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Challenges Listed at the Bottom
Word Count - 1262
Waiting
This wasn't how she'd expected it to be.
So many nights, Ginny had laid in her bed unable to sleep, daydreaming of the war being over. She'd expected Harry to be by her side, her family sitting around discussing what would come next.
She hadn't expected the constant stabbing in her gut whenever she thought about Fred.
She hadn't expected her mother bursting into tears at random intervals.
She hadn't expected George to turn into the family recluse, hiding away from them while he battled against the pain of losing his twin.
What Ginny really hadn't expected was the entire lack of Harry.
They'd had a moment together in the hours after the battle when they were still at Hogwarts. Harry had held her tight and let her sob into his chest, the grief from losing her brother overwhelming. He'd pressed kisses to her temple and apologised over and over for things that weren't his fault.
Ginny had fallen asleep on his chest, thinking that despite all the pain and loss, at least she still had this.
Except she'd woken up and he'd been gone and she hadn't seen him alone since.
…
May faded into June, into July, into August.
Ginny saw Harry briefly on the morning of his birthday, when she'd tagged along with Ron and Hermione to see him. He'd given her a one armed hug, and smiled tiredly at her, but before ten minutes had passed, he was being called away.
Everybody wanted a piece of their hero.
It sucked.
She'd waited for him, and she was still waiting for him, and she'd keep waiting for him, but there was no denying waiting was the worst feeling in the world.
…
She readied herself slowly, carefully applying makeup and smoothing her hair out until it was perfect. She added hoop earrings and a simple gold chain around her neck and then spelled her wall reflective so she could get a full view of herself.
It was odd, receiving invitations to important Ministry events. They'd never really experienced it before, since Fudge saw her father as a bit of a joke. Not that Ginny ever felt like she was missing out, not at all, it was just odd that now the whole family were invited to almost every event that was thrown.
Usually, they dismissed the invitations. They were simple people that enjoyed simple things, and going to a luncheon filled with politics wasn't any of their idea of a good time.
This time though, it was the Christmas Ball, and… Harry would be there. Ginny could only hope that she would be able to at least snag a dance with him, a moment for them to talk alone, even in the middle of the crowd.
Even if it was only five minutes… it was five minutes more than she'd had in the last three months.
…
"There are plenty more fish in the sea, dearie."
Ginny blinked and looked to her left, where an old lady was sitting. Her eyes had followed Ginny's to where Harry stood with the Minister. Ginny quickly pushed down her anger, knowing that a lot of it wasn't for the woman's thoughtless comment.
"Perhaps," she agreed instead. "But that's the only 'fish' I want, so if you'll excuse me?"
The woman waved her on, a smirk on her thin lips. Ginny paid her no mind as she crossed the room, ignoring the butterflies that danced in her stomach.
"Ginny!" Harry greeted when he caught sight of her. He moved towards her automatically, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. "You look beautiful."
She smiled. "You look very handsome," she replied. "Dance with me?"
Harry's smile fell a little and he looked back at the group of men who were clearly waiting on him to continue their conversation. Ginny's heart thudded in her chest, waiting for the rejection she was sure was coming.
"I… yeah. That… that sounds perfect. Give me one second?"
"Of course."
Ginny waited patiently while he explained himself to the Minister and their companions quickly and within moments he was back by her side, leading her onto the dance floor.
She fit in his arms like she'd been made for them.
"I missed you," she said against his throat.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his hand stroking her back. "I know it's been… horrible. I just… so many people think they need me and I'm being told again and again that it's my responsibility to the people and I just…"
"I get it, Harry," she whispered. "But… maybe we can find a balance? I'll wait for you, you know I will, but… I miss you."
"I don't… I don't expect you to wait for me," he muttered, and she looked up to see his sparkling green eyes pained. "I hope… I hope you do, but I don't expect you to."
"I'll always wait for you," she replied quietly, tucking her head against his neck. They danced three songs before Harry was once more being called into a conversation that he simply had to be there for.
Ginny didn't mind. Much.
She spent the rest of the evening with her family, watching him across the room.
…
"Hot chocolate, sweetheart?" her mum asked, standing from her comfortable chair. Ginny nodded, smiling tiredly.
"Thanks, Mum."
It was Christmas Eve, and Ginny was curled up on the sofa. Harry had promised to try and make it for the day, and she was trying her best not to hope to much that she'd wake up in the morning to find him helping in the kitchen.
A small bang from the kitchen broke her thoughts, and she heard her mum laugh. Ginny frowned but shook it off, sure that one of her brothers had passed without her noticing.
"You know, not liking marshmallows on hot chocolate should be considered a crime."
Ginny looked up, her eyes wide, to see Harry standing in the doorway holding two mugs of hot chocolate. Ginny barely waited for him to put them down on the table before she pounced on him, octopus'ing herself around him.
"I missed you too," he chuckled, holding her tightly. He moved them to the sofa and sat down with Ginny on his lap.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, gripping his t-shirt like she was certain he was going to vanish.
"Ahh, Kingsley was a bit done with my pining for you, I think."
"You've been pining?" Ginny asked, a smile curving her lips.
"Me? No of course not, don't know what you're talking about," Harry mumbled and then grinned at her. "Little bit?"
Ginny chuckled. "How long do I have you for?"
"Would saying forever be cheesy?"
"Yes. But also I like it."
"Forever then. But also, until Boxing day at the earliest."
Two days, Ginny thought, was just about the best Christmas present she could have asked for. She cuddled into him, and he adjusted them slightly so they were curled around one another, the mugs of hot chocolate in reachable distance.
"Cuddling by the fire is a ridiculously couple-y thing to do," he commented quietly. "I think it might be my new favourite."
"As long as you're only doing it with me."
"You've just broken hearts everywhere."
Ginny snorted. "I really don't care. You're mine, Mr Potter."
"I feel objectified and it's hot."
She laughed and a moment later, he was laughing with her. He tightened his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Merry Christmas, Harry."
"Merry Christmas, Gin."
Written for;
Advent Calendar - HarryGinny
Character Appreciation - 27. Halfblood
Disney - C11. Write about someone pining.
Showtime - 2. There are plenty of fish in the sea
Angels Arcade - 6. Beautiful / Responsible / Hoop Earrings
Northern Funfair - Igloo - Grief
Eastern Funfair - Paper Snowflakes - 16. Harry Potter
Southern Funfair - The Nice List - 17. Calliope - Cuddling by the fire.
