It had only been two days since she'd returned home from Hogwarts, but already Hedwig had flown countless times between Potter Manor and Devon. She'd written him about the welcome home dinner party that had ended in Bill announcing he and Fleur Delacour were engaged, and her mum's funny reaction.
She mentioned going to Diagon Alley the next day to shop for something to wear to Caleb's party, and could he perhaps meet her and Luna for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron? But he hadn't been able to get away for lunch, too busy running files and making coffee for everyone else in the department.
Harry had hoped to ask her to join his family for dinner, but as it was Caleb's actual birthday that day, Lily had deemed it just for the family. She told Harry he would see Ginny tomorrow and that would be enough. Harry knew it was nothing personal, for his whole family had grown to love the wonderful Weasley family, and knew his mum was fond of Ginny.
Caleb had read out messages sent to him by his many friends, and seemed to take perverse pleasure in reading out Ginny's message, emphasising the 'love from Ginny' at the end.
"So, Ginger's back from Hogwarts?" asked Sirius, who, in his capacity as both the boy's godfathers and honourary Potter, was acknowleged as part of the family and always included at the family only gatherings.
"One day she'll hear you calling her that and she'll hex you," warned Harry, grinning.
"Nah, she loves me," teased Sirius. "Remember when she and Harry used to follow me around, begging me to transform to Padfoot."
Caleb snorted. "Trust me, Uncle Sirius, Ginny's grown up a lot since then. In all the right places" He winked at Sirius.
James looked surprised, glancing between his sons. Caleb was smirking but Harry looked uncomfortable. "Well, it will be great to see the little firecracker again." He was as fond of Ginny as his wife was.
"Did she mention her interview?" asked Lily, passing a basket of bread rolls.
Harry took one and passed the basket to his brother. "Yes, she has it next week. She asked us to thank you for the recommendation. Between yours and Macgonagall's, she should be a shoo in," he said proudly.
"It will be great to have her working at the Ministry. We'll be able to meet for lunch, show her the ropes," said Caleb, passing the basket on to Sirius.
Now it was Lily who looked between Caleb and Harry, confused. "We?" Growing up, Caleb, Fred and George barely tolerated their younger siblings, unless they were pranking them. Caleb had never shown any special fondness for Ron or Ginny, besides being his friends younger siblings, and had treated Ginny as a little sister when she was at their place to visit Harry.
Caleb laughed. "Well, that's if I'm not out on any sort of assignments. Can't exactly make too many plans when you're out saving the world, right Dad?"
"Right, son, a fact your mum knows only too well. I don't know how many missed lunches we've had, right love?" asked James.
Lily nodded. "She certainly is a talented witch. As long as the interview goes well, she's pretty much got the job. Not that you should tell her that, Harry," she warned.
Harry shook his head. "We've got so much catching up to do, I doubt we'll get to that."
"Yeah, well, don't monopolise her, and don't be going off somewhere, the two of you, like you usually do. She promised me a dance or two," said Caleb.
"Are you bringing a guest, Caleb?" asked Lily. "A special girl, perhaps?"
Caleb shrugged. "Most of my friends are coming, but there's not one special girl...although that may change after tomorrow night," he hinted. "I was just talking about my future with Harry the other day. Career, marriage, a child." Harry scowled.
"Blimey, I'm not ready to be a grandpa, not yet," laughed James.
Lily looked surprised and pleased. "Caleb, darling, I'm pleased to hear you're thinking of your future." Out of her two sons, and despite being the eldest, Caleb was the party boy and seemed in no hurry to settle down.
"Yeah, well, there comes a time, Mum, when you start to think about things like that. Especially when you see a pretty girl," teased Caleb.
"So there is someone special?" prodded James. Caleb merely winked at his dad and mum.
"What about you, Harry? Any potential future Mrs Potters?" asked Sirius, aware of undercurrents between Harry and Caleb but not knowing why.
"I'm only eighteen, nearly nineteen," protested Harry. "Plenty of time for all that."
"Your parents were married with Caleb by the time they were nineteen," reminded Sirius.
"Oh, it's a completely different time, Sirius. You're absolutely right, Harry. There's plenty of time for you to meet the right woman for you, both of you," said Lily, looking at her sons.
"Or the right woman may have been under our noses all this time," said Caleb, cheekily. He toasted his brother and sipped his drink.
"May I be excused? I don't feel like dessert," said Harry, looking to his parents.
"No treacle tart?" asked Lily in surprise.
"More for me then," smirked Caleb.
Harry shook his head. "No thanks, Mum. Think I'll go write to Ginny."
"Tell her I said hi," called Caleb, as Harry left the room, "and I can't wait for our dance."
James, Lily and Sirius exchanged worried looks. "Is everything all right between you and your brother, Caleb?" asked Lily.
"Of course, Mum," assured Caleb. "Nothing to worry about."
/*/*/*/*
She was the belle of the party.
The party was rocking and everyone was having a good time. Ginny had arrived with her brothers Ron, George and Fred. The twins had gone to find the birthday boy and to set up the fireworks for later. Ron and Ginny had gone to say hello to the Mr and Mrs Potter, assuring them that their parents were coming along soon. Ron then headed to the food table and Ginny went to see Harry, who was with Sirius, Remus and little Teddy who was now two.
Ginny had hugged Sirius, kissed Remus' cheek and begged to hold Teddy. Remus handed him over and proudly watched as Ginny cooed over the cute boy. When he saw Harry, he changed his hair colour to black, to Ginny's delight. She told Harry it meant the toddler knew him and loved him.
Lee Jordan then came and dragged her away for a dance, and after handing Teddy to his godfather and leaving with Lee, she barely left the dance floor after that. Of course she danced with her brothers, and Caleb seemed to snag a dance every other song. She even danced with Sirius and his own dad.
Harry stood in the shadows, watching her. He'd already done his duty by dancing with his mum, Tonks and Mrs Weasley, and selected female guests. In a hope to get near Ginny, he'd danced with Angelina Johnson, but Caleb had stepped in as the song changed, and Harry had led Angelina back to Oliver and Katie, and gone to get a drink.
He couldn't take his eyes off her. Her hair was up, with tendrils around her ears. The gold dress shone under the party lights and the joy on her face was contagious. She was beautiful and wonderful and she was his best friend...and he realised it wasn't enough any more.
Harry left the party, heading out to the gazebo on the grounds of the manor. He needed to think about this new discovery, to decide what he was going to do. The sounds of the party were faint, as was the music, the laughter. Harry loved nothing more than having family and friends around, but now, he needed to gather his thoughts.
He loved her, deep down he'd known it for a long time. Their school days were done and they were ready to really begin their lives. Harry wanted nothing more than to start this new part of his life with Ginny by his side, not just as his best friend, but as his girlfriend, his partner - and he realised he wanted everyone to know it too.
/*/*/*/*
" Hey, son, we're just about ready to start the fireworks. Fred and George are just waiting for the signal to start. Are you ready?" James asked Caleb.
Caleb looked around. " Have you see Harry and Ginny? They should be here," he said anxiously.
James grinned. " They're probably off at the gazebo, or one of their special places. You know what those two are like."
" I'll go find them for you, Caleb," offered Sirius, and he left.
Caleb looked around. " What is it, son?" asked James, worriedly.
Caleb looked at his father. " Dad, I-well, I think Ginny's the one."
James' eyebrows shot up to his hairline. " Like, The One," he emphasised.
Caleb nodded. " As soon as she stepped off the train, I don't know, something inside me just clicked, you know?" he asked.
James nodded. " That's brilliant, son. You know your mother and I adore Gin, she's already part of the family. Hmm, Ginny Potter. Sounds good, doesn't it?" he teased.
Caleb sighed in relief and nodded back at his father. Now, if only Ginny and Harry would get there, his birthday would be perfect.
" Son, you might want to talk to your brother about this latest development, though. Harry and Ginny are as thick as thieves, best friends. This will certainly change things," warned James.
" I will, Dad. I'm sure Harry will be over the moon for us," said Caleb confidently.
/*/*/*/*
Harry sighed, looking up at the quarter moon. It was cool in the gazebo and he rested his head against the metal frame. How could he tell Ginny how he felt – how, how, how? He thinks hard, banging his forehead lightly.
"Hey, here you are," said Ginny, appearing suddenly in the dark. "Everything okay?"
Harry spun round, both relaxing yet tensing to see her here. He was unprepared to face her, yet pleased she had come to find him. "Yeah, just needed a breather."
A burst of laughter had them both looking back to the party, then the music started up again. "I came to look for you. I haven't danced with you yet," she said.
"Ginny, you know I can't dance like you," he half laughed. He could do the requisite shuffle and that was that.
"I don't care, I want to dance with you," she protested stubbornly. She held out her hand and without even thinking about it, he took it.
Her eyes lit up at his easy capitulation and he realised he'd do anything to make her look at him like that for the rest of his life. She drew him to the centre of the gazebo, with only the moonlight to guide them.
With ease, he drew her into his arms, one hand on her waist, one hand gripping her hand. She stepped closer, bringing their bodies in close proximity. "Relax," she whispered in his ear. It unfortunately had the opposite effect, making him tense and stiff.
He took a step away, making her look up at him in alarm, and with hurt on her face. He quickly grabbed both her hands in his and began doing exaggerated dance moves, twirling her, dipping her, anything to make her smile and laugh. Finally, as the song wound down, she laughingly protested and stepped forward, resting her head on his shoulder as they continued to sway together. He put his hands on both her hips as they swayed.
The mood changed, as they seemed to both suddenly become aware of the other at the same time. Harry's grip got a bit tighter, and Ginny seemed to rest her lips just a bit closer to his neck, so close he could feel every hot breath – Merlin! – on his neck.
They soon became aware the music had stopped. Slowly they pulled apart, sensing the shift in their relationship. Harry looked at her carefully, almost desperate to see the same sort of longing for him that he was sure was in his eyes for her.
But her eyes were closed and her head was down. Tentatively, he used his forefinger to lift her chin. Her eyes flew open at his touch, and how close he was. She flushed at the intense look in his eyes. Gulping, she whispered his name. "Harry."
He leaned in closer, wondering if she would stop him, smack him as he had seen her do to Seamus Finnegan one time after a drunken Quidditch victory celebration in the common rooms.
She leaned in closer, wondering if Harry, or she, might have drunk too much mead. That was the only possible explanation for this craziness, right?
He took in her face, his eyes drawn to the cluster of freckles he loved. Just on her cheek, the only ones that hadn't faded over time. He'd spent the last year at school, and their year apart, thinking about that cluster. Wondering if he'd ever get the chance to press his lips against them.
She couldn't look away from his eyes, as they came closer to her. His beautiful green eyes that lit up when he was mischievous and happy. Rarely had she seen him melancholy and closed off, not with her. Merlin, she loved his eyes, could drown in those eyes, especially when he looked at her like he was doing now.
They were only centimetres apart, could feel the other's breath on their own face. Harry tilted his face and Ginny's eyes fluttered shut. Then –
"Oy, here you are. Come on, the fireworks are starting," called Sirius, gesturing for them to follow him.
Harry jerked, looking over his shoulder at Sirius. Ginny's eyes snapped open and she stepped away. "Be right there," she called breathlessly to Sirius, who annoyingly, did not leave, but waited for them.
They stared stupidly at each other, each willing the other to say something. "Come on," sighed Ginny, taking his hand.
They stepped in stride with Sirius and just made it back to the terrace when the first firework shot up into the night sky. Everyone's gaze was up as they all surged forward, to make room for everyone to get a good view.
Harry ended up behind Ginny, and when someone behind him stumbled drunkenly, he was pressed against Ginny's back. His hand found her hip and he left it there.
When a magnificent burst of light exploded in the sky, Ginny turned around to smile brilliantly at him. He smiled and she turned back to watch the lights, unwittingly exposing her neck. Harry found a similar cluster of freckles on her skin where her shoulder met her neck, and he so wanted to press his lips to that group as well.
His free hand came up as if on it's own accord and gently brushed her hair aside, wondering if he'd imagined her hitching her breath. His fingers softly brushed her skin and he wanted nothing more than to study that cluster for the rest of the night.
Somebody jostled him, breaking the momentum. "Harry, Ginny, come up front, the view's better there. Come on, Ginny," urged Caleb, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from him.
Ginny had no choice but to go along with Caleb, but she reached back to grab Harry's hand as they meandered through the party guests.
"Here they are," announced Caleb to his parents, just as a whoosh went past and huge 'C' lit up the sky, followed by a birthday cake with sparkling candles.
"Where's Teddy?" asked Harry, looking around.
"He was getting sleepy, so Tonks and Remus took him home, they said to say goodbye. We tried to find you, where were you?" asked Lily.
Harry's eyes darted to Ginny, who was still looking up to the sky. Lily's eyes followed Harry's, then returned to both Harry's, then Caleb's, who were both looking at the girl with starry eyes. They watched her watching the last of the fireworks.
"Well mate, what did you think?" asked Fred, as he and George joined the Potter family.
"They were amazing, thanks fellas," said Caleb to his two good friends.
"They're going to be a side project at the store," said George, excitedly. Angelina came up and dragged him off to dance. Fred laughed and watched his twin dance crazily with his girlfriend.
Caleb grabbed Ginny's hand and they joined George and Angelina; Ginny looking back helplessly at Harry. The party went on, and Harry knew he had lost his chance to tell Ginny tonight.
"Harry mate, over here," gestured Ron, discreetly waving a bottle of Firewhiskey; Seamus and Dean at his side.
Harry nodded, heading for them. Right now, he needed to get as far away from the party and his brother as he could.
He missed Ginny looking desperately for him after she left Caleb on the dance floor. With the party winding down, she gathered her cloak and thanked Mr and Mrs Potter for a wonderful evening. She kissed Caleb on the cheek, then did the same to Sirius. Then, after a quick look around for Harry, she Flooed home, wondering if she had imagined that Harry had been about to kiss her in the gazebo.
A kiss she had waited for, for a very long time.