Harry and Ginny steadied themselves as they arrived at their destination. Harry waved his hand and several candles lit up.
"Where are we?" asked Ginny, looking around.
"Godric's Hollow," said Harry.
"You Apparated us from Wales to England just like that?" asked Ginny, surprised. She had thought it took a few seconds longer than usual, but still.
Harry shrugged and nodded. He looked around. "This is my, erm, our home. I mean, if you want it to be. I know it doesn't look like much now, but in the morning you'll see what-"
"Harry, it's perfect," said Ginny softly.
He looked at her. "But I wanted to tell you about-"
"You don't need to, not right now, anyway," said Ginny.
Harry hesitated. "Are you sure, Gin?" he asked. "Your brothers, even Ron, they put up wards against me..."
Ginny felt a fury build up inside her. "I don't know why they did that. I told them it wasn't necessary, I told them you'd never hurt me," she said.
Harry brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I know, I heard you." He pulled a couple of pins out and her hair started to tumble down.
Ginny shook her head, removing the last hair pins. Her hair cascaded down, to Harry's delight.
"It meant a lot, that you said that," he said. "I know I hurt you by leaving, by not staying in touch," he began.
Ginny shook her head. "You're here now, that's all that matters," she said. "Harry, I know what I said in my apartment the other day, but I've changed my mind. If you want to tell me anything about your past, I'll gladly listen. If you don't, well, that's all right, too," she said.
"I will tell you, I swear, Gin," he said. "You deserve to hear absolutely everything, even things I've never told Hermione and Ron. But first I need to tell you why I left."
Ginny nodded.
"I needed to know what sort of man I was going to be. I was a school boy, playing at being a man. Not by choice, mind you, but still. I have a vault full of galleons, but it all meant nothing. I would give it all back to have my parents or Sirius be alive," he said.
"I know, Harry," said Ginny, slipping her arms around his waist. She rested her head on his chest, feeling his heart pounding madly.
Harry held her close, breathing in her scent. "I knew I wanted a future with you, but I felt I had nothing to offer you. Oh, I could have accepted various Ministerial offers, or even Quidditch offers, but those were for Harry Potter, the Chosen One," he said almost bitterly.
He stepped away from her, but kept their hands linked. He looked down at them, almost in despair. "These hands, these hands have killed. I felt like a murderer, like a liar. People were calling me a hero, and I felt anything but. What did I have to offer you, Ginny?" he almost pleaded.
"This," said Ginny, laying a hand on his chest. "Your heart is pure, Harry. That's what allowed you to defeat Riddle. And these," she said, lifting his hands to kiss the back of them, "these hands make me feel so safe, so protected. I will proudly take your hand and walk alongside you, any day, anywhere, Harry."
" Gin," said Harry, with tears in his eyes. " Do you really mean that?"
Ginny stepped closer and cupped his face in her hands. " You're a good man, Harry. The best, if you ask me, but I love you, so I may be accused of bias."
" You love me?" asked Harry. He sounded in awe, and Ginny realised he may have never been told that before.
" I am utterly ass over tea kettle in love with you, Harry," she said gently. " And I intend to tell you every day for the rest of our lives. But you also need to know, when you can't fight, when you're drowning, I'll be there for you. I'll always be there for you, for us."
Harry picked her up and held her tight. " I love you, too," he whispered tearfully, burying his face in her neck.
"Show me our bedroom, Harry," whispered back Ginny.
He refused to let her go, so he carried her to the bedroom. He'd obviously been bunking down there, judging by the sparseness of the room. Just a bed and wardrobe was in it, not that Ginny minded.
He lay her on the bed. "I know it's not much. I'm going to knock a wall out here, add an en-suite. The whole back of the house is coming out too. I haven't bought any furniture, I wanted us to-"
"Harry?" interrupted Ginny.
He looked at her. Her hair was fanned over her pillow and her eyes were blazing. "Yeah?"
She held out her hand. " Right now all I need is you."
He shrugged off his jacket, her words arousing him beyond anything he could have dreamed. He lay next to her on the bed, both of them on their side facing the other.
" I hope I don't hurt you," he said.
" It will only hurt for a bit," said Ginny, having heard lots of talk from her female friends. " I trust you, Harry." She unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it aside. Her hands caressed his muscled chest. "Wow, Luna was right, I am a lucky girl."
Harry chuckled softly. " You haven't even gotten to my butt yet."
Ginny half sat, helping him to pull his shirt off. She straddled him as she tried to reach for his pants while he tried to unzip her dress. They were getting tangled up in arms and clothes. " Sod it," said Harry, banishing them all together.
" Harry!" gasped Ginny, covering her breasts. "A little warning next time."
Harry shut his eyes. " I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Ginny giggled. "It's okay, Harry. You can open your eyes."
Harry opened one eye. "You sure?" He opened the other eye and looked at her. Only she wasn't looking at his face. Her eyes were looking farther south.
" Ginny!" he gasped, covering his rapidly growing manhood.
Ginny laughed and leaned over to kiss him. " Tit for tat, you once said to me," she taunted. " You saw my tits, so I wanted to see...tat," she said, pointing.
Harry got even harder. " I think tat wants to see you too," he said, making her laugh again. He growled gently and rolled her off him and under him.
The moonlight streamed in through the window. Ginny's creamy body looked luminescent compared to his own sun bronzed body. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, kissing her with passion.
"Come into me, Harry," said Ginny, arching against him.
Harry knew there would be time and time again to familiarise himself with her body. For now, they both needed to take this first, final step. Harry held his cock against her, letting her get used to the feel.
" Harry, please," said Ginny, her hands on his shoulders as she ground against him. Merlin, this was so much better than what she did alone!
Harry slid into her, stifling her gasp with his mouth. He slowly moved, feeling her clench around him. He came to her barrier and hesitated. As he kissed her, he pushed through, feeling her hiss in pain.
He hesitated. "Are you all right?" he asked her so tenderly it brought tears to Ginny's eyes.
She nodded, cupping his cheek in her hand. " You complete me," she said gently.
Harry kissed her again, pulling out then back in; slowly, slowly. He could tell he was ready to come, but had wanted to make it last a bit longer. His cock had it's own agenda though, and after one or two more thrusts, Harry poured himself into her.
He gently eased his way out, groaning at the delicious friction even that made him feel. Ginny's eyes were closed and she was breathing hard.
" Gin?" he asked tentatively.
Her eyes opened quickly. " That was so good. Harry, I'm so glad we did this together."
" Yeah, it beats doing it alone," chuckled Harry, laying on his side.
Ginny rolled over to face him. Her eyes were bright with amusement. "I meant, our first time," she said, giggling softly. Her fingers ran from his cheek down his jaw, his neck and down to his chest.
She found the locket scar embedded forever on his chest. " How-no, doesn't matter," she said. She leaned down and kissed it softly.
Harry closed his eyes to her touch. It was all he'd ever imagined, but so much more. As her lips moved across his chest and down to his nipples, Harry finally allowed himself to feel the joy of surviving and having a future to look forward to.
They made love twice more through the night, each time getting bolder. As they lay entwined after their third time, catching their breath, Harry began to speak.
" The first memory I have is being dragged to the cupboard under the stairs by my Uncle Vernon. I don't remember what I did wrong, but..."
Ginny lay listening as Harry told her the story of his life. They wouldn't get through every thing that night, it would take many,many nights, but it was a start.
HGHGHG
Ginny woke the next morning. She looked around, trying to recall where she was. As she rolled over, she realised Harry was laying next to her, watching her. She blushed.
" Good morning, beautiful," he said huskily. " Want breakfast?"
Ginny's stomach growled and she nodded, embarrassed.
Harry got out of bed and walked out of the room. Ginny got a chance to see his bare ass, the one she'd been caressing a lot of the night. It was exactly as she pictured, nice and tight. And all hers!
He returned quickly, carrying a tray with a yellow rose on it. " Looks like Marcus and Oliver made the front page," he said, almost in relief.
Ginny looked at the front pager. Oliver twirled and dipped Marcus, and they both turned to wink at Ginny, before the photo started all over again.
Harry buttered some toast and handed it to her. He did the same for himself and settled back in bed. He fed her bacon and she poured him a cup of tea. Satiated by food, Harry banished the tray and they cuddled in their bed. Ginny sniffing the rose.
" Why roses, Harry?" she asked.
" Well, my Mum was Lily and my aunt was Petunia. My aunt had several bushes andI had to trim them all the time when I lived at Privet Drive. I remember Aunt Petunia going on and one about the different colours and their meanings. When you and I got together after Gryffindor won the house cup, well..."
Ginny rested her chin on his chest, looking up at him. " What?"
He stroked her hair. " I didn't know how to tell you how I felt. I've never been good at expressing my feelings. One night I was up late in the common room, and Neville was there too. He was working on an essay for Professor Sprout, for extra credit. He'd been trying to grow a blue rose, and he had to document his work. We got to talking, and well, he was happy to help me out," he said.
" In exchange for what?" asked Ginny, curiously.
"Extra help in defence lessons. He really liked what I taught him in the DA, and he wanted me to teach him other things. He never did get the hang of a Patronus," sighed Harry, kissing her forehead.
Ginny lay her head back on Harry's chest, drawing circles on it. She felt...perfectly happy. " Love you," she said, kissing his chest.
" I love you too," he replied, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
They heard a sudden noise from somewhere else in the house. They both jumped out of bed, grabbing their wands. Harry shrugged his pants on. Stay here," he said, leaving the bedroom.
" Like hell," said Ginny, Accio-ing his shirt from the night before. She buttoned it in the middle and went after Harry.
She found him in the lounge with Amra, the Harpy's elf. " Oh Mister Harry, Miss Ginny, my deepest aplogies." She seemed to be struggling with something in a bag.
" It's fine, Amra. What's in the bag, is it an animal or something?" asked Ginny, curiously.
Amra shook her head, still struggling. " Amra knew Miss Ginny was at an important Quidditch function. Amra tried to stop them, but they are getting stronger and stronger." Her face reflected her struggle.
" What is it, Amra?" asked Ginny, looking in confusion at Harry.
" It's Howlers, Miss Ginny. From your family," gasped Amra, struggling to hold the bag together.
"Oh, for heaven's sake," sighed Ginny, shaking her head at her family. " It's okay, Amra, you can let them out."
Poor Amra only had to open the bag an inch and the Howlers, sensing freedom, fought their way out, knocking over Amra as they poured from the bag.
" Ginny Weasley, Hermione said you knew Marcus was gay. What is wrong with you? What would Harry think?"
Harry and Ginny just shook their head at Ron's message.
" Ginny, this is Rolf. Rolf Scamander. Please don't give Luna any more of those damn olives, ever! Erm, bye."
Ginny explained the effects the olives had on Luna, making Harry chuckle.
" Ginny Weasley, Fleur said Harry's been visiting you ever since we put the new wards up, and that you told her Harry said my Apparition wards are shite. You can tell him..."
Amra gasped as Ginny used her wand before Bill's profanity got too far. " Incendio," she called, burning it to a crisp.
The last one flew around, biding it's time. Harry and Ginny tensed, for this was the one they had been expecting.
" Ginny Weasley, I've heard Harry is home and has been visiting you regularly. I'm very disappointed in both of you, not coming to the Burrow to visit. Your father expects you both home Sunday to explain, isn't that right, Arthur?"
"Erm, well," mumbled Arthur, before Molly's voice sounded again.
" Sunday, lunch time. You'll stay to eat, of course," she said. The Howler fizzled out.
" Of course," mocked Ginny, kicking the remnants of the Howler. She looked at Harry. " I'm sorry. They stick their noses in where it doesn't concern them," she said.
Harry shrugged. "They're just worried about you. I guess I did worry Ron, breaking the glass they way I did." He turned to look at Ginny to explain, but she had moved to the back window.
" Oh Harry, look at that view," she gasped.
Harry came up behind her, his arms around her waist. The sun was rising over the back yard, making the trees look golden and lush.
"There's lots of room out there. I was thinking a vegetable garden, maybe a flower garden for colour," he said, nuzzling her neck.
" We could get a dog, and maybe even a cat," said Ginny, excitedly. " There's plenty of room to fly."
" Our home," sighed Harry.
Ginny turned and hugged him, burying her face against his bare chest. " Wherever you are is my home," she said.
Harry palmed her face, tilting her head up so he could kiss her.
" Ahem, Amra must be getting back to Holyhead, Miss Ginny," she announced.
Harry and Ginny didn't appear to hear her. The little elf shrugged and disappeared.
" You know, we don't have to be at the Burrow till lunch time. That's like, three hours away. Any ideas what we could do for three hours, Harry?" she asked.
Harry picked her up, his hands behind her knees. She wrapped them around his waist as he carried her back to the bedroom.
" We haven't done the crossword in the paper yet," he said, grinning.
" Do you think we're ready for that step in our relationship. It's such a couple-y thing to do," said Ginny, smirking back at him.
" You're right. It's too soon. Guess we'll have to find something else to do," he said, unbuttoning his shirt she wore and tossing it aside. His mouth found her nipples and she gasped under his touch.
" Much better than the crossword," she sighed, fumbling to undo his pants.
They still ended up being late to the Burrow.