Don't own HP. Don't own Iron and Wine, or their song "Sunset Soon Forgotten". Sister fic to "Steadier Footing" and "So This Is The New Year". If you like this, read those. R&R.
.x.Sunset Soon Forgotten.x.
Neville paced back and forth as he waited for the Hogwarts Express to pull into Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. He craned his neck around, looking for the sight of black smoke that would signal the train's coming, and saw it—a mere dark smudge in the far off landscape. Gripping the single lily in his hand, he gulped. She was coming.
He watched as the train pulled up, stopped, unboarded. He picked her fiery hair out from the crowd in an instant. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her—she was even prettier than she had been on New Years.
"Mum!" she shrieked, running up to Mrs. Weasley and hugging her. He smiled. As she looked over her mother's shoulder, she saw him, standing there in a collared shirt and dress shoes, holding a flower and seeming out of place.
He walked forward, and she met him halfway.
"Who's the flower for, Casanova?" she asked playfully.
"You." He held the lily out, and the grin was replaced by a look of surprise.
"Me?"
"Congratulations, you are now a part of the working world." She smiled again.
"Oh joy."
"Eh, it's not that bad…okay, well, it is, but that's beside the point."
"Will you still send me owls? You know, to break the monotony?"
He looked at her. "I will always send you owls."
She smiled slightly, and then looked away.
"Ginny, darling, let's go," Mrs. Weasley called.
"I've gotta go," she said, turning to him one last time.
"Hey, Gin?"
She looked at him curiously.
"I was wondering if maybe…I could, uh, take you out sometime?"
She smiled. "I'd like that."
.xx.
A week later, Neville and Ginny found themselves walking through a Muggle park at sunset.
"You look nice, Ginny," he said nervously, wondering why his nerves were suddenly getting the better of him.
"You look nice too, Neville," she laughed.
He looked down at his shoes nervously, wondering why she was laughing at him.
"Why so nervous?" she asked.
He stuttered in reply.
Ginny stood up on her tip-toes and kissed him softly. As she pulled away, he blinked in surprise.
"Don't look so shocked, Longbottom," she joked. He continued to look at her strangely. "Well, are you going to kiss me back or not?"
Finally, he laughed as well. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her again. Years later, he wouldn't remember that sunset, but he would remember the kisses...
.xx.
One year later, Ginny returned to the Burrow after going out to dinner with Neville. Waiting for her was a tawny owl with a square package tied to its leg. Curiously, she opened it. Inside was a beautiful diamond ring and a note that read "Marry me?"
She didn't hesitate to write a reply:
Yes.