AN: Wow. I really didn't expect the response to this story that it has received. I'm touched. I hope that this chapter is what you were all expecting. It is not smut. Instead, it's more of a more realistic first time than some of the fluff out there. I hope that you enjoy! Please R/R. What started out as a one-shot is now going to be at least one more chapter so stay tuned! And thanks again.
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is this memory, and that's not even mine :)
This is dedicated to my lovely wife, the one that I wish I had this moment with over and over again....well, you know what I mean. I love you.
"Good God Harry," Ginny said, as she looked around, "this place desperately needs a woman's touch." She noticed that the kitchen was covered in dust, not having been cooked in in who knows how long and a single bowl and spoon were the only utensils in the cupboard. The living room was filthy, looking just as it had after it had been abandoned. She suddenly wanted to turn around and head back to her place. She'd rather get caught by her parents than catch whatever may be crawling around here. But Harry just rolled his eyes and began to lead her upstairs.
"I'm never here," he said, looking over his shoulder to her. "Most of the time I'm at your place, if you hadn't noticed, and when I'm not there I'm in my bedroom which, I think you'll find, is considerably neater than the rest of the house." He opened the door and she had to admit it wasn't, at least, covered in dust, but the bed still stood unmade, and there were clothes covering the floor. She pulled out her wand, almost as a natural instinct, and tidied up the room as he stood there, fighting back a smile.
"I'm sorry Harry, I know it's your room, but it's soon going to be ours and I just can't live like that." She smiled as she took his hand, and sat down on his now made bed. As soon as he was sitting next to her, holding her hand and looking into her eyes, she seemed to have lost all of her nerve. She had started into a perfect Wronski feint and now she wasn't sure she could pull up before she hit the ground. She had a basic idea of what to do, Hermione was her sister-in-law now after all, but she didn't know if he knew more than she did, if she'd be able to pull off the information she received, no matter how by the book she was sure that it was. Harry must have seen the nerves in her face because he reached up and attempted to brush them all away with the touch of his gentle fingers.
"We don't have to do this now, if you're not ready." Harry said, but she thought she heard some fear of rejection in those words. She was sure that she had already started something, something that she had told him no before for, and she knew that even if she said no, he would still respect her. The first time things had started to get a little heated, on the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts after a practice, and she had told him no, she realized then just how much he truly did care about her. She knew that he had to take care of things himself later, but he never once held it against her. Never made her feel guilty for wanting to wait. It was sort of nice to have Ron as her brother, for once, because he had comforted her fears that he'd been getting it somewhere else. Ron had told her that he never even showed a single sign of wanting to stray and she had felt so lucky to find someone with such a respect for her.
"I know," she said, tilting her face into his hand. "I want to." She knew that was all she had to say to commit to him that she was ready, she just hoped that she was really ready. He leaned forward, brushing her hair aside with his soft lips before kissing her sweetly on the cheek. He was going to take it slow. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. She knew that if they took it slow and took it together, she'd be ready when they got there.
"Do I...I mean do you?" Ginny started, sure that her nerves were beginning to show. Thankfully, when she looked up, she saw the same nerves on Harry's face as well.
"I don't know," he said, smiling. At least they were on the same page. Without another wasted moment, Ginny leaned forward and pressed her lips against his, pulling his head towards hers by his hair. She drank of him, tasting the sweetness of his lips as she nibbled lightly on his bottom lip. She felt her passion being returned and knew that she had done right by waiting. She felt his hands wrap around her as he slowly began to lay her down on the bed.
With Harry now hovering above her, Ginny realized that this was really, really, going to happen and that's when she realized that the clothes that had since then been between them at all times, were going to have to come off. She also realized, for the first time since entering the room, that it was darker than it should be. She looked up and noticed that Harry had draped thick blankets over the windows, obviously in an attempt to sleep in past noon. At any other time, his lack of just normal curtains would have made her roll her eyes in disgust, and as soon as she moved in it would change, but for now she thanked the blanket and its talent at keeping her in the dark. She wanted to see him, to be able to see everything that, until now, she had been missing out on, but nothing was going to overcome her insecurity of her own body. As his hands slipped underneath her shirt, she felt herself begin to tremble slightly at the thoughts of what he would think.
"Ginny?" Harry asked as he noticed her tremble. He had known, even if he had hoped otherwise, that she could still back out and he was afraid that was exactly what was going through her mind. "Are you sure that you want to do this?"
Ginny smiled, even through the nerves that he could still see there, and nodded as she worried her bottom lip between her teeth.
He ran his hand across her body, savoring every curve and allowing the electricity of her skin to fillter into his bloodstream. She was so soft, so feminine, and even though she was still fully clothed, he began to build a mental image, through his touch, of just what her body looked like. It was perfect, so perfect in fact, that he was sure that she would ruin his opinion of all other women forever, but he didn't mind. No one was ever going to be able to come close anyways. As his hands moved down her sides, he took in her curves, so unique to a woman, and so deliciously sensual that he was sure he'd never feel anything this incredible again in his life. He heard her breathing quicken, and for the first time since he put them up, regretted the blankets over the window. He wanted to see her, to have a visual to go with his other senses, but when he crossed her stomach, he knew that she would not want that to happen. She took in a breath so quickly, that Harry pulled his hand away, afraid he had hurt her.
"What? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Harry." He could hear the hesitation in her voice and it stung him worse than basilisk venom ever could have. "I'm uncomfortable."
The tears began to swell as he realized that she was feeling uncomfortable around him, the one person in this world that she should have felt the most comfortable around. He had always known she had insecurities about her body, a nice left over from her time with Michael and his big fat stupid mouth, but it seemed that even years of reassurance that he was just a pompous ass, and that everything he had ever told her was wrong, his presence still lingered in the one place that Harry couldn't reach him. And it killed him.
"Ginny, it's just me," he said as he once again began brushing kisses along her jawline, even if he did move his hand back to her side. It wouldn't do to make her uncomfortable now. He had the rest of their lives to reaffirm his love for her, but not if he pressured her now. "And I love you. Every bit of you."
He felt her nod, and he heard her breathing return to it's normal pace, but as he lay on his side, brushing his hand against her back and holding the back of her neck as he kissed every inch of her his lips could find, he heard it quicken. He was incredibly surprised, and more than a little flattered, when she reached down and began to tug on the bottom of her shirt. His hands met hers and together they lifted the game sweater, (England to be exact), up over her head. As soon as the shirt was gone however, her hands immediately became a shield for her stomach. Harry felt a sudden need to even the playing field a bit and so he lifted his own shirt, (Ron's old hoodie to be exact), off and let it join with hers somewhere in the dark. They'd have trouble finding them later, but at least this way they wouldn't be rushed. Nothing was going to rush this moment for him. He wanted to savor every inch of her, more than once if he could, and spend the rest of the day just letting her feel what she meant to him. Suddenly, Ginny began to giggle.
"What's so funny?" he asked and heard his own voice had become a bit gruffer with the dry breaths he was taking.
"You're tickling me," she said as he ran his fingers again up over her side. For a moment, all passion consisted of hearing her laugh again and for several minutes, he intentionally let his fingertips brush a little too soft, a little too light, just so that he could hear her laugh. As her laughter died down, he found his desire for her had increased that she had finally seemed to relax and be herself again. He took this as a good time and, as he placed light, gentle kisses along her lips, he allowed his hand to find its way to her waistband. He had only been there once, and it was only under the pants, not her knickers, but even the memory of his fingers brief encounter with her core had started his breathing to come heavier, and he noticed, hers as well.
"Is this alright?" he asked as he pulled back to lick his lips and noticed that the lower one was becoming a bit swollen, but as soon as she nodded, he leaned forward to kiss her again, this time a bit more furiously. His hand grazed over her, and he could feel that she really was responding to him. (He would remember thinking later that he had wondered if she was always that wet, having never touched another woman before, or if it was something he had done to make her that way. And, of course, once he found out that he did have a part in it, he made it his life's goal to continuously keep her that way.)
He ran his fingers slowly over her mound, listening to the sounds of her approval as he began to familiarize her with the sensations. Her hands suddenly joined his at her waist as she began to pull her pants off over his hand, and then followed it with her knickers. He sat back, truthfully a little stunned at how eager she seemed to give him access to her most private region. She reached over and grazed the growing bulge under his denim and slowly began to undo the zipper. He was suddenly very self-conscious, feeling himself twitch at his nerves. He was sure she had at least accidentally seen one, she did have six brothers after all, but he worried that it would be a bit too much. Her hands began to fumble a bit with the zipper, and he rolled willingly onto his back to assist her, hesitating only slightly as he pulled his jeans down, leaving his boxers in place.
"Have you ever...?" Harry began, readjusting himself against her tender touch, wanting to make sure that she wouldn't be completely disgusted once his boxers joined his pants.
"Well," even in the dark he could see her blush, "Hermione suggested that I at least, you know, try myself, so it wouldn't be so much."
Harry took a few seconds, propped up on his elbow, trying to figure out what she was talking about, but as soon as it hit, he was sure the smile would never leave his face.
"You didn't mean that, did you?" Ginny said, attempting to hide her blushing face in his chest as she giggled. "Well, now that you know..."
"I'll never have another bad dream again." He ran his fingers through her hair, extremely aware that he had brought her scent up with them and was now not going to be able to even lay his head against hers without getting turned on.
"You're a pervert," Ginny said as she kissed his collar bones.
"I am not," Harry said returning the kisses with ones of his own to her forehead, "a pervert is someone that tries to hide it. I'm just a sicko."
"But you've done it too, right? I mean, you know...." Jesus, if it's just this hard talking about it..... Ginny thought as she ran a finger along his waistband.
"You know that I have," he said, inhaling at the strands of her hair that had brushed into his face.
"What do you think about when you do?"
Harry chuckled and the vibrations sent shivers down Ginny's spine. It was always so good to hear him laugh. It was like a reassurance to her soul that all that they'd been through was over. If Harry was finally happy, than all was at peace.
"That, my dear, is a secret." Harry said, his fingers now roaming almost aimlessly along her back as he held her close to him. His fingertips sent shivers up her spine, and down her legs, and into her very core, and for a moment, she felt that she had died in his arms and had found whatever glorious sanctuary awaited her right there in his embrace.
After several life affirming breaths she was able to clear her mind enough to return to this plane. "But it's me right?"
"Always."
Ginny smiled, not believing him, but really wanting to. His kisses continued, so sweet against her cheek until a sharp pain shot through her head. "Harry, I think you're on my hair," she said, attempting to pull her fly away tendrils out from under his arm. The two lovers laughed as they tried to untangle their limbs, vying for a position around each other in an intimate embrace. Just as they began to figure out a position that seemed possible, Ginny felt the cotton of Harry's boxers rub against her and she laughed as she tugged at the waistband.
"It really isn't going to do us any good if you don't take these off," she said, flicking the elastic against his skin. He grunted, a slight growl from his chest, and she quivered at the animal that seemed to be fighting it's way out of her, now, fiance. It excited her, that she could turn him into such a primitive being, and he actually seemed frustrated as he pulled fiercely at his shorts. She felt a slight blush rise to her cheeks as she caught a glimpse of him before he pulled the sheets over himself. After the first momentary touches of their skin, the addiction had passed from one to another, and he rolled immediately back against her.
Harry ran his fingers along her back, realizing that the only article of clothing keeping them from total contact was now her bra. He began lightly kissing her lips, trying to draw her attention away from his fumbling fingers against her clasp. Unfortunately it didn't go unnoticed for very long as her fingers joined his and expertly undid the clasps.
"So, Mr. Potter, you can catch a snitch in three seconds, from forty feet away, and you've defeated the worlds most villainous Wizard, but you're Kryptonite is a bra hook?"
Harry just pursed his lips as she began to giggle before pulling her bra down over her shoulders. Apparently, the sight before him was enough to unclench Harry's lips as his mouth fell open in appreciative awe.
Ginny put her fingers under Harry's chin and closed his gaping mouth. "Now, come on. You act like you've never seen...you haven't ever seen them before, have you?" she altered her sentence to match the look on his face and hoped that hers were adequate enough for his first. "Well than, what do you think?"
"I wish I was an artist because only a masterpiece unlike anything the world has ever seen could even compare to your beauty."
Ginny couldn't help but smile. "That was beautiful, Harry."
"It wasn't too much?"
"A little, but that's OK. I like that you feel the need to pillow talk me even when you know that you're getting laid tonight."
At this Harry broke out in smile and slowly began kissing Ginny. She wrapped her arms around him as she rolled into his body. As she wrapped her legs into his, she ran a hand down his stomach and allowed her fingertips to make the first uncovered contact she had ever had. She felt him jump slightly before he pulled back completely. Even though his face showed the outer bounds of horror, Ginny found herself fighting a laugh.
"Baby, don't worry about it," she said stroking his cheek before pulling him back to her. "I've heard it happens to a lot of guys."
"But I....well I just..."
"Believe me. I know," she said as she pulled the damp sheet away from her. "But that's OK. We'll just have to get it back."
"God this is humiliating." Harry looked down completely embarrassed.
"Yes. The fact that I can do...that to you should be punishable by law."
Harry looked questioningly at her, obviously still dooms-daying in his head before she kissed him again. "Now lets just say you've gotta make it up to me."
"Make it up to you?" Harry said, a spark of the smile smoldering in his jade eyes.
Ginny bit her lip, unsure if she was just looking nervous or sexy, and pulled the sheet away from her exposing her naked form. With the influence that came with being a woman, she took Harry's hand and placed it lovingly against her breast, smiling at the contented sigh that escaped his lips as he began exploring her body with his other hand. Even though his hands were well meaning, she soon grew impatient at his hesitance and reached for his other hand and placed it against her throbbing tissues. This time, it was her that released a sound, though hers was more of a moan.
His fingers ran over her and she stifled a giggle at the inexperience coming through. Not that she was a pro herself of course, but she knew he was uncertain of what to do. It only seemed to last for a few moments before something natural, something instinctual, seemed to kick in and suddenly her head leaned back and she was sure that her eyes crossed.
"God you smell so good," Harry said and there was a growl to his voice, something animalistic, and Ginny knew she wouldn't be able to wait much longer.
Harry seemed to be teasing her, playing just around the outside of her center and her hips began bumping against his palm unconsciously. "Why are you teasing me?" Ginny said and regretted the pleading sound of her voice.
She felt Harry smile against her jawline moments before she felt the pressure of his finger sliding effortless inside of her. She clenched for a moment, already knowing what it would feel like, but still realizing that it wasn't her own fingers that were touching her that way, making her burn like this. His fingers were thicker, deeper, than hers had ever been and even though her muscles were tight around his single digit already, she knew that it was not enough. Even as she swallowed her nerves, she placed her arms around him and pulled him towards her, realizing that the moans that she was totally not making had brought him back to attention.
"Are you ready?" Harry asked, and her Harry was back, his voice gently caressing her cheeks as he placed kisses on her eyelids.
"I'm ready to be with you," she replied as she lost herself in his eyes.
"That doesn't answer my question," he said as his arms began to slightly tremble with his weight.
She placed her hand on his arm and smiled up at him. "I don't want this to sound the wrong way, but I'm kinda ready to get the hard part over with." She saw his confusion before placing her other hand against his cheek. "I want this, Harry. I want you. But I'm kinda done wondering what it's going to be like," she said as she separated her legs even farther, allowing him to rest between her. Or how bad it's actually going to hurt, she finished as she placed a loving kiss against his bicep.
She felt her stomach flip as he repositioned himself to be right against her. It was so odd. She had felt this sensation before, from him as well as from herself, but this was certainly going to be more than either of their fingers had been. He took one last loving look in her eyes, apparently seeing the go-ahead that she wasn't so sure that she was showing, before attempting to push forward. The next sound she heard was certainly not what she was expecting.
"Damn it," Harry said and when she opened her eyes she saw him reach between them, obviously attempting to support himself with his hand.
"You OK?" Ginny said, feeling her breathing quicken again as she thought about how close they actually were. She began to wonder if it would be better to just get it over with, one quick motion, or if....but suddenly she no longer had to wonder. She felt him push past her outer lips and her entire body was suddenly burning. Each nerve was responding to him, but not quiet in the way that she had hoped. She must have jumped because suddenly, he was gone. Yet, even though he was no longer inside of her, she could still feel him, as if he was permanently re-sculpturing her body.
"Are you OK?" Harry asked, leaning forward to place a kiss on her forehead.
"Yeah," she said and even she could hear her voice quiver with the coming tears. She was not going to cry, this was a beautiful moment, but the burning had seemed to find it's way to her eyes and she was glad it was so dark.
"We can wait," Harry said, moving his hips away from her and she quickly placed two hands on him and pushed him closer.
"I don't want to wait." She closed her eyes again as she felt the tip back in place. "Please, just do it." It was so not the sexy, romantic moment that all of those stories she had snuck had made it out to be. As he rocked slowly against her, she felt her entire body resist against him, and the looks that he kept shooting her told him he had noticed too.
"Ignore it, just do it," Ginny said, sure that she was starting to sound a little demanding. The burning had to end, it just had to, or else the world would end. No woman would put up with this pain just to get pregnant and go through a different type of pain. Somehow, this had to turn into something that she would not only want to do, but something that she would enjoy doing. She just had to be molded to him first. She continued to wait for the pain to subside, to dull, but every time that it began to lesson, he would move deeper and it would ignite again.
"Is it in?" She said as she took a deep breath.
"Not really something a guy wants to hear, Gin."
Oh good, at least he was getting some amusement from this. "I mean, is it all the way in?"
"Less than half," Harry said, the tone of his voice completely changing as he once again began to stroke her cheek. She took a deep breath again, inhaling his scent before she opened her eyes. When she saw his eyes, the caring and the love reflected in them, she realized again why she was doing this and knew that once it was all over, it would be something she would treasure forever. No one would ever make her feel this way again, thank God, but at least Harry was taking his time. Being gentle. She smiled as she realized it could be a whole lot worse.
"Do you need to stop?" Harry said and she cringed as she felt him try to back out again. He had worked so hard, so slowly to get to this point that loosing ground right now did not even cross her mind as an option. She placed her hands on his hips and pushed against him, feeling him slide farther than before and the burning returned. She used this new leverage to help push him through her tightened walls, biting her lip against the groans that were building. She managed to turn the bite into a, hopefully, flirty smile which turned into a real one as he returned it. This was right, but if she didn't get her mind off of the pressure, it wasn't going to happen.
She leaned forward laying a soft kiss against his pillowy lips, allowing her mind to only focus on his taste, his scent, the way his breathing sped up as she kissed him firmly, the way that he smiled as he kissed her like he was truly happy for the first time in his life, and the way....
Holy hell! She actually saw stars as something inside of her popped and he suddenly completely filled her very quickly.
"What was that?" Harry asked, obviously confused at the ease at which he had suddenly slid forward.
"I don't know," Ginny said making a mental note to ask Hermione about it later but for now, the burning was decreasing and for the first time since they began, she could feel him, just him. Her mind wandered for the first time as well, to the fact that she could just feel him. They had not even thought about protecting themselves. That wasn't what tonight was supposed to be about, and she hoped that she'd have time to get used to this, to actually enjoy it, before it would lead to their family being started early. But none of that mattered as he began to slowly rock against her. She suppressed a hiss as the burning, though not nearly as strong, returned. She layed kisses against everything within reach of her lips as he lay closer against her, melding their chests together, and becoming the closest that they had ever been to each other.
Their movements were awkward, and each time that he pulled back, Ginny found herself thinking of sandpaper. Sandpaper that had been lit on fire. But it didn't last. As Harry pulled back for what could have only been the forth or fifth time, she felt two very new sensations. One was a warm feeling, something slightly thick that ran slowly onto her thigh. And the other was the fire. Only this time, the fire was not only enjoyable, but desirable. Harry had hit something, a certain spot on her body, that had made all memory of the pain disappear. Even as he came, she found herself wishing that it didn't have to be over so quickly, the exact opposite of what she had been thinking just seconds before.
As Harry roll over to lay on his back, pulling her onto his chest where he could play with her hair as he fell asleep, she began to think back to the moment of fire that she would be willing to suffer through again for. But somehow, deep inside, she knew that it would never be like that again. That the time of sandpaper and flames was over. And for some unknown reason, she actually thought she would miss it. But she had done it. Had survived. And had given her virginity to the one man she knew would treasure it as much as she had. As he drifted off, whispering "I love you" every now and then, the moment could not have been more right, more special, and another tear escaped. This one of happiness.
Now, what was she going to do about the state of the living room?
^____^
"Is Harry coming for dinner dear?" Molly asked as she set the table behind Ginny who stood at the kitchen window watching her father and Ron walk into the tool shed. She felt herself blush slightly as she remembered the conversation that she had had with Harry just moments ago in his now cleaned kitchen before she apparated to her parents place alone.
"I don't think so, mum. He had some work to do." She hoped that her mother and best friend would just leave it at that, but of course, Hermione couldn't just leave well enough alone.
"But he doesn't have anything to do this weekend. The Ministry is closed for the holidays."
"Oh dear, he's not uncomfortable about being around me and your father now that the two of you...."
"Mother?!" Ginny said, snapping around as she nearly choked on her tongue. She had known that her mother wouldn't fall for the old "I've got a late running practice", especially when she showed up with no broom (even if her hair was a little disheveled) but she certainly didn't think that her mother would be so willing to talk about it.
Molly just smiled as she put Harry's plate back into the cupboard and continued around the kitchen.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Hermione leaned across the table. "Did you?"
Ginny was sure that nodding was not necessary as she felt her entire face light up.
"I'm so jealous!" Hermione said and corrected herself as Ginny gave her an odd look. "I mean about getting to be a virgin again. Doing it for the first time. You know what I mean."
"Actually, I don't." Ginny said leaning closer to Hermione as she was sure that Molly was eavesdropping from somewhere. "If I hadn't taken your advice on preparing myself and if it hadn't been for just one moment, near the very end, I would not have let him do it."
"But you did. Let him do it I mean?"
"Yeah. I'm glad that we did, and I'm more glad that he was as nervous and unsure as I was, because I don't think that I'd have let anyone else put me through that. It fucking hurt, it still sort of hurts in fact, and I...." Ginny looked around, not wanting her mother to overhear the last bit if she was in fact listening, "he made me bleed. Just a bit, but..."
"Oh Ginny, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. It's normal. When he," Hermione seemed to go into professor mode to counter act the embarrassment of the topic, "well when he broke through the barrier at the top, it's called your hymen actually, it can bleed a little. Nothing to worry about. It's stopped right?"
"Oh well, yeah. That's actually the other question that I was going to ask you. We were not sure what the hell happened."
"I know. It's odd, isn't it. But unless you go another seven years without sex than that won't ever happen again."
"Merlin, why didn't they have sex ed at Hogwarts so that you could avoid all this uncertainty shit."
"Because, Ginny, who on earth would you sit and listen to talk about that? Professer Snape? Professer McGonagall? I don't think so. Besides, they did have a section in the library, you just had to know where to look."
Ginny jumped as a clap of thunder sounded over head and rain began to play it's rhythm on the rooftops.
"I was so worried, 'Mione, that I'd never be willing to let him do that again. And then, just at the end, he hit something, or brushed against something, and....Oh my God!" She said, unable to put into words the sensation that he had given her.
"And next time, it will be more 'Oh my God' and less 'for the love of God'. And each time after that it just gets better and better. You'll see." Ginny began to blush as she thought about how it could be, seeming to forget already how it had been.
"This is weird." Hermione stopped, and began blushing herself. "Talking about Harry this way. He's like a brother to me. It would be like me telling you about..."
"Stop right there!" Ginny said jumping the table to place a hand over Hermione's mouth. "I don't want to hear another word. What you and him do is your business." She shuddered playfully as she sat back down at the table.
"Ginny, did you at least use some of the protection that we went over?" Molly asked casually as she carried in the laundry basket. Ginny slammed her head into the table in embarrassment as Hermione and Molly shared a chuckle at her expense.
"No mum. Actually, Harry and I are planning on having seventeen kids like you and dad and we wanted to get started while we were young."
"Well, that's probably a good idea, dear. Unless you happen to have several sets of twins. Oh, or octuplets! Than you could be half way there in one go." Ginny and her mother shared a look before Ginny broke out in a smile. She loved her mother. She drove her crazy sometimes, but she still loved her.
"He's clean though, isn't he?" OK, sometimes she loved her mother.
Thank God Arthur and Ron ran it at that time to spare her the embarrassments. "It's really coming down out there Mol. The whole shed may just topple over on top of us. What's for dinner?" Arthur crossed and kissed Molly, making her giggle as he did something that, thankfully, Ginny couldn't see. She realized for the first time, that her parents had at one time, and at least six times after that, had done what she and Harry had done just the night before and she made a mental note to gag on that image. But for now, maybe because she was still in the afterglow, it was a little sweet. Hermione had been pulled onto Ron's lap and she was whispering something into his ear that made his eyes light up like she had never seen them before. And suddenly, she missed Harry. She wanted nothing more at this moment than to make his eyes shine like that, to let him touch her in that way that made her giggle like that. She stood, sure that her absence would go unnoticed, at least long enough for her to get back to Grimmauld place, and crossed to the door.
She flung open the door and couldn't even take a step onto the porch. Not because of the torrent of water streaming down from the sky, but because of the man she had been wiling to risk pneumonia for that stood, soaking and shivering, on her porch.
"I missed you." Harry said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Get inside, you'll freeze out here." Ginny said trying to pull him towards the kitchen, but he seemed to already be frozen in place.
"They know though, don't they?"
"They know. And they also know what it's like to find their soul mate. What it's like to want to be near the person that you love. And they know that I've found just that."
Harry smiled as he leaned forward to kiss her, for the first time not worried about who might be watching them. The water ran from his hair, down between their melded lips and, although it was most likely just her imagination, Ginny was sure that the water sizzled as it met the heat of their kiss.
"Get in here, son. You'll freeze out there." Arthur crossed and pulled Harry into the kitchen, sitting him roughly in front of the stove as Ginny shook her head towards him. Arthur probably knew, but it was better for everyone involved that he be allowed to play otherwise.
"Yes. Yes." Molly said as she reset Harry's plate at the table. "After all, we have a wedding to plan." She crossed over and gave Harry a light hug, attempting to keep herself dry as she did so. "And after that," she whispered just loud enough for Harry to hear, "a baby shower?"
Ginny could only guess what her mother had whispered by the look on Harry's face. But at least it looked like he agreed with her. One step at a time. And there were some things that they just were not ready for.
