Boundless as the Sea

She heard the screams first – then saw the mob of students running for the castle.

Moments before Peeves had given the alram – Voldemort's army was massed at the gates. Ginny had to fight back the urge to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Voldemort had raised the largest army of dark creatures and wizards in the history of the wizarding world, and he was using it all to attack a school. Nonetheless, the humour seemed lost on most of the students around her, who were panicking at the thought that, sooner or later, the Death Eaters would break through.

She had been in Greenhouse Number Four gathering potions ingredients for Snape when she heard Peeve's call. Outside was chaos, and Ginny immediately saw that her fellow students were too alarmed to think clearly.

In an instant she had performed the Sonorus charm. "Everyone will please, shut up!" She said.

Someone had to take over, and there were no other members of the DA or Prefects near by. To Ginny's satisfaction everyone turned to stare at her. "Right," she said. "We go through by years, youngest first. Sixth and seventh years spread out, and get your wands out. The second you're in make your way to the Great Hall, unless a teacher tells you different."

They followed her instructions to the letter, and within five minutes everyone was inside, except for a fourth year Care of Magical Creatures class Hagrid was escorting. Ginny hopped through the main door, saying "Quietus" as she went. Professor McGonagall gave her a ghost of a smile and said, "Well done Miss Weasley."

Ginny managed a tight grin at her and nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Thankfully it was only Neville. She smiled gratefully, and followed him to a small alcove. As soon as they were far enough away from the noise of frightened students, he whispered, "The DA is going to fight with the Order – the Aurors are on their way. Harry sent me to get you."

Ginny nodded, and impulsively leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "We'll be all right Neville," she said.

It was difficult for her to move with any great speed through the crush of the corridors, but Neville kept a strong hold of her arm and gradually the crowd thinned. Ginny's nerves chilled pathways down her skin, inside her ears and in the juices of her stomach. It was happening now – tonight. She hadn't been expecting this; despite Harry's cryptic hints and the sense of foreboding that had drilled into her bones, it still felt like a shock.

Never enough time. Never, ever enough. By the time they reached Harry, Ron and Hermione, Neville's hand was damp in hers. Ginny gave them all a brief smile and said, "Where's Luna?"

Ron's tone was brusque. "She's getting the DA members from Ravenclaw."

They spent a busy twenty minutes planning – Harry ordered her and Hermione to partner each other, and work with Ron and Neville as a foursome. Ginny felt queasy at the thought of battle – she just hoped Luna found Ernie in time (somehow, they had become a formidable pair.) Her wand nearly dropped from her fingers as they turned to leave, and she remembered Hermione's terse injunction: "Show the dense prat what you're made of."

It was beyond time for her to be honest, and as they walked to the Entrance Hall to wait for the Order, Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him aside.

"Ginny! What are you doing?" He hissed at her, but she ignored him, putting a finger to his lips.

"I want you to promise me something," she said, ignoring the contortions of his face as impatience and curiosity warred within him. "Whatever happens, you promise that you're coming back."

His eyes softened and he started to say, "Ginny, I can't…"

"I don't care! You promise you're coming back to me."

"To you?"

Ginny had never seen such an expression of heartfelt delight on Harry's face before and, at last, she gave in to the instincts that had been plaguing her for months, and leant up to kiss him. His mouth was warm and wonderful on hers, and Ginny felt a dreadful weeping pain that she might never experience this again, and that it must be such a short moment of fulfillment, but also a joy so profound that it ran through her like her life's blood. Finally, she was where she was supposed to be – in Harry's arms. They clung to each other, trying to feel and taste as much as they could in this brief interlude, and Ginny spared a thought to be grateful Ron was behind Harry not her, because if he could have seen where the Boy Who Lived had his hands…

It couldn't last, and with difficulty they pulled apart, breathing heavily. Seamus and Dean let out whoops of appreciation, and Ginny searched Harry's face. "Do you promise?"

He leant down to kiss her cheek, and murmured, "We'll talk about it later…after."

Ginny nodded. She understood – in his own way, he was promising. A smile bubbled up inside her, and Ginny knew she could take on anything tonight and win. Harry felt the same way.

He locked hands with her, and didn't let go until the last possible moment, and not without pressing one last, firm kiss to her mouth. Now she was shaking from something other than nerves. She would give anything to keep him from this fight, but if she couldn't, the least she could do was send him off with smiles, not tears.

And so, Ginny dragged him back to her – and flung herself at him with a hunger she hadn't known she possessed. Part of it was a desperate wish to cling to his touch, and part her desire to let him know, once for all, exactly how she felt.

When Harry was gone, it was Ron's eyes that helped her hold together. Ron knew, Ron understood, because it tore to him to the heart to let Harry go, just as much as it did her. He squeezed Ginny's shoulder, kissed Hermione and shook hands with Neville – and they lifted their wands. It was time.

Ginny was one of several people decorated for courage in that last, horrendous, battle, but her abiding memory was not of bravery or glorious victory, but a clawing longing to know if he would return. Only once did that thought shift from the forefront of her mind – when her hair was abruptly transformed into three-dozen snakes. Aside from that moment, she felt continual, fevered tension until a lean figure emerged from the forest.

Author's Note

And now, if you want to know exactly what happened at the end of the battle, I refer you to the epilogue of "Men Love With Their Eyes". Only chapter left now.

The title comes from Romeo and Juliet Act Two, Scene Two – specifically Juliet's speech:

But to be frank, and give it thee again.

And yet I wish but for the thing I have:

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

My love as deep; the more I give to thee,

The more I have, for both are infinite.