A/N: Well, ever since the release of HBP, this seems a little pointless, doesn't it? Still, I have an epilogue I want to write so badly that it's worth finishing the story. By the way, did anyone feel Jo was pushing too much romance into that book? Don't get me wrong, but sometimes I felt I was reading an extraordinary piece of fan fiction. Harry didn't even go to classes? Sorry if I spoiled it or something, I hope I didn't give away anything to someone who hasn't read it yet.
Chapter Nine: In the Room of Requirement
Ginny stood three feet from Harry, hands clenched tightly at her sides. As they looked through the brightly-colored windows into Zonko's, she kept watching him through the corner of her eye. Unfortunately, he was doing the same, which it made it rather awkward when they both ended up looking at the same time.
They remained that way for quite some time, Harry occasionally scratching his nose. Finally, Ginny burst out, "Why?" She continued to stare stonily at the store window.
Harry jumped when she spoke; his nerves were strung rather tightly. "Sorry... what?" He felt a lump rise in his throat. Afraid his voice might crack, he hoped that Ginny's question would only require a nod or shake of the head.
"Why did you do it?"
"D-do what?" Unfortunately, his voice cracked. He also knew perfectly well what she was talking about.
"Why did you... k- kiss m-me." Ginny's throat also seemed to be giving out, and she turned exceedingly red.
"Well..." murmured Harry, stalling for time. He turned towards her, studying her profile. Finally the answer came to him.
"Why do most people kiss other people?"
Ginny finally turned her head to stare at him instead of the brightly colored flying lights inside of the store. Her eyebrow was raised very slightly and she looked at him questioningly.
Harry ran his fingers through his hair. This girl thing was becoming more difficult each second. "I guess..." he trailed off. "I 'spose I did it because... well, because I sort of... well... fancy you."
Ginny turned her back to him slowly, the blush in her cheeks spreading up to her ears. She crossed her arms and lowered her head, causing Harry's heart to sink. Suddenly, she whirled around and threw herself at him, nearly ramming his head into the brick wall behind him. With her arms around his neck, he had instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her steady. He suddenly noticed how close their faces were, as well as the delicate tear drops making slow, wet pathways down her cheeks. Despite the tears however, she was smiling broadly at him; he couldn't help but smile back.
"So, Ginny... Do you... reckon you'd like to go out with me?"
She grinned, if possible, even wider, and murmured softly, "I reckon so."
Then both grins melted as their faces came closer than before, so close that Harry's limited vision would not let him see around her head. It didn't matter that her head was in the way, though, because he had his eyes close, as did she. And their lips met again, this time without anger or sadness. It was joy. Pure and simple.
"Oh come on, Hermione, it will take at least twenty minutes for you to run up to the castle to brush your teeth, just eat a chocolate frog and you'll feel better," he said, offering the end of the silver-colored wrapper containing the chocolate frog. "Let's just stay out here and enjoy that there isn't a soul in the immediate area."
"Unless you count those third years."
"Well, I don't obviously..."
"Or that seventh year Slytherin over there."
"He won't even notice."
"Or the giant squid."
"Honestly, Hermione, the giant squid isn't going to pop out of the water just to watch us snog..."
"Or Filch."
Ron looked up, startled. Indeed, Filch was nearly running down the lawn, muttering about being sent on errands to fetch misbehaving children without even being allowed to whip them. He passed by Ron and Hermione, giving them a nasty scowl as he went.
"I like your idea better, let's use the Room on Requirement."
"Not until I've brushed my teeth first. Honestly, Ron, I just spent ten minutes vomiting, do you really want to taste that?" Hermione reminded him.
"We'll wish for a sink when we get to the room, as well as a toothbrush and paste," Ron reasoned.
"You need to brush your teeth too, it's a wonder you haven't a single cavity with the amount of sweets you eat without even so much as flossing occasionally!"
Ginny pulled her head away from Harry's, suddenly realizing that passing students were beginning to stare. She grabbed Harry's hand, causing an electrical shock to course through his body, and said, "Let's go back to the castle, we'll use the DA room."
"Okay," said Harry, slightly numb and willing to follow Ginny wherever she led.
The walk up to the castle took nearly ten minutes longer than it should have, as both had to stop often to snog a little bit behind trees or on benches. Harry had to admit, snogging sitting down had its merits too. Especially on narrow benches.
Once they were on school grounds, they had to content themselves with merely holding hands, squeezing gently occasionally. Though they walked briskly towards the castle, very intent on their destination, Ginny walked very close to him, her fingers intertwined with his, brushing his leg or hip occasionally. He very nearly lost it on the steps to the hall.
Finally they reached the all-too-familiar corridor and Harry began pacing in front of the wall, with Ginny close behind him, very intently. We need a place, preferably small, but not too small. Give it couches. Narrow couches. And maybe a fireplace to make it a bit more romantic. Even if it is September.
Just as he reached for the handle of the door that had appeared with his right hand, clasping Ginny's own firmly in his left, the door suddenly burst forward, missing Harry's nose by millimeters. Hermione tumbled out of the Room of Requirement, grinning, with Ron following her, his hair sticking out at odd angles. Suddenly, the both caught sight of Harry and Ginny standing there.
Ron found his voice first. "What are you two doing here? You were supposed to be in Hogsmeade!"
"Well, we needed to use the Room of Requirement. What were you two using it for?" Ginny asked bravely. Harry didn't have the guts (or the stomach) to ask what Ron and Hermione did in private.
"What did you need it for?" Ron shot back defensively.
"Well, we're done with it now," interjected Hermione. "Come on, Ron, let's get you some snacks from the kitchen. Harry watched Hermione wrap her arm around Ron's waist, steering him towards the staircases. Astonished, he blinked hard. But... yes, it appeared as though Hermione's fingers had brushed Ron's arse accidentally-on-purpose. Harry chose to put it out of his mind and turned. Ginny was standing there, looking up at him.
"It's all ours," she said simply, raising one eyebrow.
Harry grinned. His foot had been holding the door open during the exchange between the Weasley siblings, so he entered the same room Ron and Hermione had been using. He had to admit, they had good taste in décor. In the south wall, a tiny fire was casting pleasant shadows on a low, soft couch that looked slightly Indian in style. A soft, wine-colored rug lay in front of it. In the right corner stood a medium-sized candle holder, and in the left corner, strangely, a sink equipped with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash. Two hand towels were on the table next to it, one neatly re-folded, the other left in a crumpled ball.
Ginny entered the room and took both of Harry's hands in hers. She looked into his eyes and whispered, "Let's not worry about anything right now. School, the war, none of it exists in this room. It's just you and me, Harry, for the next half-hour or so. What do you want to do with out time?"
Harry was going crazy. He could think of several things he'd like to do with Ginny right now, none of which Ron would approve of. But Ron isn't here at the moment, he thought, and he kissed her. It was a kiss without the passion they had shared on the way back to Hogwarts, but a kiss of sweetness and tenderness that made Ginny shiver. After breaking away for breath, Harry grinned crookedly at Ginny. "So, you want to use that couch?"
Harry was surprised, but not unhappy, when Ginny launched herself at him again. They missed lunch.
A/N: So this is now officially AU, not that it wasn't before. It may have one more chapter before the epilogue, but I think I'm just going to skip to writing the epilogue. I've been dreaming up this ending for months, and I think I've finally found the perfect one. The only problem is, I can't decide who to give the ending to: Ron or Harry? I planned on writing this story mostly about Ron and Hermione, but Ginny just sort of slipped in. What if I write two, and there will be an alternate ending?