((Today is October 10, 2005. This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHAPTER in the whole story! Before you read it, though, play the song Can't Help Falling In Love With You in the background while you're reading this… believe me, the effect is astounding. It won't let me post the website though, so if you want it Email me. It needs Windows Media player to work though. Try not to read this w/o the song, because it is SO MUCH better with it. Trust me on this one. But if you do, it's ok.))
The following night, Harry was running errands, Ron and Hermione were away until morning, and Ginny was left on her own.
She had been swimming for the first hour or so that she was alone, but started to get bored. She had taken a shower, and dressed in a pair of comfortable black pajama pants and an old Chudley Cannons tee that clashed horribly with her hair.
She wandered downstairs, pulling her wet hair up into a loose bun on the top of her head. Harry had bought a muggle music player, and he and Hermione often played DEs… or something like that. She popped one in, and pressed the triangular button that Hermione said made the music start.A deep male voice immediately came out of the speakers. Ginny turned it up a notch or two, and then flopped on the couch. She listened to the first few songs, which were very upbeat… when a slow one came on.
Wise man say… only fools rush in… but I can't help… falling in love… with… you.Ginny immediately decided she liked the song.
Shall I stay?She picked up a pillow, and, hugging it close to her body, started to dance.
Would it be… a… sin?She closed her eyes, and let the music carry her away.
If I can't help… falling in love… with… you.
Harry walked in the front door, and upon hearing the music, he carefully put his bags down and crept to the living room. What he saw was almost heartbreaking.
Ginny Weasley was standing in the middle of the room holding a pillow, tears pouring from her closed eyes.
Like a river flows… surely to the sea…Harry walked over to her.
Darling so it goes…He was standing right in front of her.
Some things… are meant to be…He spoke, in a soft, quiet voice. "May I cut in?"
Take… my hand…"Of course." Ginny's voice was quiet, filled with sadness.
Take my whole… life… too…
The pillow had been discarded, and Harry wrapped his right arm around Ginny's waist, taking her left hand in his right.
For I can't help… falling in love… with… you.
Ginny face was still a bit wet from crying, and as she looked at Harry, her eyes were unnaturally bright from unshed tears. "Oh, Harry… I…"
"Shhh, Ginny… it's okay. I should be apologizing, not you. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I was scared, Ginny. Scared of loosing you. Afraid that if I told you how I really felt, you would be used as bait to get to me. Can you forgive me?"
Like a river flows…A single tear fell onto her cheek. Harry wiped it away. "I already have."
Surely to the sea…Ginny guided his left hand to her waist, then wrapped her arms around him.
Darling so it goes…"Harry. I still love you," she said shakily into his chest. "I never stopped loving you, and I will keep loving you until the day I die."
Some things… are meant to be…"And if you choose to ignore that… then that's your problem."
Take… my hand…The couple danced together, staring into each other's eyes.
Take my whole… life… too…"Gin…" and to her complete surprise, he began to sing along with the words. He had a marvelous singing voice.
For I…. can't help… falling in love… with… you.
For I… can't help… falling in love…with… you…
He flicked his wand, and the song came on again, quieter this time, and the two kept dancing.
"Ginny… every time I see you, I fall in love all over again. I hated seeing you, and not being able to be with you." He pulled the girl closer to him. "I love you with all my heart, and I will never hurt you again, I promise."
"Oh, Harry…" she looked deep into his eyes, lost for words.
Would it be… a… sin? If I… can't help… falling in love… with… you.
He softly brought his lips down upon hers.
SOME THINGS… ARE MEANT TO BE…
"I love you, Harry James Potter."
"And I love you, Ginerva Molly Weasley."
The two then sang the rest of the song together.
Take… my hand… take my whole… life… too… For I… can't help… falling in love… with… you….
Like a river flows… surely to the sea… Darling so it goes… some things… are meant to be…
Take… my hand… take my whole… life… too… For I… can't help… falling in love… with… you…
FOR I… CAN'T HELP… FALLING IN LOVE… WITH… YOU!
When Ron and Hermione came home early Monday morning, they were surprised by the site that welcomed them; Harry and Ginny had fallen asleep on the couch, a fire burning in the inglenook and a blanket wrapped around the two of them. Both had a content smile on their faces. ((A/N: yes, "inglenook" is a real word. It means fireplace.))
Ron looked as though he wanted to scream at Harry for touching his sister, but he also looked like he wanted to scream "FINALLY" and congratulate them. The latter did not win out.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING! GET THE HELL OFF MY SISTER!"
Harry and Ginny awoke with a start, and Ginny instantly fell off the couch.
"Ow…" she moaned, rubbing her backside. She looked confused, and then saw a livid Ron screaming at her at three thirty in the morning.
"RONALD WEASLEY! WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING! YOU DO NOT CONTROL ME! I HAVE A LIFE; LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" If she got any more furious, steam would be pouring out of her ears. She took a deep breath in, and slowly let it out.
Harry shot a sheepish look at his best friend. "Hello. You're home early. Heh heh."
Hermione looked around the room. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Out of nowhere, she burst into a fit of giggles. "What took you two so long?" She then grabbed Ron's arm and disapparated into their bedroom.
Ginny was still standing in the middle of the room, eyes closed, breathing deeply.
Harry walked over to her. "You all right?" he asked softly, rubbing her shoulders.
"Yeah. I should be used to this, I guess. It's the other four you need to worry about. Oh shit. Oh shit. SHIT!" She covered her face with her hands, rubbing vigorously.
"When they find out… all five of them… oh holy shit…" she turned and glanced at Harry. "You may be The Boy Who Lived, but if you answer wrong, you'll be The Boy Who Defeated Voldemort But Was Then Murdered By His Girlfriend Ginny Weasley's Psychotic Brothers."
"A—answer wrong?" Harry looked nervous.
"I'm not allowed to say anything… but… don't crack under the pressure." She grimaced. "And… good luck."
Harry looked much paler as he headed back up to bed.
Harry did not sleep well throughout the rest of the night, and didn't fall asleep until close to seven-thirty. Even then, it was an extremely restless sleep.
He didn't wake up until after quarter to eleven, and skipped swimming that morning, instead taking a shower and heading down to brunch.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Hermione said, smiling as Harry tripped down the last few stairs. "Sleep well?"
Harry smirked at her, narrowly missing the coffee table as he stumbled to the kitchen. He made himself a cup of coffee, then pulled a half-eaten bologna sandwich out of the fridge.
"How old is this?"
"I ate the other half an hour ago," Hermione answered him. "There's mustard, pickles, and chocolate chips on it."
Harry gave her a strange look. "Chocolate chips?"
She pointed to her stomach. "Pregnant."
"Hardly a week!"
Harry shook his head, then proceeded to take a large bite out of the sandwich. "Tho, air 's vrybody?"
"What? Swallow, please." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Men."
"Where is everybody?"
"Ron and Ginny decided to take a 'sibling day', whatever that is. So it's just you and me."
Harry grabbed the Prophet and started reading the cover story while eating the bologna/chocolate sandwich. Hermione was watching him impatiently.
"What!"
"Must you eat so slow?"
Harry took a pointedly slow bite, chewing twenty times before swallowing. "Yes."
He slowly finished his sandwich, and then looked directly at his best friend. "So how's the Ginny thing going?"
"Actually, we kind of forgot about it… oops, heh heh."
"Tsk tsk. Well, you only have five days left. I'd get a move on if I were you, or else be doomed to pool cleaning, nasty teeth, and cooking classes."
"Hardy-har-har. Get that Jacuzzi ready for us. Hey… you know, that isn't really a fair deal… 300 galleons and the use of a Jacuzzi?"
"I'll throw in setting up the baby crib, too. Ron seems to have trouble doing simple things like that."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "No magic, though."
"Fiiine," he sighed. "And you can do a lot in a Jacuzzi. Just not while I'm sleeping."
The two spent the rest of the day catching up on things, and around one-oh-clock Mrs. Weasley stuck her head through the floo, and invited the foursome for lunch and stuff (she wouldn't specify any more) on the following Thursday.
((Ok, I know chapter 7 was a REALLY short chapter, but, like I said, it's my favorite one. The next chapter, ehh not so much, so I gave you this one first. Ok, I say… fifteen reviews before I update. Mwahahaha.))