I do not own any of it.
Like A Dream
Harry opened the door to his flat at 7:10. He noticed that Ginny had gone home to change. She was now wearing a deep blue dress under her cloak. She looked beautiful.
She walked in and was stunned. There were candles everywhere. Every surface had some, and more were floating in midair like they did in the great hall. There was a fire roaring in the fireplace and a soft rug lay out in front of the fire. She looked around at it all and then back at Harry.
They normally just fell onto each other. She was expecting dinner, after all, he did tell her they would be eating. But she wasn't expecting the candle light, or the soft music he had playing in the back ground, or that he would be dressed so nicely in a button down and slacks.
He walked up to her, put his hand on her cheek and kissed her tenderly.
"What's all this?"
"Oh, I just thought that we could try something we haven't done before."
"I think we have done just about everything."
He laughed softly while he wrapped his hand around her waist. And then it was her turn to laugh when he didn't kiss her, but slid her into a slow, swaying dance.
"We have danced before, Harry." She told him softly.
"I wasn't talking about dancing. I thought I would try my hand at romancing you."
"Oh, well," flustered, she sighed, "That wouldn't be so bad."
"Are you hungry?" He asked her as he led her to the dinning room. She found more candles sat around there. The table was set for two, and there were stuffed mushrooms sitting between the place settings.
"Would you like some champagne?" She heard him ask as she noticed that there was a bottle sitting in an ice bucket by the table.
"Wow, yes, I would love some champagne. Are we celebrating something?" She asked him as he opened the bottle with a satisfactory bop.
"Well, you were brilliant today. I thought we should celebrate your victory." He handed her a glass and pulled out the chair for her to sit down. He leaned down and pressed his lips to his favorite spot on her neck. "I wanted to enjoy the evening with you. You look so beautiful tonight." He told her as he took his seat across from her.
She stared at him. He hadn't spoken to her like that before. Sure, he told her she was beautiful, but usually he panted it as he was stripping her cloths off. But tonight he said it like he meant all of her, and not just her body.
He picked up one of the mushrooms and placed it in her mouth. She made sure she took it from his fingers slowly. Two could play at this romance thing, and if he was set on making this a night to remember, she would be all too happy to let him.
They talked and flirted while they ate the mushrooms. He would caress her hand in the center of the table. He would look at her like she was the only woman he had ever seen. And her heart beat a little faster when he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles gently.
He cleared the mushrooms and brought out the main course. He had made pasta. And she moaned when she tasted it. It was terrific, like the mushrooms were. "I didn't know you knew how to cook, Ace."
"Yeah, most people are surprised." He replied offhandedly. "I actually find it relaxing after a hard day. And I am glad that you like it."
"You are wonderful at it. And if you have a hard day this week, maybe you could cook for me again."
"Oh, well," he took her hand in his and looked into her eyes. "I have some bad news." He saw the flicker of worry in her eyes. "I am going to be leaving for Spain tomorrow."
She stared at him. Did he just tell her he was leaving? Was this romantic dinner his goodbye? "Tomorrow?" she repeated.
"Yeah, Kingsley is sending Miles and me to Spain to track Carrnon."
He saw the fear come into her eyes. "Oh, well, so this is a goodbye dinner?"
"What? No. This is a celebratory dinner. I should be back in a week. Next Saturday. This isn't goodbye." He lifted her hand and lightly kissed her knuckles again. "I was hoping that you would be here when I got back, so we could continue." He smiled at her when he saw the relief swarm into her eyes. Had she been worried that he would be gone for a long time?
"Oh, only a week then, I might be able to manage that. And I think I will be willing to meet you when you get back." She matched his smile with one of her own.
"Well then, it is a date for next Saturday."
"I will be here."
They continued to eat and flirt until both had cleared their plates.
"So, what has the Chosen One made for dessert?" Ginny asked him playfully.
"I don't bake." Harry said like it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.
"Well, then I might have to try and bake something the next time you cook for me."
"I look forward to it. But just because I don't bake, doesn't mean there is no dessert. Come on, bring your glass." He pulled her out of her chair, grabbed the bottle of champagne and led her back to his family room.
They sat on the rug in front of the fire and Ginny noticed there was a platter of strawberries and truffles on the side table. Harry picked it up and sat it in front of them, and then lifting a strawberry to her lips, he watched as she bit into it.
She was stunning in the fire light. He had never noticed how her hair shined when the light hit it just right. Originally he had planned on seducing her slowly into their bed. But now, seeing her in front of the fire, he was thankful that he had put the disillusionment charm in front of the fireplace just in case Kingsley wanted to check in. He wasn't sure he wanted to take her to the bed anymore.
They hadn't spent time like this before. They sat there talking and looking into the fire while they flirted and touched and kissed. She leaned against him and he stoked her arm. They had never spent time with each other where they weren't shagging and could still act like lovers, with a look, or a touch, or a whisper.
He fed her truffles and strawberries as they drank their champagne and enjoyed each.
Ginny was wondering why they hadn't ended up like this before now when Harry said. "This is really nice; you look stunning in the fire light. Like I could spend the entire night right here, giving you everything you need."
She smiled at him as she took a sip. "You looked so good at the party today that all I thought about was tearing your cloths off as soon as I was alone with you."
"Well, if I would have known that, I wouldn't have gone to all this trouble to romance you." He whispered to her as he nuzzled her neck.
She giggled. "Well, yes, but since you have I am willing to not rip your cloths off and let you spend the entire night right here, giving me everything I need." She smiled into his lips as they found hers. "Make love to me here, Harry. It will be like a dream."
It was dreamlike. Scents and shadows and sighs. He leaned into her; her lips were soft and tasted of lazy invitation. He sank into them and into her as she reached for him. Slow and tender where she had never expected it, where she would never have asked for it. He slid her onto her back and floated with her on the easy stroke of her hands, the gentle rise of her body.
And the sweetness of it drifted through him like starlight.
He found her mouth again, and everything he ever wanted.
She moaned under him, one long, low sound as her body bowed fluidly to his.
He could see the glint of the firelight in her eyes, gold dust splashed over rich pools. She watched him, and he watched her as he slowly slid inside her.
"This is different," he told her, and touched his mouth to hers. "This is different. In the past, I wanted you. Tonight I need you."
Her vision blurred with tears. Her lips trembled. And then she was so full of him, she could only sob out his name, and give.
They stayed in front of the fire, enjoying each other, and making love throughout the night. Neither wanting it to end, both knowing he would be leaving in the morning. They fell asleep on the rug, and held onto each other as they slept; snuggled under the blanket Harry had conjured.
His face was snuggled into her hair and his arms were around her.
Neither had woken up when the owl tapped on the window.
But when Kingsley's voice ripped through the flat, they both jumped.
"Harry James Potter. Where the hell are you? And why is there a disillusionment charm on your fireplace. Take it off right now."
Harry cursed as Ginny let out a surprised shout. Harry took off the charm, and casually looked at the Minister. Ginny blushed as she too, looked at Kingsley.
"You were supposed to leave an hour ago." He yelled at Harry. "Good morning, Ms. Weasley." He added as he smiled at her and looked around the scene. He took in the champagne bottle, the leftover strawberries and truffles, and the candles that had burnt out. His smile turned to one of teasing. "Well, I can see why you weren't there. Did you have a good night?"
Harry swore again. "Yes, it was a bloody great night, and this is not how I wanted it to end. What do you want Kingsley?"
"To tell you that Miles is waiting for you at the portkey office and you have ten minutes to get there. I will floo back in five minutes to make sure you are on your way, and haven't given into the temptation that is lying next to you. Good bye." He smiled and was gone. Harry laid back down. Crap. He hadn't woken up. Shit.
Ginny was staring at the fire. "He knows." She said, baffled.
"Yeah, he found out about a month ago. Got around the floo wards cause of his position and saw us."
"Oh, has he told anyone."
"No, and he told me he wouldn't. I'm sorry, Ginny. I didn't want you to wake up like this."
"It's alright. You need to go do your job." She hesitated and then kissed him before he pulled himself up. "Would you mind if I slept here a little while longer though. I don't want to go home yet."
"Sure, you can stay as long as you want." He went into the room to get ready. She was still awake when he came back out.
"I'll miss you this week." He told her as he kissed her deeply.
"I know," she managed when he let her come up for air. "But you will just have to use your hand to keep yourself satisfied. Remember that I don't share, Ace, just like you don't."
He smiled at her. He had no intention of finding a witch in Spain. But hearing her remind him that he wasn't able to brightened his mood. "I know. I will see you Saturday night." He kissed her again and left his flat.
She laid there for a while thinking about him. He fascinated her so much. She didn't know he was capable of being so romantic, so tender with her. And yet she knew he was the best Auror the ministry had. She knew he could be cold and mean when he needed to be. Seeing him so vulnerable last night with her had weakened her heart. Damn him for stirring emotions inside of her. She didn't want to be falling for him. She didn't want the pain that would come when he took off again. She blamed him, making her feel what she felt last night. Maybe a week away from him would be good for her. She could use a week to sort out these new emotions and to prove that she didn't need him.