It was the hottest day of the summer. Mrs. Weasley quickly tired of everyone lounging around complaining about the heat, and at last tersely suggested that if they weren't going to do anything but whine, they ought to get out of the house. Hermione suggested swimming, and everyone raced to don their swimming suits and run to a nearby lake.
The water was deliciously cool, and the weather-beaten little dock was perfect for napping, which Percy immediately took advantage of. Charlie, on the other hand, took to splashing everyone and dunking Ron. Hermione had brought a book, but abandoned it to laugh at Ron's indignant sputtering at being dunked every five minutes. Even George, though far quieter than his old self, managed a chuckle or two. Ginny made a few laps, basking in the lovely light feeling of swimming.
"Come in," she called to Harry, who was sitting on the edge of the dock, toes skimming the surface of the lake.
"I dunno," he called back, adjusting his glasses.
"Aw, it's not so bad - come in," she urged, smiling, but Harry shook his head. She waded over to him and began to tug on his feet. "What's the matter?"
"Ginny - "
"C'mon. It's only cold for a second, I promise you."
"That's not it, I just - "
"What?"
"I don't know how to swim."
She blinked.
"But you swam in the Black Lake, no problem," she reminded him. He shook his head.
"Gillyweed, remember? The Dursley's never let me have lessons. I think they hoped I would drown," he said with a grin, but it was somewhat embarassed. "I can deal with shallow water, but nothing bigger than a pool." Ginny looked around at the lake, which, clearly, was a great deal bigger than a pool.
"He's got that right - remember Gryffindor's sword, mate," Ron called, grinning, while Hermione slapped his arm. Charlie dunked him again. George chuckled. Harry looked at Ginny as if to say, "You see?"
Ginny surveyed him for a moment, then heaved herself out of the water and plucked his glasses off, neatly folding them and setting them safely away from the edge.
"Get ready for your first swimming lesson, Mr. Potter," she said firmly before he could even begin to open his mouth, and pushed him off the dock. Harry had time only for a yelp before the water engulfed him. He shot back up, coughing and splashing. Ginny quickly slipped into the water, and kept his head above the surface.
"Ginny, what are you - "
"Calm down. You won't float if you panic. Now breathe." Harry obeyed, albeit with a wet scowl. He looked utterly hilarious with his unkempt hair flattened against his forehead.
"Can I get out now?" he asked with terrible patience. Ginny shook her head.
"There's no difference between three feet and ten feet if you know how to do it properly," she said encouragingly. "Come on...kick your legs a bit...yeah...and move your arms - no, like this - " She demonstrated how, and Harry, ever athletic, caught on quickly. Within thirty minutes, he'd ventured to the middle of lake where he swam like a veritable fish.
Ginny lay on her stomach on the dock, drying, watching him.
"Told you could do it," she said smugly as he dog-paddled over to her. He rested his forearms on the warm wood of the dock.
"Yeah, yeah. This is a decent sight better than diving into a freezing cold lake full of homicidal merpeople or being strangled underwater by necklaces. Can I have my glasses back now?" he asked, one eyebrow raised. Ginny slid them onto his nose, which wrinkled as he grinned.
They were silent for awhile, listening to the gentle slapping of the water and the occasional burst of laughter from Charlie, George, and Ron accompanied by Hermione's half-indignant, half-tickled response. Ginny followed a droplet of water making its way down Harry's forehead with her finger, stopping at his scar.
She traced it gently, zig-zagging her finger up and down.
"Isn't it funny?" Harry asked after a bit. She stopped. He was looking at her in such a way that despite the warm sun on her skin, she shivered with goosebumps.
"What's funny?" she asked belatedly.
"It's all over now. My scar. Voldemort. Everything."
Ginny smiled, lightly skimming her finger down his nose. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."
Harry smiled back. Then pulled her headfirst into the water. Bubbles swirled around her in the murky water and she broke the surface with a shriek. Harry floated beside her, smirking. She splashed him, glasses and all, and he splashed her back.
"You may have saved the Wizarding World, but you're no match for me, Potter!"
"I laugh at your challenge!'
They kicked water at each other wildly, laughing like the teenagers they were, only stopping when Percy was accidentally splashed and grumpily asked if they wouldn't mind moving their game somewhere else. They did, and played until the cool of the evening settled on the lake.
Here is a picture of realization: a boy and a girl, watching a baby.