Chapter 28

Music floated like perfume in the air. Fairy lights flickered like wisps of tissue papers in the surrounding trees. The wedding party stood illuminated in the night, the glow of the party lighting up the darkness like the sun. People merrily danced and chatted wrapped up in the excitement of the occasion, of the moment, and in the presence in their minds of true love. As Harry and I leisurely walked hand in hand towards the party I could barely comprehend what was going on around me. It seemed surreal to me that the people in front of us had no idea what had just transpired between Harry and I. They had no idea the momentous change that had shifted inside of me. No one seemed phased as we broke the edge of the darkness and weaved are way through the crowds of people. Smiling faces danced before my eyes, but for the life of me I could not tell you who I had seen as we went. I felt like a light had been lit inside of me, how could these people not see it? How could you they not see that for the first time since I could even remember that I was glowing. Truly, incredibly, incandescently happy.

My future once again had promise. I felt hope.

With everything that we knew, with everything that had happened between us there was one thing I knew for certain now. If we could endure the last four years of our lives, the separation, the hurt, the anxiety, the anger, the tears, and in my case the downward spirals. Then going forward, together, we could endure anything. He would never give up on me, and I would never doubt him again. No matter how crazy I became, or how ridiculously tormented he was, the two of us would have each other. And that was enough. With that knowledge alone, even without Harry in my life I think I could have survived the rest of my days happy.

Harry led us onto the dance floor, gently turning around to draw me into his arms. His touch was light, gentle, electric. I sighed as we slowly began to sway. The words drifted around us and consumed me. As if that song was written specifically for us, for this moment, for our love. The man's velvet voice drifted amongst the crowd.

The other's faded away as I let myself steep in the moment. Harry's hand felt heavy on the small of my back, pushing me gently closer as we continued to sway to the melody. His hand looked too large clasped in my own, the feeling of the stubble of his chin rasping against my temple lulled me into the perfection of this daydream.

"…stars shining bright above you…"

Nothing mattered. Nothing mattered except for this moment. This moment for this man. I had waited my entire life for him. To be in his arms with our future in front of us. From the moment we dropped off my brother at Platform 9 ¾ so long ago I had known that I loved him. That I would always love him, and a part of me would never be truly complete without him.

"…night breezes seem to whisper I love you…"

I once again wondered why I had fought this so long. Weasley's were notorious for their pigheaded pride, Ron was the poster child for never admitting that he was wrong, even my mother would draw out a fight with my father when she felt particularly pious. But despite what I had felt, what I had thought was, since Harry's return there was a part of me that had yearned for him. Yearned for his touch, his company, the feeling of his hand sliding across mine. I had wanted him. Hadn't that been obvious? Hadn't the kisses, and the fighting, and the hell I put myself through enough to knock some sense into me?

"…birds singing in the sycamore trees…"

I needed Harry more than I could possibly even imagine. He had been there to tell me the truth, to try and open my eyes to what I had refused to see. Maybe I needed Harry just like Ron needed Hermione to complete him. Maybe this was a destiny of its own. More concrete than any prophecy claiming the man in front of me would save our world.

He pulled away slightly, his emerald eyes dancing fire in the low hanging lights. I lost myself in his gaze, in how open he left himself be. I could read every emotion in those eyes, the contentment, the wonder, the love. I don't know when we had stopped dancing, but I was faintly aware of the fact that our feet and bodies were no longer moving. It was as if he was drawing out my soul, touching the deepest parts of me that only he knew. I knew without a doubt that I never wanted to look into anyone else's eyes but his. I never wanted to drown in anyone else's embrace but his. I never wanted to kiss anyone else's lips but his. His fingers lightly skimmed the contour of my cheek and my nerve endings exploded with sensation.

"…dream a little dream of me…"

His lips slowly descended towards mine. My eyes fluttered shut as I waited the eternity it took for his lips to touch mine. We had always had passion, spark, heat, fire. Even when we were at odds it was undeniable that we were attracted to each other. But this kiss, this kiss was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Stars exploded behind my eyelids, the world tilted on its access as his lips slowly moved against mine. Searing. Slow. Unforgettable. As if it was our first time.

Merlin, in a lot of ways, this was our first time.

I lost myself in the feeling of his mouth against mine, annihilating me. My hands skated up his chest to wind themselves around his neck, I clutched him closer and he slowly, achingly slowly deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping liquid fire against mine. I whimpered. It was too much. Too much pleasure. Too much sensation. Too much happiness. Too much of everything, but still not enough. His arms tightened around my waist bringing our bodies if possible even closer together. If there was ever a possibility, a hinkling, a prayer that I could have walked away from Harry that was over now. The moment his lips touched mine fused us together deeper than any unbreakable vow ever could.

We could have been kissing for only a matter of minutes or it could have been hours. Time seemed to have no more meaning for me. When I finally broke away from him, my lungs heaved from lack of oxygen. Our eyes melded again, speaking volumes more than words ever heard. I wasn't alone in this, the wonder alone etched on his face verified that I wasn't in this alone.

I trailed my hand around to his cheek. I opened my mouth to tell him once again that I loved him, but his eyes flicked away from mine. Like that, he cleared his throat while taking a step away from me. Confusion raced through me as and I searched his face for answers. I finally let my gaze follow his turning to see what could have broken us from the spell that seemed to have entrapped us.

The music had stopped.

No one was dancing anymore.

And all eyes were set directly on us.

My cheeks immediately burned with humiliation. I could barely meet my parents shocked gazes let alone my brothers who alternated between disgusted, proud, and amazed. Hermione's mouth was hanging open and she was repeatedly slapping Ron on the shoulder.

They were shamelessly watching the two of us.

I envied how composed Harry looked as he faced down the entirety of my extended family.

It was as if they were waiting for an explanation. I opened my mouth to try and explain, but words seemed to escape me. Instead I let my cheeks, that probably looked like they could thoroughly cook breakfast on them, speak for me.

With a nonchalant shrug that could make Malfoy jealous Harry's voice broke the stagnant silence. "What? Can't a guy kiss his girl?" And just like that he swept me back in his arms and continued to sway to the music that was no longer playing.

I blinked, letting his statement sink in. Within moments it seemed like everyone took Harry's lead and the music once again resumed and the din of wedding guests tittered around us. Apparently, in the midst of the night, Harry's explanation was deemed perfectly adequate. I could only imagine the inquest that I was going to be getting tomorrow. I cringed at the thought; my Mum was never going to let me live this down. My brothers were going to tease me relentlessly until I can no longer walk and I have to start charming the grey out of my hair. We danced. We danced for hours and minutes. My face took a decade to no longer resemble a tomato, and when I felt like I could finally properly control myself I pulled back a little.

"Your girl huh?" I murmured, my voice husky and low. An impish smirk tugged at my lips as I looked at him.

A wickedly, beautiful grin broke across his face as he spun me a quarter turn around. With more conviction than I have ever heard he answered. "Always."

The night air nipped at my skin and the moon shown especially bright against the hazy purple sky as we sauntered towards my flat. We spoke of trivial things, about what he had seen on his travels, on what I had done while playing Quidditch, and the places he thought that I would love the best. Places he promised that he would take me one day, I had no doubt that he was telling the truth, and the prospect of traveling the world and letting Harry show me thrilled me. Not because of how strange, exotic and wonderful they sounded but because while Harry was gone he had thought about me enough to want to take me there. Walking down the grimy streets of London, his hand laced with mine. I felt like I was in a fairytale.

What in the world did I do to get this lucky?

The fear was always going to be there. The fear that he would leave me, the insecurity that I wasn't enough for him, that I wasn't enough for anyone. But over time, with him by my side, I knew that I could overcome it.

My heart skipped as we neared my building and a small feeling of dread welled inside of me at the prospect of us parting ways. His jacket rested across my shoulders, he had wrapped it around me the moment we had left my parents' house, it smelled of him. Of ink, and grass, and … Harry. We reached the outer door to my building and I turned to face him.

The cold didn't seem to bother him. In fact he looked positively delicious with his bow tie undone and his sleeves rolled up around his forearms. His hands were pushed boyishly into his slacks as if he was a nervous Hogwarts student on his first date. I grinned. It seemed like all I had done tonight was smile. I smiled so much that my face ached, but I didn't care. I let the silence hang between us for a moment, my hands fiddling with my keys. I motioned towards the door.

"Do you…" Nerves raced through me. Why was I so nervous? "…do you want to come inside?" The words hung between us for a moment until I quickly added. He didn't answer and I immediately felt panic rise up inside of me. "You know for a cup of tea?"

He smiled, that smile that never failed to send my heart racing and my knees to wobble. He reached out and tugged the edges of his jacket tighter around me, playing for a moment with the collar before looking directly into my eyes. "No." He paused as his eyes caressed the contours of my face. " I can't imagine tonight being anymore perfect than it already is."

A genuine smile spread across my face as he leaned in and gave me a sweet, unmistakable kiss. We broke apart and he leaned his forehead against mine for a moment basking in the afterglow of the moment. "Goodnight Ginny." He whispered as he released the lapels of his jacket and took a few steps backward, watching me before turning once again stuffing his hands into his pants and heading into the darkness.

"What about your coat?" I called after him.

He turned, a knowing twitch to his lips as he spoke. "I'll just have to come get it tomorrow."

I watched him go, my eyes following his progress until it dissolved out of sight. I let my legs carry me up the stairs, my feet resounding with the clack of my heels against the worn wood. Once I closed my door behind me, I let my weight fall against it. Looking up to the ceiling a laugh escaped me as a tear trickled down my cheek.

After all this time.

Finally.

After all this time.

I woke up with Rose colored glasses.

The world had a different hue to it.

I felt like I could face the world.

I could hunt down 100 horcruxes.

Merlin I could jinx McGonagall and live to tell the tale.

Ginny.

It was like the very air whispered her name.

Ginny.

My Ginny.

I sprung from my bed with a purpose. Unfortunately my plans for the day came nowhere near fruition. The moment I had woken up I had every intention of going directly to Ginny's flat to spend every moment I could with her, we had so much time to make up, so much left to say to each other. I didn't want to waste another moment. But life, and our responsibilities to our family intervened. An owl arrived shortly after I got out of bed from Mrs. Weasley asking for help with the cleanup.

I had agreed to it weeks ago. I hadn't even given it a thought until I got the owl.

Bloody Hell.

I grudgingly apparated to outside the Burrow. Trudging through the corn, the only thought on my mind was Ginny and how breathtakingly beautiful she looked when I had left her last night. Her small frame nestled inside my jacket, her beautiful auburn locks tumbling down from its pin, the flush on her cheeks from my kisses. Mine. Today had better fly by faster than playing a game of Quidditch against the Cannons. The others were there; excluding Ron of course he and Hermione had left for their honeymoon last night. The remaining Weasley's were all grumbling over their heaping plates of food about their hangovers and what they did and didn't do the night before. No one mentioned what had happened with Ginny on the dance floor, but I knew by the suspicious looks shot in my direction that they were all wondering. When breakfast was over everyone shuffled lifelessly towards where the wedding had been held, I smiled I heaved a stack of chairs onto a pallet. I had no intention of telling any of them a sodding thing.

I made my way towards the mountains of boxes stuffed with decorations and grabbed a few to bring them back around to the garage. One trip turned into to two, which turned into fourteen. Fourteen boxes jam packed full of nothing but books. Books that were blasted heavy as piss.

Books that all belonged to Hermione Formerly Granger Now Weasley.

Hermione was mental. Absolutely bleeding bonkers.

As I deposited my fifteenth box into the garage and headed back outside I caught sight of the only thing that occupied my mind. The day became brighter, almost sunny as her brilliant smile lit and beamed at me. She walked toward me and I could only imagine the soppy grin that was plastered on my face as she inched closer. She was wearing those jeans again, the ones that set my mind working into all manners of dark and devious places, and a shirt that looked entirely too large to be hers.

I itched to take it off of her.

"Hey you." She said as she moved the last couple feet towards me.

I couldn't stop myself from moving forward and setting my lips to hers.

I could feel her answering smile against my mouth. I pulled away, my stomach fluttering at the sight of her flushed face and happy expression.

"Good morning to you too. I thought you might be here."

"I got drafted before I even woke up. I'm sorry I was planning on bringing you breakfast this morning…" She silenced me with a finger to lips.

"Enhance your calm. It's fine Harry really. I got the same owl. I'm not even sure Mum slept last night."

"You know when we were younger I was always kind of sure that she never slept. I was convinced that she would just lay down and somehow became part of the house so that she knew exactly what each one of us was doing."

A delicious flush blossomed across her chest.

"Merlin I hope not."

Memories washed over me. Inconvenient memories considering her family was surrounding me. I shook the thought of her naked beneath me out of my thoughts. Being able to kiss her anytime I pleased was doing dastardly things to my thought process. Clearing my throat I figured now would be as good a time as any to ask her out of a date. Our second first date.

That was a novel thought.

A voice echoed from behind me. "Harry."

If I hadn't recognized it, the look on Ginny's face would have told me exactly who it was. Dread washed over her face and my hackles immediately rose. I let my body rise to my full height, my chin tilting up as my jaw locked. Even at my full height, I would never come close to being as tall as Charlie. He had a solid four inches on me, but I had a rage that could probably rival a werewolves.

I spun around, placing one arm and Ginny firmly behind me. There was no need, not that Ginny was every in any danger from her brother. It was habit more than anything else.

My eyes met Charlie's and an understanding of dislike and hostility crackled between us. "Charlie." I barely recognized my own voice, it sounded like I had been chewing on gravel for the past week.

If that mere exchange was going to set the tone of this discussion I could forsee that it wasn't going to go well.

Divination classes be damned.

"I understand that I owe you an apology."

"Picked up on that did you?" Charlie's eyebrows rose in surprise at my words. I refused to say anymore, waiting for him to say what he needed to say before I figured out what in Godric's name I was going to do about it.

Silence stretched on as we surveyed each other. Finally, he grappled for his apology. He cleared his throat several times, searching for the words to begin. "I ah… shouldn't have done what I did. Fred was dead and…. I blamed myself. But blaming myself… it was…. Too much, so I… I…"

"Blamed me." Fury thrummed through my veins. All I wanted was to hit him as hard as I could. To inflict on him the pain I had felt over the past four years without the woman behind me that was my everything. To inflict the pain that I knew that Ginny had endured in my absence. Charlie in no way tried to deny it.

"It's my job. You know? As the older brother. I'm supposed to fix everything. Everyone was broken, I didn't know what I was supposed to do or what I was supposed to say. You had left and it was…" He looked like the words were painful for him to say, they were equally painful to here. "…easier. It was easier to blame you then to accept that I hadn't been there to save Fred. I'm sorry."

I understood. It didn't make me any less angry or any less hard to accept but I understood what he was trying to tell me. I lived with that guilt every day, the guilt of living.

"Look, there is nothing I can do about what happened. I can only apologize and tell you it was me not you, if you want to hit me, if you want to curse me, if you want to scream at me go ahead and do it. Merlin knows I deserve it. But I want to get passed this, and…" his eyes moved from me to Ginny. "…and I want my family back."

His words swirled in my mind. I glanced back at Ginny's face, the face of the woman I loved and intended to spend the rest of my life with. She looked solemn, pensive as if she too was analyzing what Charlie had just said. My mind whirled at what I wanted and what I should and shouldn't do. There was one thing that he had gotten completely right. What had happened was in the past, and in my past was nothing but hurt, and pain, and death, and everything that I wanted to leave behind. But what lay before me, what lay before Ginny and I, that was my future. That is what mattered now. That is what mattered to me more than anything.

I kept my gaze on Ginny letting my decision fall into place.

"Listen up." I said swinging back to Charlie, taking a menacing step forward. "I want you to set the rest of the family straight on what happened. Tell them what you did. Then we're square."

He looked resigned, almost as if he wanted to refuse. But finally he nodded in acceptance. "Okay."

I answered his admission with an inclination of my head.

Ginny piped up from behind us. "You handled that better than I did, I hit him without him even saying I could."

Surprise laced through me. Surprise and pride.

That's my girl.

"Wait, you hit him?"

"Broke my nose." Charlie confirmed. I stared for a moment at Ginny, watching as the wind teased her hair away from the ivory of her face. The dark fringe of her lashes around her brown eyes. My future my home. My warrior. My woman.

It took me a moment to decide.

"Fuck that."

And with one move my fist hit Charlie's jaw and he fell unconscious to the ground.

A/N: Holy fucking hell did that take a long time for me to update. I am not even mad that you are mad. I sincerely apologize for this. But I will have you know that the first epilogue, is almost finished and ready for update. I intend to have it up later today.

I know... I know I don't deserve it, but review?