Violet Capes

by Isabelle

Spoilers: Set Post-Half-Blood Prince

Summary: One lonely night, apparitions do more than just speak to Harry.

Rating: PG-13

a/n: Two more ficlets will follow this as companion

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Stories like his were not written for children.

The darkness that binds us is the lightness that saves us and the future that comes is the dreams once dreamt.

It was already May. It was always snowing. Darkness had overtaken the earth and still he was just a warrior, a warrior tired and nearly broken – with eyes that had seen too much sorrow.

He felt his entire soul slowly slipping away. He lay on his small cot- made for soldiers. Soldiers now lost and forgotten.

His 'team' was outside making all types of plans but Harry the general was tired, lost and alone. He felt the cold seep into his insides and freeze him. It had been years since his lips had seen a smile.

The perpetual scowl on his face made him look older. Soon he'd look like Moody.

He turned on his side, hiding his head in his arms; trying to block out the whimpering of those who were wounded.

And still not a scar on his body, not one pain. His doom was to watch over others. His role in life was to watch those he cared for suffer.

He felt his tent being opened and a cloaked figure entered. He was waiting for Lupin to arrive.

When he looked up from under the rich violet robe a red head came out with hair three-feet long.

"Ginny?" He whispered, unsure of the vision before him. He quickly stood up and pulled his wand. He was weary of Death Eaters.

"Password: Granny's earrings." She simply said.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips and he felt their skin crack, the coppery taste of blood invading his mouth.

"You're bleeding." She immediately came to him and touched his lips.

He felt all the hairs on his skin rise in attention to her warmth. She gentle dabbed her robe against his lips as he stood there and continued to gap at her like an idiot.

Taking out her wand she placed it against his lips and said a simply healing charm.

"Lack of kissing, I think." She smiled at him.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice sounded strange in her presence – he sounded like a far off stranger.

"No one is left at Hogwarts… Ron is protecting Hermione while she researches that spell for you, Mom is a sack of nerves but her and Fleur even each other out and I was about to lose it being so far away."

"You need to get back, Ginny –"

"I've done what you've wanted to me to do. I've listened to you, and I have never stopped you. Now, it's my time to say what I have to say." She told him, her face strong. "Plus, you have to protect me from Voldemort."

"From Voldemort?" He looked at her as if she's grown another head.

"I'm your seventh Horcrux."

The moment her words left her mouth a sinking, nasty, gashing feeling inside of him told him it was true.

Tom Riddle had poured a piece of his soul to an innocent eleven-year-old. All these months he had been searching and hunting and all the while what he was searching for was the one thing he had wanted to stay away from.

"No –" Denial was a powerful thing.

"I'm not afraid, Harry."

His mission was to destroy all Horcruxes. But this time … this time he'd rather take his own life, as well as the life of Ron and Hermione rather than taking hers.

Harry had never felt so cheated in his entire life.

"Everything… he's taken everything from me… but he wont take you--"

"He's already taken me, Harry." Her voice was soft, sad and resigned.

"I won't let him. There's a way around it. Hermione will--"

"Hermione figured it out. I came to tell you. Aside from Ron, Hermione and you no one else knows." She placed her hands on either side of his face and leaned in, touching her forehead with his. "I'm not afraid, Harry."

He pulled her to him, breathing in her scent. "I'm afraid for you… I don't know what I'll do…"

"Shh…" She ran her hands down his back and pulled him closer. "I'm not afraid, Harry – I don't regret anything and I wouldn't change one thing about the time I've spent with you."

"Stop it!" he pulled her back to stare at her. "Nothing will happen to you – I won't let it!"

"I know you won't, Harry. But I'm staying with you – and there's nothing you can do about it!" her face was set, determined and passionate. All of these things he loved.

Without preamble or thought he kissed her. The kiss was wild, unlike anything they had shared before. Be it the fact that he felt she was slipping right through his fingers – like kissing water – hot boiling water. Scorching him, loosing him in her depth.

Before he understood what was happening the one thing he had thought in his long nights was starting coming true.

Ginny let her violet cape fall to the floor to reveal a very low-cut ivory gown. Harry stood transfixed – starring at her chest.

"Harry?" her voice sounded small, scared – something that shook him. "I've never… you know."

Her face was red – coloring to her roots.

It had been such a long time since he had seen her blush in this manner. Before she used to be a girl and now she was a woman.

"We don't have to—"

"I want to." Her face was set. She placed her hands on her shoulders and pushed the sleeves off her.

It was a night he would never forget, she gave him what he never had received before – she gave him love unconditionally, passion he never thought he'd have and hope. A strange feeling once called hope.

After, when she fell asleep in his arms – when he could count her freckles by the light of the coming moon he promised her she would live.

He promised her he would save her.

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The End