Ginny waited for what felt like an eternity for Harry and Luna to come back. In the meantime, her mother and father had arrived, along with many ex students such as Alicia Spinnet and Oliver Wood. Her mother had run over to her immediately and had enveloped her in a viper-tight hug which just about knocked th breath out of Ginny before stating loudly, "Ginerva! Don't you ever leave me such a horrible note again! You gave me a near heart attack! And your father is taking you back home now!" Ginny's jaw dropped, "And miss out on the action? No way!"
The argument had been cut off by her reunion with Demelza and Katie. They had hugged and Ginny stared at her friends with excitement, "I've missed you two so much! Did you guys stay here?" Katie shook her head but Demelza nodded, "Yeah. I haven't been going to classes though. It's not really safe enough for that. And I miss Quidditch. When all of this is over, we are going to play a match." Ginny grinned and nodded in agreement, "Indeed! The best match we've ever played!"
Tonks was there too. She had given birth to Teddy at the end of April and she was here, ready to fight. Ginny walked over to her friend and smiled at her, "Hey! Congrats again on Teddy!" Tonks had bought him around to show them a few days ago. He was the cutest little baby Ginny had ever seen. Tonks hugged Ginny and whispered, "Thank you. My mom is taking care of him." Ginny nodded. It was the first time Ginny had ever met Tonks' mother. She was the polar opposite of Tonks in almost every possible way. But she was loving and kind and that was the main thing. Ginny nodded and Lupin came over, "Hi Ginny! How is Harry?"
Ginny grimaced, not sure how to phrase it. She whispered, "I've seen him better off." Lupin nodded. Ron and Hermione were conversing with Neville. Ginny overheard them talking about a bathroom. They had been fairly distant from everyone else. Their behavior was strange, as if they felt isolated from everyone, regardless of the welcome they had received. Then Ron and Hermione headed to the stairs and left. Lupin said somberly, "Now Ginny, if the rumors are true, and I believe they are- that Harry has come here to finish Voldemort off, Tonks and I need to ask you something."
Ginny's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the tired looking professor. She nodded, "Anything professor." Lupin smiled at her gratefully and then he glanced at Tonks, who nodded. Tonks smiled nervously which was unusual for her, "If anything should happen to us during the next few hours…" Ginny interrupted her and said fiercely, "Nothing will happen, Tonks!" Tonks stared her down with her dark eyes- for once they were serious instead of bright and twinkling. Ginny swallowed and Tonks whispered, "Ginny, Remus and I would be honored if you and Harry would be Teddy's godparents."
Ginny's jaw dropped and she squealed in delight, "I would love to, Tonks! I'm sure he would too!" Tonks beamed at her and then hugged her again, "Thank you so much!" her friend whispered in Ginny's ear. When Tonks pulled away she was beaming from ear to ear. Ginny glanced up and realized she hadn't seen Remus look so happy or relieved in a long time either.
Just then, the rooms' door opened and in walked Harry and Luna. He looked stunned to see the mass of people waiting for him! Neville walked up to him and said triumphantly, "We managed to contact most Order members. Those who aren't here yet are still on their way. I reckon Kingsley is busy dealing with the Ministry side of things…"
Harry nodded and Seamus asked, "What's going on Harry? You look concerned!" He was indeed a lot paler than when he had left. He looked at the waiting crowd and whispered hoarsely, "He knows. Voldemort knows we're here." The silence in the room was deathly. It was then that Ginny noticed Colin standing in a corner and look panicky. She walked over to him and hugged him before whispering, "Hey." He glanced at her, his face stricken and murmured, "Hey. I missed you." Ginny saw a dark bruise on his cheek and she whispered, "I missed you to. Did the Carrows…?" She didn't even need to finish her question. He murmured tiredly, "Who else?" This wasn't the Colin Ginny knew. She knew a much chirpier Colin. This Colin looked like he had admitted defeat-like he had already given up. It truly saddened her and she leant on his shoulder for comfort.
Harry swallowed and Neville asked him abruptly, "So what does that mean, Harry?" Harry turned to Neville and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "McGonagall is sending the younger students home. I suggest that everyone younger than seventeen leaves the premises. She's lining them up in the Great Hall." A few very young first, second and third years glanced at each other before leaving the room. Ginny sighed in relief and Harry looked straight at her, his green eyes beseeching and pleading. She glared at him and he repeated, "Anyone younger than seventeen should leave."
Her mother sidled up to her and nudged her, "Ginny, he's looking at you." Ginny stood stock still. She knew her mother wouldn't dare force her to leave in front of a room full of people. She knew it would cause a scene. Harry nodded and said swiftly, while averting his gaze to the rest of the room in general, "Alright then. McGonagall is busy trying to get everyone who wishes to fight together. They're gathering in the Great Hall."
There was a general whooping noise and then a rush of people headed out the main door. Colin turned to her and said solemnly, "You coming, Gin?". Ginny was about to follow when her mother grabbed he arm and held her back, "Ginny, no!" Her mother started yelling at her, "No Ginny! I won't allow it! The boys yes, but you, you've got to go home!" Ginny's arms were both tightened around her back now. She was pulling forward, trying to break free and she felt like some sort of crazy animal, desperate to escape. She yelled back, "NO! I'm part of Dumbledore's Army! I will fight!" Colin interrupted and said swiftly, "Mrs Weasley, Ginny has the abilities to fight…" Mrs Weasley cut him off with a death stare. Colin backed away and then gave Ginny an apologetic grimace before hurrying to the stairwell, before her mother could retain him too.
Her mother laughed, "A teenagers gang!" Fred came to her defense and stood in front of their mother, "A teenagers gang who's about to take him on, which no-one else has done before!" Ginny glanced up and smiled at him gratefully. He gave her a brief smile back before their mother fired back, "She's sixteen! She's not old enough! What were you two thinking, bringing her along!" Fred backed down then and glanced at George ashamedly.
Bill interrupted them and came and opened his arms to Ginny. She hugged him and he whispered consolingly, "He's right Ginny. Everyone under age will have to leave, it's only right!" Ginny felt a tear trickle down her cheek and she was grateful that Bill's tall figure was shielding her from everyone's view of her.
Ginny wiped her tear into his chest and then pulled away, angry at their persistence, "I can't go home! My whole family is here, I can't stand going there and not knowing and waiting if…" Ginny glanced up and found a pair of emerald eyes watching her closely. She wanted his approval. She wanted him to understand. If it had been him waiting on his own…uncertain if she would make it…Ginny knew that wouldn't even be an option, regardless of his age. Harry would ensure he found a way to her. For Ginny, it wasn't an option either. Now it was her turn to ask him for understanding. His emerald eyes tightened because he knew what she was thinking, 'If anyone died. If he died.' Harry gently shook his head. No. No he wasn't going to let her stay and fight for what she believed in.
Ginny ran up to him and shouted loudly, "You're a control freak, Harry! A control freak! You controlled and engineered our break up to keep me safe! Well, guess what? It didn't! You are now controlling my decision about fighting to keep me safe! Well guess what? It probably WON'T! All your plans at keeping me safe have failed on epic scales! So what makes you think this will be any different?!" Ginny snapped at him. She couldn't help it! Who did he think he was, trying to control her life? Harry flinched as if she had burnt him and she couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride. Well good. Maybe he would feel a small ounce of the worry and the panic or hurt she had felt over him in this last year…He looked rather shell-shocked and everyone else in the room seemed to be feeling the same.
Then came a noise from the portrait hole in the wall. A voice she knew too well came through and Ginny tensed, as did the rest of her family. Percy reached the end of the portrait hole in the wall, climbed down awkwardly and was busy asking the room at large, "Am I late? What did I miss…" He most certainly didn't expect to stumble across his entire family! His face paled considerably and Ginny's jaw dropped open, not for the first time that day.
Fred and George were glaring at him, arms crossed angrily. Everybody else was staring, unsure of what to do in this situation. Fleur seemed to be the only one with the sense enough to say something to break the horrifically awkward silence that had just erupted in the room. She turned to Remus and asked, "So, how is leetle Teddy?" Lupin looked surprised at the distraction but then quickly caught on, "Oh yes, he's fine! Here's a picture of him…" he pulled out a small, rectangular picture from his pocket.
Ginny blinked furiously, hardly believing her eyes. Percy was here. Was he planning on fighting against them? Would he really betray them? Everyone else seemed to be thinking the same thing. Her father's face was stone-cold.
Suddenly, Percy shouted at them all, "I WAS A FOOL!" he bellowed. Ginny jumped and accidentally knocked into Harry. He gripped her arm, keeping her balance. Ginny whispered to him softly, "Thank you. Sorry…" He shook his head, "Don't mention it." Percy seemed at a loss for words as he stumbled, "I was a…a…a…"
Fred suddenly perked up and supplied words for Percy, "Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron." Percy nodded profusely, "Yes. I was." Fred grinned and held out his hand, "Can't ask for fairer than that, can we?" Her mother started crying hysterically and Ginny suddenly realized that now would be the perfect time to try and sneak out while all the focus was on Percy. If she managed to escape…
She began backing away inches at a time, not wanting Harry- who was closest to her- to notice. She just about reached the stairs during Percy's lengthy explanation when he and Fleur as well as Bill came rushing past her. Her mother barked angrily, "GINNY! No!"
Ginny blushed furiously and clenched her fists tightly, practically shaking with the frustration. Remus interrupted them then, "Molly, how about Ginny stays in here? That way, she can be around without being in the middle of a battle." Her mother looked like she going to argue, but then her father cut in, "Good idea, Remus! Ginny, you're staying here, do you understand?" Ginny scowled dismally. That wasn't ideal. Didn't they realize that she wanted to be in the thick of it? To be defending her school and all it stood for? However, she didn't argue. At least she still had the option of being close.
Her father came and hugged her, "Please, for once in your life Ginny, listen to us. We know what's best." Her mother hugged her too and she smiled softly, "I love you, Ginny. Stay safe." Ginny nodded and then Remus made his way towards the stairs. Tonks followed, but before leaving she embraced Ginny, "Stay safe Ginny, please. If not for your parents, then for me, your friend." Ginny gave Tonks a faint smile and whispered, "You better stay safe for Teddy." She nodded and then she glanced at Harry, "I hope the two of you get through this. I know Sirius would have wanted you both to be happy. You deserve it more than anyone I know." Tonks nodded and then left.
There was a silence in the suddenly empty room. Her whole family had gone and now it was just her and Harry. She turned to face him and whispered even though there was no-one else in the room to overhear, "I'm sorry for snapping at you. I just…" He smiled and finished her sentence, "Lost it?"
Ginny nodded, embarrassed and she walked closer to him. She took his hand in hers and whispered, "I still love you Harry. All this time apart hasn't changed that. In fact, it has just exacerbated it. The heartache and the longing was painful. I wasn't sure if…" She swallowed. She couldn't go there.
Harry nodded and took her other hand in his, "I know Ginny," he whispered throatily. He took a step closer and Ginny felt her breath hitch in her throat. He whispered, "I've felt the separation too. Every second of every minute of every day. Every day of every month. And every month of this last year. Being away from you was never easy. But…I don't want to kiss you now, and then get your hopes up that I might survive this…what's coming. I don't know…"
Ginny had heard enough. She didn't want his doubts. She didn't want his fears. She knew they could all very well be true…but she wanted to be close to him…physically close like she hadn't been in such a long time.
Before Ginny could even think about what she was doing, she took that last step and pressed her lips against his. For all of his efforts in denying her, he responded just as she had hoped. He moaned (something he rarely did before), making this guttural sound of longing and she felt every nerve in her skin flare up. Harry pulled her closer and he ran his hands up her back, ravaging the skin there and then sliding them into her hair. Ginny moaned herself and she sighed as he placed his lips on her shoulders before he started slowly kissing her up her neck.
When he reached her lips again, he gently placed a kiss on them as she sighed and finally opened her eyes. His were blazing green and she felt like he was the only person who understood her completely. He knew she knew what could come. And even though she knew it, there was an understanding between them that no matter what happened, Ginny would try and be happy in the best way she could. So she simply whispered, "I know Harry. I know." He nodded and slowly but surely released his grip on her.
When he stepped away, she immediately felt the loss of his contact. Ginny sighed sadly and glanced up at him as he asked her, "Do you know where Ron and Hermione are?" She nodded and replied tonelessly, "They left shortly after you and Luna. Said something about a bathroom." Harry frowned and headed for the stairs. He grimaced and murmured to himself, "I wonder…" Then he paused at the top, turned to Ginny and said softly, "I love you Ginny. Please, stay here, for me." Ginny smiled and replied back, "I love you too, Harry." He smiled briefly before leaving. She didn't say anything about staying safe. It was a promise she wasn't sure she could keep, and she always kept her promises.
A/N: Guys! I loved writing this chapter. It turned out exactly how I wanted. I really felt JKR should have had one small reunion for them when Harry returned. This chapter has left me feeling extremely satisfied and I hope you feel the same! It's exactly what I wanted to happen. I think that minor kiss they shared in the middle of the battle was at least one good idea in the movie that wasn't in the book, but this feels much more complete to me! It's also one of my favourite parts of the book. Love it.
Also a big thanks to GoGetEmGirl, AbbyD and torchy22! I'm so glad you guys agree with me and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
N.B: Hi guys! Just want to say a big thanks for 300 reviews! WHAAAAAT? My mind is blown! You guys are simply the best! Just made my day! I never thought this could happen! Much love to you all!