AN: I am soo sorry for the long wait! My computer crashed and urgh this has taken me ages! Enjoy and please review!
"Hey what's wrong?" Harry asked, rubbing Ginny's shoulders gently. She was standing by the window, distractedly brushing her hair. "You haven't been yourself today."
Ginny laughed humourlessly. "Can you blame me?" She sighed and leaned backwards into Harry's warm chest. "Would you ever leave me?"
"What?"
"If I'd done something terrible, something you could never forgive…"
Harry took a tiny step backwards and turned her to face him. "Ginny, what are you…"
Smiling weakly, Ginny said, "Like, if I killed a man. Would you stick by me anyway?"
The worried look slipped off of Harry's face as he took her hands in his and kissed her forehead gently. "Why don't we just wait for the Ministry to deal with Krum, hey?"
Ginny smiled weakly and buried her face into Harry's chest, breathing in deeply. The thing is, she reasoned with herself, it wasn't like it had meant anything. She really loved Harry. Everything about him. He was so dependable and…well, cute and loving. He was the only one for her, Malfoy meant nothing.
"You seem really wound up," Harry said, caressing her neck gently and kissing her head. "Torie's fine now."
"Is she?"
Harry took Ginny's hand and led her over to the bed. "Listen, I've decided that this season with the Tornadoes will be my last."
Ginny looked at him shocked. "Why? Have you been offered a better place?"
"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "And it's not because I've been offered a place at the World Cup either." He paused and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. "Tor was taken because of me. You were right, it's because I play Quidditch, and who says it's not going to happen again?" he shook his head. "I can't risk that happening."
"You love your job."
"And I love my family more."
---
"Torie, be quiet," Ginny said as she pushed open the door and let herself into the warm house. "Why don't you go upstairs and play with your dolls," Ginny suggested, pulling off her daughter's cloak and hanging it on the rack alongside her own. She sighed and ran a hand through her snowy her, before turning and walking into the living room. Harry stood in the doorway to the kitchen, his hands sunk deep into the pockets of his jeans. He was wearing a neatly ironed olive green shirt, rolled up to his elbows and it looked as though he had attempted to comb his hair.
"Hey gorgeous," Ginny said, grinning at him. "You're home early."
Harry shrugged. "I made you dinner."
"Smells good." Ginny stopped walking and looked at him. Something was wrong; he looked annoyed and he hadn't moved towards her. "Harry, what…"
"Tania came to see me today."
The couple stared at each other, neither saying a word. Ginny's brain was working in overdrive: Tania must have seen, there was no other reason for Harry to look as though someone had died.
"I can explain," Ginny said quietly, taking a small step towards him.
"Don't bother," he said, turning his back to her and strolling into the kitchen. "I'm going out."
"Harry please, just listen to me. It was a mistake…I –"
Reappearing in the doorway, now with a cloak in hand, Harry glared at her. "What makes you think I want to listen?"
"Please…" Ginny whispered, crossing over to him and resting a hand on his arm. "It meant nothing, honestly. You know you're the only one for me."
Gazing at her, Harry wanted to nod and tell her that it was all fine. It didn't matter. But the truth was, it did. She'd kissed Malfoy and if it had meant nothing, why did she keep it a secret? Looking away, Harry shook his head and walked away, leaving the living room. Ginny heard the front door click shut and collapsed onto the couch, her face in her hands. How had she messed up so badly?
---
"Malfoy?" Ron asked, his bottle halfway to his mouth. "Are you serious? I'll kill him."
"Yea, thanks Ron," Harry muttered, playing distractedly with the bottle cap resting on the bar.
"You want another, mate?" the barman asked, polishing a glass with a ragged tea towel. "On the house. You look like you could use it."
"Thanks," Harry murmured, taking the bottle and drinking.
The thing was, he actually didn't know what to do. There had to be a reason behind it, but he hadn't stayed long enough to find out. She loved him, she wouldn't do that to him….And with Malfoy?
"You nervous?" Ron asked, brushing non-existent dust from his dress robes.
"Nah not really," said Harry, straightening his bowtie, and examining his hair. Hermione had used a handy charm on it and it looked pretty good.
"We'll be brothers in an hour," Ron said, ruffling his own hair and examining his reflection. "And you'll be a married man. Ball and chain…tied down. Not the life for me."
Harry snorted. "Yea, and as if you and Hermione aren't going to get hitched. Give it a year. How do I look?"
Ron looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I dunno. You look like Harry in dress robes."
"You look very nice," Hermione said, strolling over and moving Harry's bowtie back. She then leaned forward and took a deep breath through her nose.
"Are you smelling me, Hermione?"
"Just checking," she said. "Ron, can you do something about your hair please?"
"How's Ginny?" Harry asked.
"I'll tell you when we find her."
"What?" Harry yelped, grabbing her hand in his.
"Just kidding," she said, grinning and squeezing his hand. "She's getting dressed. And she's better than fine. Don't worry, Harry. Everything will go perfectly."
"Where is she?" Harry murmured uncomfortably to Ron half an hour later. "The ceremony was supposed to start five minutes ago."
"Calm down, she'll be here," said Ron, gazing around at the garden of the Burrow, which had been transformed for the beautiful wedding. It was a warm summer's evening, the clear sky slowly turning a pinky-purple as the sun began to set. A faint breeze ruffled the decorations covering the trees and large white tent under which a live band was playing. Small candles floated in the pond, the bridge over it was strewn with large white lilies, white rose petals covered the grass and the water. Mrs Weasley had pulled out all the stops for her only daughter's wedding and it couldn't have been more perfect. 'Well, it could,' Harry thought. 'Ginny could actually be here.' Sure, he knew she'd turn up, but he was getting anxious all the same.
All of a sudden, the band started to play a tune Harry had been awaiting desperately and the guests stood, peering behind them to the candle lined bridge. Hermione was walking down the pathway, dressed in silky lavender, her hair sleek and twisted into an elegant knot atop her head. She was carrying a bouquet of large white roses and grinning widely. She was followed closely by Fleur, then Luna Lovegood, who looked even more dreamy than usual. Then a violin began to play loudly as a beautiful woman, dressed in flowing white began her walk across the bridge. Ginny's dress was made of fluid silk, clinging to her in all the right places. Harry took a deep breath. Because of the heat of summer, it had only thin simple straps, but the bodice was beautifully embroidered and beaded with little pearls.
Harry couldn't help it, he actually felt his eyes well with unshed tears as she slowly walked towards him, smiling and holding his eyes in a firm gaze. She mouthed 'hi' nervously and looked down at her single lily she was carrying, a happy blush filling her cheeks as everyone gazed beamingly at her.
Harry too gazed out at the guests, spotting a weeping Hagrid, Tonks and Lupin with their new baby, Professor McGonagall, with her hands clasped together and smiling broadly, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati…Harry and Ginny had wanted a small ceremony but Mrs. Weasley had insisted on inviting everyone they knew. Even Tania and Malfoy stood in the crowd, laughing happily and holding hands.
"Longest walk of my life," Ginny whispered once she had reached Harry and taken his warm hand in her own. "Thought I was going to trip."
Harry chuckled and gently drew back the elegant veil covering her face. "You're so beautiful," Harry whispered back, unable to stop himself grinning like an idiot.
"Fellow witches and wizards," called the old wizard standing before Harry and Ginny as the music died down. "We are all gathered here this evening to witness the marriage of Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, the beginning of a lifetime of happiness together.
AN: Ok, I need opinions: who wants me to finish the wedding flashback? Next chapter is half written but I don't know when it's going to be up because of computer issues. Hopefully soon. I am a pretty fast updater generally. Oh and I've also written a second chapter for my JamesLily story which should be quite funny and fluffly, if you're interested. OK well, please review! I love all my reviews! Hehe, thanks for reading xxx