Hi all,
Thank you so much for the great reviews. I really do appreciate them. It seems, though, that at the end of almost every chapter, someone asks me if that the end of the story, don't worry, you will know, without a doubt, when I finish this story. I am having a lot of fun writing it, although I am nervous every time I post that I made some glaring error (I'm doing everything from memory and it has been quite a few months since I read HBP), feel free to tell me if I do (just be nice about it please) and keep in mind that this is my twist on the story and characters, not that of the amazing Ms. Rowling.
There will only be a couple of more chapters, I keep getting sidetracked by the sequel to this story, a Tonks/Lupin story, and I can't wait to post that one.
Thank you all for your kind words and thoughtful reviews!
Enjoy,
Failte
"We need to talk."
Harry swallowed hard. She said it matter-of-factly but the look on her face was stern. "Uh, wh-what about?"
Ginny looked around, seeing her family and sighed, "Come on." She turned and started away from the reception area.
Harry followed her without a word. She was a golden ghost against the darkening evening as locks of soft red hair had slipped from her braid and danced around her face. Ginny continued to stare straight ahead and walk with a purpose. He had no idea where they were going or what she wanted to talk about, but he knew he would follow her wherever she went.
They turned in the opposite direction from the pond, up towards the field where they had all played Quidditch on many sunny, summer afternoons. It was on a slight hill and Ginny stopped at the edge of the field, turning so she could look down on the Burrow and the tent housing what was left of the reception. Molly's voice carried all the way up to the field as she yelled at George for some reason.
She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes, tilting her face toward the breeze as she waited for Harry to join her. The scent of roses and…she sniffed, a dung bomb, were carried on the gentle wind. So that's what George did, she thought wryly, glad to know she had moved out of way before he had set it off.
Harry stopped about six feet away from her, watching as she stood in the waning light, seemingly unaware of his approach. His breath caught in his throat as he studied her slim figure, draped in gold, looking very much the beautiful sprite.
"You're not always an easy person to get close to."
Harry started at her voice, surprised to hear it shatter the quiet stillness of the evening. "What?"
She turned to face him fully and repeated, "You're not always an easy person to get close to."
"What are you talking about?"
"Harry, I know you have a lot on your mind, I know you're under more stress than any person should ever have to experience, but you don't have to deal with it all alone. You are not a burden to anyone, we want to help you. Dumbledore's death was hard for you, I can only imagine what it was…" her voice shook with sympathy. "Wh-what it was like for you to be there when he was…hit with the spell and I know how close you were. Harry, I'm worried about you."
"Don't be."
"I can't help it, I…we all care about you and it's killing me to see you hurt like this. Why can't you trust me enough to help you?"
"I do trust you, Ginny."
"You and Ron and Hermione are planning something."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, "Harry."
"Ginny."
The corners of her mouth twitched as he mocked her. "What's going on?"
"You can't tell your parents."
A bolt of fear raced down her spine, "Tell them what?"
"We're going to talk to them, but, well, I want to talk to you first." Harry turned to face the Burrow and lowered himself onto the grass.
Wordlessly, Ginny sank down beside him, close enough to feel the heat coming off his body, but not close enough to be touching. "Then talk to me, Harry."
He took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Okay, uh, I'm not going back to Hogwarts."
"What!" The word burst from her mouth in a shrill explosion.
"I'm not going back to Hogwarts and neither are Ron and Hermione."
"Now I know you're insane," Ginny gasped. "Hermione wouldn't skip out on school. I know Ron would, he would do it because he was never one for school. I just don't understand why you and Hermione wouldn't even think about returning. You know Dumbledore would want you to return."
Harry ran his hands through his hair, causing it to stick up even more. "Okay, uh, Ginny, just let me get the whole explanation out and then you can ask questions, okay?"
She nodded and pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them, settling in to listen.
He began nervously, tugging at blades of grass, explaining the horcuxes to her and all that he and Dumbledore had done.
Ginny listened, enraptured, her heart pounding. Fear, worry, and admiration took turns churning in her stomach as she heard his tale. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of all he had been through, about the decisions and promises he had to make, about the pressure he was under. She longed to reach out and stroke his hair, wrap her arms around him, or press a kiss to his cheek, anything she could to ease his pain. But, once again, she had to remind herself that that was not her place anymore.
"Ron and Hermione knew everything that had been going on, so, when I told them I had to go on and find the other horcruxes without Dumbledore, they told me they would come too." He wrapped up his story, leaning back on his hands, staring up at the star strewn sky. When she didn't say anything, he looked over to see her sitting with her knees drawn up, her arms around them and her cheek resting on her knees, studying him. "Gin?"
"Why didn't you tell me about this when it was happening?" She asked quietly, her voice trembling a bit.
"I didn't want you to worry and I had hoped that the less you knew, the less chance you would have of being involved. Besides, I only had Dumbledore's permission to tell Ron and Hermione."
Ginny couldn't deny that it hurt to know he hadn't trusted her enough to fill her in, especially when they were dating. She had known that something was going on, but had just assumed he would tell her when it was the right time. Now she felt betrayed. She slammed her fist onto the ground. "Damn it, Harry! Stop trying to be so damn noble! I'm already involved! All my family members who are of age are in the Order. My family has defied Voldemort for years and two of my uncles were killed in the first wizarding war. And Tom Riddle used me to get to you. Just being who I am means I'm involved."
"I know," he mumbled, running his hand through his hair for what must have been the hundredth time that evening.
"Then why didn't you tell me about all this?"
Harry swallowed hard knowing the answer would reveal more emotion than he was willing to. "I…I couldn't."
"You could, you just wouldn't," she said stiffly, pushing herself to her feet. "There is a difference."
"Ginny."
She whirled around to face him, "What!"
"I couldn't talk to you about this. Please understand," he pleaded, getting to his feet.
"What should I understand, Harry? That even when we were…close, you couldn't trust me enough. You could kiss me but you couldn't talk to me. Is that all I was to you, just a distraction? Just something to take your mind off more pressing issues?"
"No!"
"You're about to leave, with my brother and one of my close friends, to face certain danger and leave me here to worry. Just what am I supposed to understand?"
Her angry tone and the way she stood, with her hands on her cocked hips, only brought out the defensive anger in him. "Understand that for your own safety, I can't tell you everything."
"That's a load of bat dung," she snapped. "I can take care of myself."
"Yeah, but…" he trailed off, afraid to finish his thought.
"But what? You think I'm too young to handle this? That I'm too weak and girly? I don't need another brother, Harry."
"I know that."
She gestured angrily and paced in front of him, "Fine, obviously you are too thickheaded and blind to see that I am a very capable woman."
"I know you are."
"Then why are you still trying to shield me?"
"Because…"
"Because why?" She asked, giving his shoulder a shove.
"Because," he snapped, taking her by the shoulders, forcing her to stop moving. "Because if anything happened to you because of me, I couldn't live with myself. I can't go do what I need to do if I'm spending my time worrying about you."
His admission left her speechless and she stared at him, her mouth hanging open.
"Damn it, Ginny, why can't you just leave well enough alone?" He asked her, releasing her from his grip.
"Harry," her voice gentler now as she took a step closer to him, choosing to ignore the fact that he took a step back, "I can take care of myself. Let me go with you and help you."
He shook his head, "No. And Ron agrees with me. We need you to stay here, go back to Hogwarts and do what you can to help them. That is the best possible way that you can help."
"But, Harry…"
"No, Ginny, you're too important, please just stay here."
She took another step closer, "Only if you'll promise to come back to me."
He hesitated, meeting her eyes in the light of the moon. The look on her face made him nervous and excited. "I promise," he breathed and, without thinking, like the first time he had done it, Harry lowered his head and sealed his vow with a kiss.
Ginny tensed with surprise, but quickly recovered, sliding her arms around his neck and tilting her head to deepen the kiss.
Surprised by his own actions, Harry quickly pulled back, holding her at arm's length. "I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why are you sorry?"
"Because I shouldn't have kissed you."
"Didn't you enjoy it?"
Harry let go of her and crossed his arms over his chest, "What kind of question is that?"
"Don't answer my question with a question," she said, laying a hand on his arms. "Harry, I love you."
It took several moments for her words to sink in and Harry was mortified to realize a lump had formed in his throat. It was the first time he could remember that anyone had said that to him. He knew his parents had loved him, he had been told that by the people who had known them the best. And he knew, by his actions, that Sirius had loved him and that Molly loved him like one of her own children, but this was the first time he had heard those three words spoken directly to him.
Ginny watched the expressions that crossed his face. Confusion turned into surprise followed by pleasure and then finally a worried acceptance. "Harry?"
"I…I don't think anyone had ever said that to me." The words came out choked and raw.
Her heart broke a little at his words and she slipped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek on his shoulder and hugging him tightly, smiling slightly when she felt his arms come up around her.
For a few blissful minutes, Harry stood still, feeling her warm breath against his neck, her small, solid body pressed against his, and breathing in her flowery scent. "Gin?"
"Hmm?"
"This…this is all new to me. I, uh, I don't really know what my feelings are…okay, that sounds stupid…"
Ginny leaned back and looked up at him, "Its okay, Harry."
"No, its not. Ginny, I don't know much about love, I mean, I…I have no experience with it. But, I imagine that what I'm feeling for you is love. I just…I wish we had more time."
Tears filled her eyes and she willed them to not fall, "We'll have all the time in the world when you come back."
He let out a shaky breath and lowered his forehead to rest against hers, "You amaze me, Ginny."
"What?"
He closed his eyes. If there was ever a time to tell her how he felt it was now, who knew when they would see each again.
"Ron and Hermione were the first friends I ever had," he began quietly. "And your family is the first real family I've ever had. I found myself at Hogwarts and I am starting to find my place in the world. It hasn't been easy and I am going off to face the greatest evil the world has ever known. But I am going with the knowledge that a beautiful, amazing girl loves me. No one has ever, or will ever, understand me the way you do. I know I can be difficult, I know I can be hard to like at times, but you have continued to believe in me. Every time I see you or even just think about you, it feels like my heart is going to burst right out of my chest and no matter what I am doing or where I am, I suddenly feel happy and at peace. You give me peace of mind just by being. You make me want to be a better person. If that's what love is, then I do love you. More than you could possibly know."
Ginny no longer had the strength to hold back her tears, but she didn't make a sound as they raced down her cheeks.
Harry reached up and brushed away the tears with his fingertips, "I love you, Ginny. And because of that, I am going to ask you to stay here, do what you can to help your family, the Order, and at Hogwarts. Voldemort has used people in the past to get to me and I have lost Sirius and Dumbledore and I don't know if I could go on if I lost you."
She nodded.
"Say something, please."
Her throat was too raw to speak so she hugged him tightly and pressed her face to his neck.
Harry closed his eyes and rested his cheek on top of her soft, red hair, listening as she sniffled. His eyes flew open when he felt her warm, moist lips press against his skin. Her mouth trailed up his neck to his cheek as her hands slid into his hair and turned his face so she could press her lips to his.
"Just tonight," she whispered. "We have tonight. Tomorrow, we're over…until you come back."
Harry pulled back and looked down at her. His brain screamed at him to walk away, to tell her they couldn't. But his heart fought even louder, telling him it was okay to love her. What if tonight was all they ever had?
Before he could form another thought, Ginny undid the clasp holding her robes together, allowing them to fall in a golden pool at her feet. Her milky white shoulders and arms gleamed in the moonlight and Harry's hands moved on their own as they rested gently on her shoulders, feeling the goosebumps rise over her cool skin. Ginny's hands fumbled beneath his robes and slid her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly.
His fingers stroked her skin, down the narrow column of her throat, over and around her shoulders until his arms were wrapped securely around her. "Ginny, you're beautiful."
"So are you, Harry," she whispered.
"Really? I always thought I was more dashing than beautiful," he teased quietly, stroking her braid.
She giggled quietly, "You are so stuck up, Harry Potter."
"No, I'm stuck on you, Ginny Weasley."
She groaned, "That was really bad."
"I know."
She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning into his embrace, her hands gently stroking his back over the smooth cotton of his shirt. She could feel his heart racing and she nuzzled his neck.
With nimble fingers, Harry released her hair from its binds and carefully combed it out with his fingers. The strands of gold and silver beads that Fleur's mother had twined into her braid fell to the ground as her hair tumbled in thick waves past her shoulders. "Gin?"
"Hm?"
"What are we doing?"
"Hm?"
"We're standing here, out in the middle of the field where any of your brothers could catch us and I could be beaten." Shivers raced through his body as she giggled, caressing his neck with her warm breath.
"Then let's find some place more private." She pulled back and smiled at him. "Come with me."
He watched as she bent and gathered her robe, before crossing the field. Harry hesitated a moment and then leaned over and snatched up the beads that had fallen from her hair, stuffing them in his pocket before following her.
"When I was younger," she said when he caught up with her. "The twins made my life miserable. Bill and Charlie took pity on me and built this."
Harry looked up at the tree she had stopped in front of and looked up. In the lower branches were the precariously perched remnants of what had once been a tree house. "Um, Ginny, I'm not going up there."
"Wuss."
He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.
She giggled again, a sound he had grown to adore. "Of course we're not going up there, I don't have a death wish. But we are more hidden here."
He turned to face her and reached up to touch her cheek, "And what do you want to do now that we're hidden?"
Her face burned and she stared at his chest, her voice barely audible when she spoke, "I want you to hold me."
Harry unclipped his robe and laid it on the ground beneath the tree. Taking her hand, he sank onto the ground, pulling her with him. She settled on lap, her head on his shoulder, their arms wrapped tightly around each other. The breeze stirred up her hair and it tickled his face, but he made no move to stop it. He picked up her robe and wrapped it around them both when he felt her shiver. In their hiding place, they could hear only the songs of insects coming out with the night. He felt cut off from the rest of the world, completely alone with her, and it felt wonderful.
After several minutes of silence, Harry kissed the top of her head. "Ginny?"
"Harry."
"I was afraid you had fallen asleep."
"No. I was just thinking."
"What about?"
"I overheard Professor Lupin and Tonks, they were talking in the parlor. Kingsley asked Lupin to try speaking with the werewolves again and Tonks begged him not to go. I realized then just how much Voldemort was taking from all of us. I don't want him to take you from me, but I know you have to go and fight him. It's killing me Harry, but I won't ask you not to go, I won't ask you not to fight him."
He didn't respond, pressing his lips to her hair again, feeling her tremble in his arms.
"I'm scared Harry, I'm scared for you and for me. I'm scared I'll never see you again." Her voice shook as she snuggled closer to him. "I'm scared for Ron and Hermione and Bill and Fleur and Lupin and Tonks and my parents and the twins and everyone else I know and care about. But I am sick and tired of being scared. I know you have to go just like I know you will succeed. I don't want you to worry about me or think about me, I'll be fine. Don't worry about writing me, unless you want to, just go, get the job done and come back. I'll be waiting for you."
"Thank you, Ginny," he whispered hoarsely. "Thank you for understanding."