to eat it, food had been tasting like stale cardboard for the past 24 hours. She looked up at Ron and Hermione, they weren't eating either, but at least they had each other, she, Ginny was on her own
All too soon they were loading their luggage onto luggage racks, and getting ready to go home, Ron and Hermione had gone on ahead to find an empty compartment, and Ginny was edging along the corridor looking for them. Trying hard to ignore everybody nudging each other and pointing at her, she sped up hoping to find Ron and Hermione soon when…
"Hermione can I talk to you?"
"What were you just doing?"
"I mean in private."
"Oh." Hermione leaned over and shut the carriage door, the voices were slightly muffled, but Ginny could still hear them quite clearly.
"Hermione, I was going to do this by the lake before the feast, well that's what Harry suggested, but due to unfortunate circumstances I couldn't."
"You mean you hadn't packed." Hermione smiled a tear in her eye.
"No, I'd lost the box, being the useless idiot that I am."
"What box?"
"This box" Ron pulled something out of his pocket and gave it to Hermione, who opened it and gasped.
"Ron, its beautiful…wha…?" but before she could say another word Ron slid off his seat and knelt on the carriage floor in front of her.
"Will you marry me Hermione?" tears were forming in Hermione's eyes as she nodded, tears of happiness were blocking her voice. Watching Ron slide the ring onto Hermione's finger, Ginny decided to join them.
"Did I just witness a proposal?"
"Oh, you were watching?"
"Sorry, I just kind of, overheard."
"Its ok Ginny," Hermione said "Sit down."
But Ginny didn't sit down, she was staring at the seat next to Ron, she could have sworn that she had seen a skinny boy with bright green eyes sitting there laughing. She gave herself a little shake and sat down next to Hermione, she had seen this boy with green eyes everywhere, coming down the dormitory stairs behind Ron. Reading in his usual spot by the common room fire, she had even stood by to let him pass in a corridor once, but when she looked back, she was alone. She had already decided to hang on, to wait until her time came to join him, she'd never stop loving him, and she'd never forget him.
And Harry? He's still waiting for her, He's not going to give up, her time will come, but that's a different story…
The End
