Both horses ran down the lane in the woods behind the castle while they sat against a tree. Ginny cheered as Red finally managed to take over Lightning.

"She cheated," Harry said. "She distracted him."

Ginny looked at him. "Well, all is fair in love and war."

"I guess Lightning should know better than get distracted by pretty horses," Harry responded.

"Yeah, I think so," she agreed. She looked at the two horses as they circled each other. "They are cute, aren't they?"

Harry chuckled. "I knew you were going to warm up to them being together."

"It's just that... I have never stayed at my assignments long, so much can happen. I wouldn't want her to get her heart broken because I have to go."

He looked a little sad at her reply. "You care about her a lot, I get it. My job security is pretty good, I don't have to worry about it all that much."

She smiled. "She is the only one who has been with me on my assignments. First animal I got to keep... And she keeps my secrets well."

"I think I keep your secrets pretty well," Harry responded.

"True, but she obeys orders better," Ginny said. She clapped her hands.

"I think that has more to do with the fact that you work for me, rather than my unwillingness to do so," he replied.

The horses came up to them.

"How is my thunder boy?" she cooed at Lightning.

Harry snorted at the nickname. He stood up and petted Red. "They are being dumb again, us two we are the serious ones. Are we not, Red?"

Ginny stood up too. "Come on," she called Red.

Red pushed against Harry instead.

"Aw, Red! I knew you secretly liked me."

Ginny walked to Lightning. "Fine, I guess I'll ride Lightning home, then."

Red perked up and abandoned Harry within seconds. He had been leaning against her and almost lost his balance. Her horse ran between her and Lightning.

"Good girl," she said.

"I'll put them away, otherwise you'll be late for council," Ginny told him.

"Isn't it nice we get to chaperone their dates?" Harry asked as he handed Lightning's reins to her.

"There are worse ways to pass time for sure," she said with a smile.

He smiled at her before making his way inside.

She led both horses into the stables. "Lightning, get into your stall."

Lightning did not move.

"Say goodbye to your girlfriend and go in," she told him. "You can still see her!"

Still he did not move.

"Alright, Red. Show him how to be a good horse. Go on, go in."

Red obliged, albeit reluctantly. She then led Lightning into his stall.

"Hi, Gwyn."

Ginny turned around and smiled. "Hi, Hagrid."

"I'll take their saddles off, it's a slow day," he said.

"Oh, thanks. I do need to head inside soon," she told him. She got out of Lightning's stall.

Hagrid seemed to hesitate to say something. Ginny looked at him curiously.

"So, huh, Lady Luna," he started, and Ginny froze. "That wouldn't happen to be you, right?"

"No, I wasn't at the ball, Hagrid," she told him, feeling bad she had to lie.

He looked a little disappointed. "Right. I just figured— with the red hair and all."

"No, wasn't me," she said. "Sorry, I have to run. I am already late."

"Bye, Gwyn!"

"Marry me," Harry said formally the first time.

Ginny paused in the doorway of his office. She closed the door and took her helmet off.

"Formal proposal," he clarified.

She nodded and walked towards his desk. Now he had asked again, she had to seriously consider.

"I am a King, you can't really do better than that. Highest bidder," he told her.

She looked at him in silence. "Do you think I care about that?"

He shook his head lightly. "No, but you'd do well as a Queen."

"Of course I would," she replied with a smile.

"Are you saying no?"

She glanced down at her hands. "Don't marry me just because I'm a Princess that happened to show up in your life. It doesn't mean we have to go for it just because we're two royals. Neither of our parents are alive, no one dictates our best match." She looked back up at him.

"That's true... Let me know if you change your mind," he told her, his eyes focused softly on her.

She forced a smile and shrugged. "You can always try again on Thursday."

It was a joke to her, but to Harry it was a promise to ask her again.

She couldn't say yes, she couldn't say no, it was an impossible decision.

"Marry me," he said on Thursday but this time she could tell he wasn't really expecting her to say yes.

"This isn't a game of chess, Harry. You can't strategize it."

He stood a little closer to her. "Well, we all know who wins a game of chess."

She looked up at him, her brows pulling together. "Do we?"

"The Queen. Which you can be if you say yes."

She turned towards him with a smile. "Stop dangling the position of Queen in front of me. Appealing but… won't work."

"What do you want then?" Harry asked her. "I can give you anything you want."

Her heart skipped a beat, She looked down. He was making it quite difficult not to say yes. "Harry..."

"Humour me."

She thought about it for a moment. "I used to want... romance, big gestures... Current me wants freedom. I don't want to trade being a Knight for being Queen. I don't want to ... just sit around and do nothing." She met his eyes, who were gently focused on her. "I want to feel less alone."

"Very reasonable demands I'd say, doesn't even cost me money." He offered her a grin.

Ginny chuckled. "I don't feel alone with you, we don't need to get married for that."

He couldn't help proposing to her. Maybe she'd say yes. He just felt as a Knight she'd slip out of his grip so easily. First on his agenda was getting Harpia back. If she married him, it would make him happy too. It didn't particularly hurt him that she didn't say yes, she didn't say no either. He enjoyed seeing her ponder, he enjoyed it more when she was almost convinced. but then she'd shake her head as if it had been a joke and continue with what she was doing.

Ginny chuckled. "I don't feel alone with you, we don't need to get married for that."

"I do have to marry. I will be forced to spend time with my wife. If it is not you, who is to say I will like her? If you are still a Knight by then, you would be lonely again."

She stilled for a moment. It seemed like she hated the idea. Then her mouth quirked upwards. "Be forced to spend time with your wife? Is that how you see it? If I were your wife and you'd have that attitude, I don't think you'd live very long." She prodded her finger against his chest.

"Who is to say I'd like my wife? With you I would at least know…" He tilted his head to the side.

"Yes, I guess we get along," she mused.

Harry touched her elbow and looked at her. "More than that," he said softly.

She looked at him for a moment. Her eyes twinkled for a bit but then she averted her eyes. "Tomorrow is another day." She put her helmet back on and walked towards the door.

"Should I try again then?"

Her shoulders shrugged.

"Marry me," he said from on his horse, looking at her.

"Maybe our horses should get married," Ginny replied.

"Why?"

Ginny turned to look at him. "Well, they are in love, aren't they?"

Harry paused as he met her eyes. He, too, found that a very good reason to marry. He cleared his throat. "If you know of any officiator who marries horses, let me know and I will get right on that."

Ginny's face lit up, her eyes twinkling. "Really?"

"I am the King. Who is going to tell me not to marry my horse off to my Knight's horse?" Harry responded.

"As opposed to marrying your actual Knight?" she teased him.

He tried his hardest to keep his face in check. "They can't stop me from that either."

"If only your Knight would say yes," she said cheerily.

"That is the only flaw in my plan, I am pretty sure," he joked back.

"As King I think you actually have the power to marry the horses." Her eyebrows raised.

Harry halted Lightning. "Well, then let's do it."

"Are you serious?"

Harry dismounted. "Absolutely. They're clearly very in love."

"I'll be a witness then." She came to stand beside Harry in front of the horses.

Harry looked solemnly at the horses, standing beside each other. They seemed excited too. "Today we stand before Xydite—"

"Xydite? I am fairly sure they have to marry before Gydus," Ginny commented. "You should know that."

He turned around to her. "Don't interrupt me, I know what I am doing. Xydite is the God of animals. It's appropriate." He turned to Red and Lightning again. "Today we stand before Xydite to unite these two souls." Harry suddenly wondered if horses had souls, but he supposed they did. "To join together in marriage, for better and worse, until death do them part. Now, Lightning Linfred Ignotus of Ignotia, do you take—" Harry looked at Ginny to say Red's full name; if she had one at all.

"Red Lilian Pigwidgeon," Ginny said without hesitation.

Harry resisted commenting on the name and decided to ask about it later. "—as your wife?"

Lightning bumped his head against Red, so Harry took that as a yes.

"Do you, Red Lilian Pigwidgeon, take Lightning Linfred Ignotus of Ignotia as your husband?"

Red gave a decisive nod.

"Then I now pronounce you married to all gods." He watched as the horses happily pushed their heads against each other. It was the first time he saw Ginny be this giddy about something. He turned around to her. "Happy now?"

"Absolutely," she said with excitement.

"Right." He smiled in amusement. "We should get going."

They arrived at the stables and they both dismounted.

"I have to ask about your horse's name," Harry tried.

She smiled. "Well, Red is … well she's red. Pigwidgeon means 'small' or 'little', Regulus called me that once when he saw me climbing back into my bedroom. I thought it was cute. I chose her because she has red hair like me. I didn't want to name her after me or my family, it could be dangerous. So, I chose the only other royal I knew with red hair…" Her eyes met his carefully.

"My mum?"

"Yes," she admitted, looking a little bit shy about the fact.

Harry reached out and petted Red. "I guess she was meant to end up here."

"Maybe she was."

They walked to their stalls.

"Since they're married now, I would argue they deserve to live in the same stall," Harry told her carefully. "But I leave it up to you to decide."

Ginny sighed and looked between the horses. "Oh, alright then."

Lightning seemed incredibly happy his new wife was in his stall and put his head over her softly.

"If this results in baby horses, you are providing me with a horse for as long as I need."

Harry leaned against the door, looking at the horses. "They'd make cute foals." He smiled.

Ginny looked at them too. "I am sure they would."

Harry grinned at her reply, but his smile dropped as he caught her expression.

"Promise me you'll provide me with a different horse if needed," she said again.

"I promise," he said with a sigh. "Red is a Royal Horse now. If she needs a spare, she gets a spare."

"It's me that will need a spare."

"Just stop worrying for five minutes. They are the cutest horse couple I have ever seen. What will happen will happen." He looked at her. "Don't forget it was your idea to marry the horses."

Ginny sat on the couch beside him, sipping butterbeer.

"If you marry me, our Knightly chats can continue, indefinitely."

She smiled and nodded. "It's nice to have a drink together, that's true. "

"See?" he said as if it was the greatest argument he had brought forth.

Her expression turned mischievous. "It's just because I have no one to talk to. If I am Queen, then I can talk to whomever I want."

He gasped, a hand over his heart. "That actually hurts."

She touched his arm. "I hope you know I wasn't serious. I would love to continue our Knightly chats, married or not."

Harry stared down his butterbeer mug. "Of course, there could be more than Knightly chats..."

"I think you will need to put a little foal on the throne instead, Harry. They're way ahead of us."

Harry laughed. "They are both of Royal blood in some way, I am sure I can make my case in front of the council."

Ginny was still wearing her armour when she entered his chamber.

"Marry me?"

She decided to be bold. "How can I marry you if I don't know you're a good kisser?" She resisted smiling when his cheeks tinted red.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you." He fidgeted for a second. "Never kissed someone before."

"Me neither."

Harry appeared to be a little relieved at that. "I could kiss you, maybe that'll convince you."

Ginny paused for a moment in surprise. "Isn't that a gamble?" She stepped closer to him.

"I expect you wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway." He grinned at her.

"I guess if you get the opportunity to kiss a King, you shouldn't let it pass by," she replied.

Her heart beat a little faster when he stepped to her. He stood close to her and tentatively reached out a hand to her waist. She wished she hadn't worn her armour now, she could hardly feel it.

"A Princess willing to kiss me is also as good as it gets." His other hand landed on her waist too.

She locked eyes with him, nervous flutters in the pit of her stomach. His green eyes were trailing over her face. Her eyes slipped closed, trusting him to take the lead.

A moment later Harry's lips pressed against her own. His lips were soft and warm. She bumped against his chest and she put a hand on his arm to steady them. His lips slipped over hers softly. Then he leaned away.

She opened her eyes and looked at him. Her cheeks felt hot. The silence in the room was almost tangible. His eyes looked at her tenderly, searching hers for a reaction.

He watched her carefully, ignoring his pounding heart. As their eyes locked, she had a blazing look on her face.

"We've never been this close before," Harry mumbled, unable to form more words.

"If we marry…" she quipped before her face flushed further, reaching her ears.

"You want a drink?" he managed to squeak out. He desperately needed to divert the attention to anything else.

Ginny breathed out. "Yes, please."

He nodded and let go of her waist and stepped towards the couch. He took out the wine, turning away from her and took a few steadying breaths.

Ginny sat down on their couch. He filled the goblets and put one down in front of her before sitting down beside her.

"Surely you must have had the opportunity to kiss a girl before," she asked, taking up her goblet.

"I am sure some wouldn't have minded," he said as he turned his head towards her.

"Can't say the same. It's the whole get-up, you see." She pointed at her armour. "And people think I am a man. Interested parties vary..."

He looked at her lips as she talked, they had been so soft against his, tasted so sweet. He wouldn't mind kissing her again.

"You know, we didn't have a good reference for kissing. Now that we do, we should try again."

To his surprise, she agreed. She sat up on her knees and neared him.

"Regulus always says that practice makes perfect," she said as her hands came to either side of his face, her soft fingers resting against his skin. When she was so close, he could see every hue of brown in her eyes, from dark to molten gold. He could see her freckles too, delicately scattered over her skin.

"I don't think he was talking about kissing," he said as they locked eyes.

She smiled and leaned in. Her lips landed on his again. Now she tasted like wine. As her hair fell over her shoulder, he noticed it smelled like flowers. He couldn't help the sigh that landed against her lips. Her thumb gently rubbed against his jaw. Their lips disconnected and she moved back a little, her eyes on his.

"No, he told me it can be applied to anything," she went on. She sat back down and absent-mindedly licked her lips.

"Who am I to argue against Regulus?" he said breathlessly.

Ginny smiled and picked up her goblet. "Indeed."

The proposals had become a habit, the two kisses they had shared were a welcome bonus, but Harry began to consider the bigger picture. It was starting to become obvious why she had not given a genuine answer. He had put her in an impossible spot to choose between him and her family. It was selfish of him, and he had to fix it. She had made it perfectly clear she wanted to marry for love. When Ginny appeared in his room dressed in her night shirt as usual, he asked her to sit down across from him.

She looked worried as she took the spot in front of him. He sat up straight, his heart already aching for what he was about to say, but he had to consider her first.

"I have been considering our situation recently and I have come to a decision. It's unfair of me to ask you to marry me when you are about to get your family back. I put you in an impossible situation by asking, considering you are my Knight. You also depend on me to win Harpia back. It was selfish and I apologise." He looked up at her. "I am retracting my proposal."

Her eyebrows rose up, the rest of her face unreadable. It was silent for a moment. Then her eyes dropped down. "Right." She rose up from her seat. "If that is all."

Harry was almost glad she was getting up to leave, he felt he was losing his composure. "That is all."

She nodded and disappeared into her own room.

He let his head drop in his hands with a heavy sigh. He knew it was the right thing to do, but that didn't make him feel any better.

Ginny closed the door, completely taken aback by the fact that Harry had retracted his proposal. Even more so, it hurt more than she thought was possible. She had grown used to the proposals, they were endearing and made his eyes twinkle.

What was she supposed to do? Leave Red here and go home with her family, leaving the two things behind that were most dear to her? He had no right to retract his proposal, her doubt had not been about her family at all.

She realised saying no had never been an option. Her feet had been going back and forth and now resolutely stepped towards the door. She pulled the door open with force.

Harry was still on the couch and lifted his head from his hands when he heard her. Had he been crying? He shot off the couch.

"Ginny?" he asked. His fingers ran through his messy hair.

For a moment she contemplated going about it calmly and asking him to reconsider, but she felt far too fired up.

"I really don't think it's fair!" she started. "You propose twenty times and then you suddenly retract it! What's that about?"

"I shouldn't have put you in the spot I put you in," he told her.

Her jaw clenched. "But you didn't. You asked me a question, it is up to me to reply."

Harry's gaze dropped to the floor and he offered no response.

"I was finally starting to make my mind up and then you just go and do it for me," she said sharply.

He looked pained. "You deserve to go home."

"I have no home!" she bit back. "I haven't set foot in Harpia for over a decade!"

He walked a little closer to her but kept a safe distance. "I really don't understand..."

"Of course I want to marry you!"

"Why?"

Her anger ebbed away, her heart aching. She stared down at the floor right in front of her. "Because I love you."

There was the pad of Harry's feet against the wooden floor as he closed the space between them. Harry's body collided harshly with hers as he grabbed hold of her, his fingers curling around her waist through her night shirt. She looked up at him in surprise and he took the opportunity to capture her lips. A warm feeling spread to her body, all the way down to her toes. She leaned into him, kissing him back. His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him. She felt a pleasant tug in the pit of her stomach. Her hands came up to his face, her fingers disappearing into his hair.

"That's a good reason to marry," he said against her lips.

She nodded in agreement. "I only didn't say yes because I thought it was unfair to you. I want you to marry for love."

He leaned away a bit to properly look at her. "Gin... I would, I—"

"You love me?"

His hand came to her face. "How could I not?"

She smiled and pulled him down to kiss him again. After all, practice makes perfect. Harry's arms tightened around her. She could feel him smile against her lips. Her heart was soaring. He let go of her and took her hands into his. "Ginny, Gwyn, Gin. Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

He kissed her softly. "This was the twentieth time, by the way. I think you must have lost count somewhere."

Kissing Harry was like coming up for air. She loved the way his hands held onto her by her waist steadily, the way his lips tentatively but eagerly slid against hers. It was all so new and thrilling and yet it felt like the most familiar thing in the world.

"Well, I am drinking to that," he said after a moment. He released her and took her hand instead and pulled her to their couch.

She sat down, her eyes on him as he filled their goblets as usual. He turned around and she took the goblet from him. He sat down beside her and his eyes focused on her.

He raised his goblet to toast. "To us. To marrying for love."

She raised her goblet too and smiled.

"To Harpia." His eyes twinkled. "To my Knight."

"To my King," she said.

His cheeks turned redder. "It hits differently when you say it like that."

She made sure he was looking at her when she replied. "I have always said it like that."

His heart skipped another beat. He took a sip from his wine. Her eyes studied his face and then dropped down.

"I had other things on my mind than knots," he immediately defended himself, which caused her to smile.

She scooted closer to him, her hands lifting. "Can I?"

"Sure."

Her hands came to the collar of the shirt and undid the knot. He loved how even for such a small task, she was completely focused on it.

"Married life, you said. Didn't you?" he said.

Her eyes flickered up to his. "Involves knots apparently." She smiled before her eyes dropped down again. She put in a new knot and then made a little bow. She smiled, satisfied with her work.

His hand came up to her waist so she didn't move away. She leaned and kissed him again, slowly. Her tongue was teasing at his lips, and he let her in. One of her hands was on his chest again, but the other was not holding a dagger this time. It slid over his skin up his neck, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine. His free hand came up to her face, keen to trace over all the freckles under his fingertips. He leaned away and she met his eyes again. Her hands slipped from him as she settled down beside him, but close enough that he could hold her.

They looked at each other in silence for a moment.

"We'll have to get married before we take back Harpia," he thought out loud.

Her face broke out in a smile. "Who is the romantic now?"

"It's just better that way, we can—"

Ginny's hand came over his. "I am playing, I know. For the Kingdoms it's better that way. Either way, we can't do anything until my brothers arrive."

"What if they don't approve?" Harry wondered.

"You are getting us Harpia back, I think you have some leverage." She reached out to her goblet. "Besides, I am their little baby sister. If I am giving them a puppy stare, they won't be able to say 'no'.

"Puppy stare?"

She tilted her head, her eyes wide and focused on him. A slight pout formed, and her eyes looked tearful. He felt the sudden urge to wrap her in his arms.

"Stop it!" he told her. "If you didn't wear a helmet all the time, you'd have the whole castle wound around your finger."

She dropped the expression and chuckled. "When I am married to you, I won't."

He frowned. "That's going to be a problem."

"I do want to keep being a Knight. So then I can still wear the helmet, give you some peace of mind."

"No, no, go ahead and rule the Kingdom while you are at it. I'll put my feet up," he responded.

"Ah," she went. "I see how it is going to go."

"There's nothing you can't do," he told her, leaning towards her.

She leaned forwards too. "That's poor flirting."

There was a sudden noise in the corridor and they both looked up. Footsteps could be heard nearing them. Then there was a knock on the door and they looked at each other in terror. She could not be found here.

Ginny leapt over the couch as Harry walked slowly to the door. He saw Ginny disappear behind the bed. He opened the door.

The guards stood at the door, holding what he presumed was an assassin. He seemed to be knocked out and was held up by the two guards.

"Sir Alastor changed our schedule without telling anyone and he walked right into us," Justin told him.

"Did you search him?" Harry asked.

The other guard nodded. "Nothing to be found. Just a knife, that's all."

Harry nodded. "Great work. Take him down, maybe get him checked in the Hospital Wing first."

The two guards nodded and took off. Harry closed the door and turned around. Ginny appeared from behind the bed.

"That was a close call," Harry let out.

Ginny nodded. "We need to be careful."

She walked back to the couch with him. "If he changed the schedule and an assassin came, we can assume it's not Alastor. Not that I thought it was him." Ginny paused and looked at the goblets as Harry sat down. "I hope they didn't see the two goblets or they may ask questions."

"I can still say it was for my Knight," Harry argued.

She sighed. "Right." She looked at him. "I think we are closing in on who is trying to kill you."

"Really? Because I am still at a loss," Harry said.

"It's not Alastor. We both know it's not me. I don't think Hagrid is capable of doing something like that, he rescued you... he cares for you."

"Sure," Harry agreed. He trusted Alastor and Hagrid simply didn't lie within the realm of possibilities.

"I think we have to consider Peter. He has all the information. He does not like me," Ginny said.

He shook his head. "No. I refuse to believe it. I understand to you he seems suspicious but... I've known him all my life." He frowned. "He grew up with my dad, he's been the advisor since before I was born. It has to be someone else."

Ginny listened carefully as he talked. She nodded. "If you trust him... then I will believe you." Her eyes darted up. "As for now, I just can't exclude him from my list of suspects."

"That's fine. Just don't stab him unless you're absolutely sure," he replied.

"Do you think I just go around stabbing people?" she asked. She tried to keep her face straight, but her smile ended up breaking through.

"You absolutely do. And as a person who has been on the wrong side of your dagger..." He rubbed across his throat.

"Aw, Harry. I could never actually stab you."

His eyebrows raised.

"Not until we're married at least."

He gasped with much theatrics. "If I die on our wedding night, I will be very disappointed."

"Not by my hands," she replied. "And anyone who thinks of stabbing you while I am in your bed, they'll regret it."

"Our bed."

Ginny frowned.

"It'll be our bed. I guess in terms of safety, I should be pretty safe... as long as I let you bring blades into our bed."

She nodded happily. "I'll always protect you." She batted her eyelashes. "You know I'd kill for you."

"You're adorably lethal," Harry sighed happily.

"Careful, look any more enamoured than that and I will have to pull my dagger on you," Ginny warned him.

"I don't think I have gone quite into the strutting phase, in my defence," he replied.

Ginny took his chin in her hand. "You're not too far off."

Harry pushed her hand away and reached out for his goblet. He took a few sips. He looked around the room. "I am going to miss this chamber."

Ginny looked confused. "Where are you going?"

"Don't you think this is a small room for a King?" he asked her.

She nodded. "I suppose."

"I've refused to move into the official Royal Suite for years. I was supposed to move when I turned 18. It's time though, when we get married. It's bigger, it has four side rooms."

"For kids?" she asked.

Harry smiled at her blunt question. "Sure. You can use it for whatever purpose, kids too."

"Four max then." She smiled.

"I would argue by the time you get to number five, the first one should be old enough to get their own room. You can only have them so close together..." He looked at her. "How many do you plan on having?"

"Oh." She smiled. "I don't know. I haven't given that much thought." She looked down. "I didn't think I'd get a chance at having kids, frankly. As a Knight...it wasn't in the cards." Her arm landed on the back of the couch, and she leaned her head on her arm, looking at him. "You are lonely as an only child. I'd want more than one."

"It's not like you have seen your siblings much."

She nodded. "That's true. Those seven years I got to run around with them, those were great. Even now if I haven't seen some of them for years, you always slip back into it like you just saw them the other day. I love my brothers dearly, even when they're being annoying."

"Are you sure you don't want to go home with them?" he asked softly.

She nodded immediately. "Yes. We can visit. Knowing Bellatrix isn't hunting them down will keep me at peace. The fact that we can all be free, that's important."

"Are you planning on seven kids?" he asked.

"Does that concern you? You don't have to carry them." She was clearly enjoying teasing him.

"No, I was just considering having to adjust the finances to support seven kids."

"See, now I will just see it as a challenge to prove you wrong," she said.

Harry shrugged. "At least then people will stop bugging me about wives and heirs."

"See, you're already seeing the positives," she replied, her eyes twinkling.

"The biggest positive is that I will be married to you," he told her with a fond smile.

Ginny sighed and reached under her nightshirt. She pulled out her dagger and came closer to him. She softly poked the blade against his shirt, but not enough to hurt him.

"You're strutting," she said with a smile. She kissed him softly.

"Perhaps my horse and I aren't so different; falling for bold redheads," he mused. She kissed his lips softly and then tucked her dagger back under her nightshirt. He watched her do it as her hands disappeared under the fabric.

She shot him a knowing look. She knew exactly what she was doing, doing that right in front of him.

"I should go to bed," she said. "Maybe one day I'll let you undo the straps instead of some knots."

She planted a kiss on his cheek and pushed off the couch. Harry swallowed hard, unable to form any words. He desperately tried to keep his mind off her thighs and failed. She walked to her door and turned around.

"Night, Gin," he managed to get out.

"Goodnight, Harry," she said softly, before she stepped into her chamber and closed the door.

A/N: One of my favourite sentences of this chapter came about because I wrote a few snippets about how their life would've been if Ginny's parents didn't die and they had in fact met that summer. Sometimes it helps to shift perspective and find out how that changes things!

Thank you for the wonderful beta, megonagall410