We're taking a break from the cases for some fluff. They both need a little TLC, don't you think?
Once she was firmly seated in Snape's car, she couldn't stop the tears. She was so run-down. She felt like she was just floating through someone else's world. A place she couldn't even try to belong to.
To his credit, Snape didn't say anything on the short drive to her apartment. Even when her sobs began to shake her body no matter how hard she tried to suppress them. She dreaded having to face Seamus in this state, but he wasn't the one sitting in front of her door tonight. It was Dawlish, the man who'd seen her and Harry in the parking garage.
The thought brought on fresh tears and she ducked past him, not making contact. She rushed into the guest bathroom as soon as her door was open, and left Snape to fend for himself.
She sat heavily on the edge of the tub and buried her face in her hands. Even last night, she'd had to hold in her cries, lest she wake Harry. But damn it she was in her own apartment behind closed doors.
She let herself cry over everything. Over the past three months, her emotional ups and downs with Harry, the clawing fear for her life and his reputation. She cried over sweet Seamus who'd fought with his girlfriend but had still stayed after his shift when she was waiting to hear about Harry's arrest. She cried about Romilda and how everyone at work seemed against her.
She lost track of how long she cried and what exactly she was sobbing about. She cried until she was hoarse and out of breath. Her throat ached and her head was throbbing.
She'd broken into sharp sniffles when a soft knock came from the door. Ginny hurriedly wiped her eyes as Severus entered. He handed her a large mug of tea and she recognized the smell of chamomile. When she looked to the bottom of the cup, there were small white flakes of a sleeping pill. She attempted a smile.
"Harry does this." She said, taking a sip and letting the hot liquid soothe her throat. Snape paused and squatted down in front of her.
"Where do you think he learned it?" He asked. "He stole my coffee recipe, too."
Ginny peered at him. "I'm…I'm really sorry about all the hysterics." She said. He quirked his lips in a half smile.
"You lasted longer than I expected. I figured we'd be here about day three."
Ginny swallowed. "I couldn't just leave him. I care too much about him. I…I think that I…" Her throat worked, but she couldn't make her mouth form the words. She broke off and stifled another sob, raising her cup for a drink instead. Snape nodded anyways.
"I think you do, too. I also think he loves you, as well."
"He's got an interesting way of showing it, lately." She said bitterly before she could stop herself. She closed her eyes sadly. "I'm so sorry. That was so…so selfish. And it's not like I don't realize-"
"Stop." Snape cut her off. "I've been there. I've seen him. He's being an idiot, and if I were you I'd be complaining a lot more. Harry's got an interesting sense of duty. If something is really important, he tends to push everything else aside. He did it with the Riddle case, and he's doing it now."
Ginny nodded. "He told me. I just…" She took another sip of the tea. "I guess I just don't understand why he can be ok with sitting in the same place for days at a time. He doesn't talk to me. I haven't seen him eat. He barely sleeps-"
"But he is sleeping, which is an improvement over last time." Snape interrupted. He took her empty mug and stood. "It doesn't seem like it now, because you didn't see him last time, but he is trying, Ginny. The reason he's getting like this is because it has to do with you, but he is still trying."
He left Ginny blinking in confusion. After a few moments, she felt exhaustion wash over her. It was all she could do to drag herself into bed. Her eyes stung, but her mind went blissfully blank as she slipped into sleep.
oOo
Harry cracked his neck. It was sore from being bent over evidence files and books and maps for hours at a time. Sirius clapped him on the back and stood, gathering a few papers.
"We're getting closer." He told Harry, helping Hermione clear some dishes. She nodded.
"And we've been able to keep your name cleared." She said, yawning. "As long as we keep putting evidence together, we can keep it that way and solve this case." Harry grinned at her as she rubbed her eyes.
"You need to sleep, Hermione." He said, noticing for the first time the smudges under her eyes. She smirked at him.
"I will when you do."
A knock sounded at the door. "That'll be Ron. I'm much too tired to drive home." Hermione said, crossing to open the door to her husband. They smiled at the sight of each other and she stepped easily into his arms.
He murmured something into her hair that made her laugh, but Harry couldn't hear what it was. Ron looked over her head to wave to Harry and Sirius.
"If you keep overworking her, there'll be nothing left for me." He said, grinning when his wife swatted at him, her eyes still closed. He winked at Harry and swung her up into his arms.
She squeaked, but kept her eyes closed and settled into his shoulder. Harry watched Ron closed the door behind them. Looking at them sent a pang through him. He wanted that. He wanted that with Ginny.
He smiled. As soon as this case is over. He promised himself. He hauled himself to his feet and ignored the light dizziness that spun his head. He nodded at Sirius.
"Lock the door behind you." He said, shuffling to his bedroom door. He started when he opened it.
His room was empty. He frowned and peeked into the bathroom. Also dark and empty. He retreated to the guest bedroom. Maybe Ginny had fallen asleep while she'd been working…? But that room was empty, too. He hustled back to the living room.
"Where's Ginny?" He asked. Sirius lifted his brows and looked at him quietly for a long moment. A feeling of dread spread in Harry's stomach.
"She left hours ago." Sirius said finally. "Surely, you knew that?"
"Is Snape with her?" Harry asked, feeling his heart speed up slightly. Sirius put down his briefcase to look at him fully.
"Of course, he's with her. He's her bodyguard. She left right after she got here."
Harry frowned and tried to remember seeing her tonight. He came up blank. He swallowed and tried to remember the past few days. What had he eaten? When was the last time he'd showered? He couldn't slide a solid memory into place that didn't have to do with the paperwork scattered around his kitchen.
"It's happening again. I should have noticed." Sirius sighed, resting his hands on his briefcase. "But I'm as frantic about work as you are. I'm so sorry, Harry."
Harry scrubbed his hands over his face. "No. It's not your job to babysit me." He dropped his hand. "I should have… God, Ginny must think…" He trailed off. He didn't even know what Ginny thought of him. His feet began moving before his mind did.
He snagged his keys from the counter and made his way to the door. He looked back to Sirius and his eyes caught on the mess in his apartment. How had it even gotten to this point without him noticing?
"Lock the door, ok? I might not be in tomorrow morning to let you in."
Sirius nodded grimly. "I'm hoping you won't." He said. Harry slipped out the door and ran down the steps and out to his car.
On his way over to Ginny's, Harry ran through all of the things he needed to say to her. I'm sorry. I'm stupid. I'm a huge dick for not realizing that I was ignoring you.
All of the above seemed like good options, but until he could see her, he had no idea what state she'd even be in. Angry, most likely. Upset? Please, God, I hope she's not crying. He thought, jiggling his keys nervously as he bounded up the stairs. He stopped short when he saw Snape talking quietly to Dawlish.
You, I'll deal with later. Harry thought, passing the officer and headed straight to Snape.
"Is she in there?" He demanded.
"No." Snape drawled. "I thought I'd let her walk around at night by herself. I was just about to call a street gang to tell them where she is-"
"It's not funny!" Harry shouted. "I have to see her." He said, shoving past the other man. He felt a hand grip his arm and yank him back.
"I'm not so sure that's such a good idea." His mentor kept an almost painful grip on his arm and got up in Harry's face. I deserve this. He thought to himself.
"She's completely torn up." Snape continued, and Harry felt a weight thud in his stomach. "You have no idea what she's been up against. And you've barely been conscious this past week. You couldn't even tell me what day it is, let alone that your…that she's hurting." He punctuated his sentences by shaking Harry. His eyes flicked to Dawlish, who was trying to look as non-invasive as possible.
Snape sighed and let Harry inside, shoving him slightly.
"Keep quiet." He said. Harry nodded and slumped down into his favorite armchair. Snape stared at him then sighed.
"You did it again." He said softly.
"I know!" Harry whispered harshly. "Why didn't you say anyhing?"
"Like you'd have even noticed I was talking to you." Snape ran a hand through his hair. He nodded to the guest room. "She's sleeping. Go and talk, but I swear to God if she starts crying again, I'm kicking you out."
Harry stood shakily. "She's crying? How much?" Snape just looked at him, and Harry felt more weight being added to his stomach.
As he opened the door to the guest bedroom, it seemed like memories swamped him. Was it only five days ago that he'd lain here with Ginny, only worried about her? And now you've gone and ruined everything by making a complete, obsessive jackass out of yourself. He thought. He toed off his shoes and crept to the bed, his heart in his throat.
"Ginny." He whispered. She stirred slightly and sighed. She blinked up at him and his heart sank. Her eyes were red and her cheeks looked red and sticky. She'd been crying a lot.
"Harry what are you-"
"I'm so sorry. I've been a complete fuck up. I am a complete fuck up. I've been ignoring you and barely even looking at you and not even paying attention to you. I'm horrible. I can't even imagine what you think of me-"
Ginny put her finger against his lips. Her lips were quirked in the smallest of smiles. That was promising.
"Yeah, you've been a huge fuck up. A complete fuck up, in your words." She mumbled. "It scared me as much as it hurt me." He frowned against her finger.
"Scared you?" He asked against her finger.
"How am I supposed to take care of you when you don't even care about yourself?" She continued. "I know that your paperwork is important, but I am, too. And so are you. And I don't think you've even looked at anyone in days." She swallowed but lowered her hand. He raised his to stroke the hair across her cheek.
"I'm so sorry. I won't be like that again. I promise."
"You can't promise me that though, can you? How can you fight who you are? What you do?" She closed her eyes and Harry thought that she looked…defeated. He'd never felt so horrible in his life.
"I can. I can make that promise to you." He cupped her cheek and willed her to believe him, or at least to open her eyes. Her lashes fluttered and revealed her deep brown eyes. "Ginny, I will make that promise to you. No more. Ok?" She smiled softly at him.
"How come you can do it now when you couldn't then? This is an ongoing problem, Harry-"
"I didn't have a good reason to, then. The only thing I had was my work. Now I have…you." He felt himself flush at his admission. But Ginny's lips stretched into a full grin.
She pushed herself up and rolled so that she was on top of him. She brushed against him in a soft kiss, flicking her tongue across his lips. He groaned and realized that he'd missed this. The physical contact and holding her and just being with her.
"How am I supposed to stay mad when you say such pretty things?" She asked him, feathering kisses down his neck and running her hands along the hem of his shirt. Harry felt his heart accelerate.
"Not pretty, Gin. More like…" Her fingers slipped up his body to reveal his torso to her. "More like…Rugged and…Manly…"
Ginny snorted against his ribs, sending a wonderful tingling up his spine.
"Rugged and manly admissions of deep affection." She murmured, rolling his shirt until he had to sit up and take it off. He pulled her onto his lap to kiss her again. He had to find some way to occupy his lips before he had a rugged and manly admission of love.
He slid his hands up her back and felt her shiver on him. No need for that. He thought, tossing her shirt onto the floor. She reached back to the clasp of her bra, and soon their bare torsos were pressed together. Harry's eyes nearly rolled back in his head, the slide of skin on skin felt so good. Too good.
"Up, Gin. Come on…" He urged, reaching between them to unzip her pants. He was holding on by a thread. He hadn't even touched her in a week and all his tension and pent-up frustrations bubbled to the surface.
She gasped as he plunged his tongue into her mouth. He entertained himself with her breasts while she frantically tried to loose the button of his jeans. She tilted her head for him when he worked his way down her neck, but she didn't allow him to get far before tugging his hair up to capture his mouth again.
She arched against him when he gripped her ass and ground her against him, but their lips slowed and created a new rhythm. It was slower and softer. She sighed against him and slid her tongue lazily against his. He lost himself to just kissing her. Just kissing Ginny Weasley.
It hadn't been too long ago that he'd never thought this would happen. He'd killed himself over just the thought of touching her. How had he lost sight of that? Of the miracle that was this girl in his arms.
She rose and reached down to grip him. His head tipped back and he hissed when she lowered herself onto him. He brought his head up when she was fully seated and gripped her hips, keeping her in place.
"This is so good, Gin. I love…this. I love just being with you like this." He leaned forward to kiss her mouth and didn't linger on what he'd almost confessed to her. I love you, Ginny. Dear God, do I love you. He thought it instead.
Her lips pressed against his. It was heaven. He pushed against her hips to create the sweetest pressure. Ginny broke their kiss and rotated her hips, groaning when he hit just that right spot.
That was how they went. It was slow and sweet and easy. And then Ginny started panting in his ear, and his balls drew up tighter.
"More. Oh, God Harry, please more." She moaned into his neck and he tightened his hands on her hips so he could increase their speed. Her breath caught and he gritted his teeth.
If she didn't…he was so not going to last…
"Come on, Gin." He growled. His voice sent her over the edge and her muscles clenched around him, rocketing him into his own orgasm.
He collapsed onto the bed, taking her with him. She puffed out a gust of air into his ear.
"I'm so sorry, Ginny." He was still gasping, but felt that he had to force the admission out.
He felt her kiss the side of his head.
"I forgive you." She muttered. Her body was already relaxing against his and he could tell that she was slipping into sleep. He reached to pull the blankets back around them and let her drift on top of him.
Just a bit of fluff. There was just so much tension! Glad they got that out of their systems. Please review!