A/N Okay, so being generic and sort of saying things in Harry's point of view is oddly depressing (since we all know there's a possibility that he may get his ass kicked by Voldemort) and is making me not want to write anything. To sort of redeem myself, I'm writing most of this chapter from Ginny's perspective, so I'm hoping it won't suck as much as the last chapter did. Anyways, on to the chapter – keep your fingers crossed.

Chapter 4: From France, With Love

France is totally overrated. One would think it's all lovely and full of romantic candlelit rendezvous by the beach at midnight, but it's so not. Harry and I don't even see each other, and to be honest, I'm beginning to think it's because he doesn't really want to see me. The first maybe four days we were here, I had successfully convinced myself in a very elaborate way that Harry had been secretly pining over me for days and the mere sight of me would render him blind because he finds me so ridiculously gorgeous, but this brilliant idea is currently being dashed against the rocks at our family dinner. Harry is sitting right across from me, which I thought to be a very risky move at first since my beauty would blind him if he so much as glanced over at me, but he's looked at me like 20 times now and he still has his sight. He isn't even injured. I've just been sitting here in silence, watching Harry swirl his mashed potatoes into something that's starting to look like a castle. Occasionally, he'll look up at me and give me this sort of half smile-half grimace. Honestly, I wasn't even aware you could give a half smile-half grimace, but apparently it was what Harry was mastering in my absence.

"Ginny, dear, could you pass the butter?" Mum asked me, trying to be polite but from the look on her face, I could tell it was probably the 5th time she'd asked me and I just wasn't paying attention.

"Sure mum," I tried to sound as sweet as possible, but I'm not quite sure it worked out like that.

How much longer can Harry ignore me? I mean, I did kiss him, right? I'm not just imagining it, or at least I'm almost positive I'm not. I lasted through the rest of dinner without grabbing Harry and confessing my undying love for him, but I can't promise anything about what I may do tomorrow.

After we ate, I pulled Hermione aside while she was attempting to sneak outside to study Charms.

"You like Ron, right?" I asked her, totally skipping the part where I was supposed to be subtle about things.

She turned this funny shade of red and tried to cover up the question with a giggle.

"Of course not, Ginny. That would be stupid, Ron would never think of me as anything more than a friend…" she said, still trying to laugh it off.

"I know you do, I live here too so don't give me that. Now, picture this: Ron tells you he loves you, you kiss him and then he ignores you while you're in France, the most romantic place in the world. How do you feel?" I asked while she suddenly became very intrigued by the wallpaper.

"I guess I'd feel like he didn't really mean it… Wait, you didn't tell me Harry said he loved you! Ginny, I'm supposed to be your best friend and you don't tell me a guy says he loves you!" she continues to yell at me. I really wasn't aware this was such an upsetting topic, but I guess shame on me for trying to sneak past the fact that I was really talking about me and Harry, not her and Ron.

"This is so exciting! I know that I'm technically mad at you for not telling me the most romantic moment of your life, but we've got to do something about this. Oh, oh, I know! Tomorrow, we'll go shopping with Fleur and you'll pick out something stunning and then he'll propose and everyone will live happily ever after," Hermione said excitedly. Girls and their romance.

"I really don't think it works like that. Harry hasn't said anything to me since we got here, I don't even think he meant what he said," I told her, trying my best not to sound hurt about it.

"Of course he meant it, Gin. Why would he say it if he didn't mean it?"

Good question, but that won't stop me.

"Because he needed love and companionship before he decided to go into the world to fight off the biggest evil force known to man. Obviously," I knew this had to be true, so it was what I told her.

Hermione briefly looked like she was going to hit me with her book, and then she got this happy look on her face and ran upstairs. Sometimes I seriously think she's bipolar.

I was minding my own business, casually standing outside Ron's door with my ear pressed against it when Harry and Ron started talking about love. I'm no expert on guys, but from my experience, this isn't something they usually bring up so obviously, I was very intrigued.

"It's just so bloody hard knowing I have to leave her, you know?" said what I could only assume to be Harry.

"If you keep pushing her away like this, there won't be anything to leave behind. I know it's hard, mate, but she'll get over you if she has to and with the way you're dealing with this you aren't really giving her any other option," Ron told him. It's always fascinating when I know they're talking about me.

"Like you're doing any better, you haven't even told Hermione you like her, I've at least gotten that far." Harry snapped back at him.

Mental note to self: Must find Hermione later and tell her of Ron's undying love for her.

"She's coming with us to go search the world for horcruxes, it's not like I won't have the opportunity. You're leaving Ginny here. How would you feel if something happened and you never got to do all of the things you wanted to with her? Pretty fucking bad, I suppose. You seem to think you're doing her this huge favor by leaving her behind but you're not, mate. She's more likely to get hurt without you than she is with you. At least if she's with you, she's got someone who loves her enough to die trying to save her," I loved Ron for trying to make Harry see what everyone else already could. Too bad Harry is just really dense most of the time.

"You know how much stuff could happen if she went with us? She could suddenly find out half way through that she doesn't really love me and she wants to go home. Or even worse, she could die. She could die trying to help me out and that's the last thing I would want," Harry commented. Honestly, like I would really decide I didn't love him. Does it look like I've changed my mind about it yet? I didn't think so.

"Besides, she's much better off without me," Harry continued on. Hm, this voice was much easier to hear, like it was closer or something.

Oh fuck.

The doorknob is definitely moving, but I'm not. I can't move, I'm just standing here like a total nerd who was listening to their conversation. Oh god, I didn't think this actually happened to people, where their body just completely freezes and they can't move at all.

The door is swinging towards me, and I'm still not moving.

WHAM

"Ginny? Are you okay?" Harry yelled from his current position above the stairs. I can't believe I got hit by a door and fell down the stairs. Oh god, I think I broke my nose.

"Oh yeah, I'm fantastic. Just slipped, you know. Happens all the time," I'm the biggest loser in the world, it's official

Now he's rushing down the stairs to come aid me. I completely retract my previous statement; I understand why I'm not going with him to hunt You-Know-Who. I'm the clumsiest person on the face of the earth.

"Your nose is bleeding, there's no way you're alright. Here – grab on to me," Harry said gently. Always the hero. I wrapped my arms around his neck (because who would really want to miss that opportunity?) and he carries me onto the couch. I've never really noticed how nice he smells. Like vanilla and cinnamon.

"I'm going to go get you some ice. Don't move," he started to walk into the kitchen and I just sat there in my own thoughts. Harry was always so confusing. I really don't understand why we can't just be happy, like normal people. Okay, I realize he isn't exactly what someone would consider normal but still. Does that mean we have to sacrifice our happiness?

"Gin, I have to talk to you," he had come back into the room and was holding a towel full of ice against my nose.

"About what?" I asked nervously.

"Now isn't the time, meet me tomorrow night at 11:30," he said, still icing my nose.

"This better be good if you're making me sneak out of the house at 11:30 at night," I joked. Okay, so I really wasn't joking. It better be really good if he expects me to wait until tomorrow night.

He grinned at me, "Don't worry, it's good."

And with that, he got up and left me alone on the couch, still icing my now huge nose.

The Next Day

Ginny sat on her windowsill staring happily at the stars when she heard the soft flapping noise of Harry's owl, Hedwig, near her ankle.

"Hey Hedwig," she cooed softly at the beautiful owl, "What do you have there?" she said, noting the letter Hedwig clutched in her talons. Ginny gently pulled the letter away and attempted to open it with the hand that wasn't petting Hedwig's delicate feathers.

Dear Ginny,

Change of plans. I'll meet you in your room at 10.

-Harry

Ginny glanced up to the clock on her rustic blue walls. 9:45.

She hurried around her room, grabbing a skirt and blouse along the way and shoving them on over her undergarments. She knew this talk they were about to have had to be important, Harry had even requested that Ron keep Hermione busy for the time while they were gone. Maybe that is it, she thought, maybe Harry just wants Ron and Hermione to get together so he made this all up as an excuse for them to spend time together.

Ginny had become so involved with her own thoughts that she failed to notice Harry on his broomstick, flying dangerously close to her window.

"Ginny," he whispered with one hand clutching his broom firmly and the other stuck out in the direction of Ginny, motioning her to come towards him.

Ginny joyfully accepted his hand and swung her leg over the back on his broomstick, wrapping her left arm securely around his waist. She breathed in his scent, the smell of vanilla and cinnamon overwhelmed her.

"So, where are we off to on this glorious night?" she beamed gleefully, gazing up at the stars that overtook the night sky.

"I'd tell you, but then it would ruin the surprise I worked so hard on," Harry turned his head around briefly to give her one of his award winning smiles. It had been too long since Ginny had seen him smile like that.

She took in the atmosphere of France, noticing for the first time that she hadn't stopped to enjoy it since they'd arrived.

"We're almost there," Harry told her as they became closer and closer to a little cottage near the beach.

They flew in silence until the once small looking cottage appeared the size of the Burrow.

"This is so beautiful, Harry," Ginny said, looking at pale yellow cottage surrounded by vibrant red roses.

Harry took hold of her delicate hand and led her into the old house, into a large room with a marble fireplace and 300 strategically placed white candles scattered across the floor. Ginny gazed at the room in amazement and turned to look at Harry.

"I need to tell you something and I couldn't think of a place better than this to do it," Harry said bashfully.

"I love you. More than I could ever imagine loving anyone, at anytime during my life," he started to say before he was interrupted by a soft kiss from Ginny.

"I love you too, Harry," she said and he returned with a lopsided grin.

"Don't get me sidetracked, I came out here to tell you something and I have to do it before I chicken out," he said bluntly.

"I haven't told Ron or Hermione yet, but I'm leaving tomorrow," Ginny looked upset but he continued on anyways, "And before I leave, I just thought I had a few things you may want to know. I'm going to marry you someday, Ginny. And we're going to have babies together, and grow old together, and live in the perfect house together. This house," Harry said, motioning to the cottage.

"When I come home, I promise I'll get this for you. And a house in England. Anything you want, really. It's taken me too long to get to this point and I don't ever want you to feel for a second that I don't love you, or that you don't deserve to be loved."

Have you ever heard of a totally perfect moment? A moment so unbelievable, and romantic, and utterly perfect that absolutely nothing could ruin it. Well, Ginny thought to herself, this is that moment.

Pressing her lips against his, they were enchanted. The stars shone brightly through the bay window and the candles lit the room to make it appear almost heavenly. Ginny pressed her body hard against his and he wrapped his arms around her waist protectively.

Harry stepped away from her slightly and looked at her with a burning gaze, "Just to be clear, I intend to make this official. How do you feel about being made my girlfriend?"

"Just wonderful, Harry. I feel just wonderful about it," Ginny replied before wrapping her thin arms around Harry's neck and kissing him passionately.

"Make love to me, Harry. Before the battle before us ages us so much we'll never be able to feel this young and free again," Ginny whispered lovingly in his ear.

"It's always been you, Ginny. Before I even knew what love was like, I knew it was you I loved," Harry said, kissing her neck gently.

Ginny looked up at Harry and realized for the first time what that look in his eyes was. Love, it had always been love.

"I know, Harry, I know,"

Tonight was a night full of many things. The world was filled with first kisses, and wishes on stars, and young lovers, but Ginny and Harry thought of nothing but their own happiness as their clothes lay forgotten on the plush carpet, and they proved what loving someone is truly like.