"I remembered that when I was little, I wanted to be a sailor."
/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
"You have the brooms, right?" Ginny asked, not wanting to forget to bring their new Firebolts with them in case they had an opportunity to fly on their holiday.
Harry chuckled. "Yep, I've got the brooms. I've also got my wand, clothes, a Snitch, a Quaffle, a camera, and pretty much anything else we'll need. I think we're ready."
"I'm just gonna check everything one more time," she said, going back through the suitcase she'd transformed her mokeskin pouch into to make sure she had all the clothes she would need for their week away.
"Okay, I'll be downstairs when you're ready," he replied, picking his own bag up. "Oh, and I put something in there that I think you're really gonna like," he added with a wink.
Ginny opened her bag and saw a picture of him grinning at the camera without a shirt on. It must've been taken at her party, even though she hadn't seen it. "You're so stupid," she laughed, liking the photograph quite a bit, especially when the Harry in the photo started jokingly flexing his muscles.
He was wearing the same grin as in his picture. "And you love me like that," he said proudly, leaving before she could contradict him.
Ginny shook her head, still smiling to herself, and went back to double checking everything. A moment later, she heard the door open again, and she looked up to see Hermione entering the room. "You really should've packed earlier than the morning of," Hermione commented, and Ginny swallowed the sarcastic remark she wanted to respond with.
"Probably, but here we are," she replied instead. Hermione sat down on the bed, and Ginny held up the picture of Harry. "Harry put this in my bag, by the way. Did you take it for him?"
Hermione smirked, which wasn't an expression Ginny was used to seeing from her. "He told me it was another birthday present for you." Ginny laughed at that. "Did you say he put it in your mokeskin bag?" Hermione added curiously.
Ginny nodded absently and began counting out the sets of clothes she had laid out on the bed. "Yeah. We charmed our bags so that we could get into the other's if we ever needed to."
"Oh. That's… interesting," Hermione replied, and Ginny nodded yet again.
Satisfied that she had enough clothes, she turned back to Hermione. "Are you ready for your trip?"
Hermione pressed her lips together. "I– I'm still worried about finding my parents. And when we do find them, it's not going to be easy to remove the memory charm, and even when we do that, they may be so mad at me that they don't want to come back with me. And I know Ron's going to be uncomfortable, and the last time we were somewhere and he was uncomfortable…"
Ginny realised what a lot of her stress was about. "He's not going to leave you again," she said firmly, fully believing that her brother still regretted what he'd done last year and wouldn't dare do it again.
Hermione nodded. "It's just– I guess I have to see it to believe it… if that makes sense?"
Ginny sat next to her. "You know, I still get a little anxious every time I don't know where Harry is."
Hermione glanced at her, maybe a little surprised, and Ginny continued. "It's only happened a couple times, but when he disappears, I'm immediately back at the battle when he… well, you know. I don't know if that'll ever get better, but I get it when you say that you have to see it to believe it. You have to see that Ron will stay, and I– I have to see that Harry will come back."
Hermione nodded now. "You know he comes back."
"And Ron will stay with you. No matter how hard things are with your parents."
Hermione pulled Ginny into a hug. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered, and Ginny squeezed her tighter. They'd been close for several years, but this summer had brought them even closer, and it wasn't going to be easy letting her and Ron go without knowing when they'd come back home.
When they separated, Ginny picked up her bag and followed Hermione out of the room, seeing the older girl wiping her eyes before they walked down the stairs. When they entered the living room, she saw Ron and Harry clapping each other on the back. Then Ron turned and found her before practically swapping places with Hermione, who walked outside onto the porch with Harry.
"Are you excited?" Ginny asked, smiling at her older brother, who looked rather sad.
He snorted. "Terrified, honestly. But… yeah, I'm looking forward to it, too."
"You're gonna have a great time," Ginny promised, and Ron nodded.
"So will the two of you. Harry took me to the house a few days ago– you're gonna love it."
Ginny blushed a little. "Take care of–" they both started to say at the same time, and they both laughed realising what the other one was saying.
"Take care of Hermione. She needs you," Ginny said, and Ron nodded firmly.
"I will. I promise."
"He tried to leave, didn't he? The other day."
Ron shifted his weight awkwardly between his feet. Finally, he sighed. "You know him, Ginny. He feels like what happened to George, to Mad-Eye… he feels like it's his fault. We talked him out of it for now though."
"He's not going to stay long though. I know none of you are planning to go back to Hogwarts, and I'm sure he wants to leave the second the wedding's over," she responded, wishing that Harry would just talk to her about it, but they'd only had one conversation since he arrived, and that had been uncomfortable, to say the least.
Ron's eyes widened slightly, as if surprised that she knew that, but he sighed yet again. "Yeah, that's– that's pretty much it."
"He won't talk to me," she said plainly.
"Yeah, I know," Ron answered, not really committing an emotional response either way.
"So he's definitely not gonna let me go with you," she added.
Ron shook his head fervently. "Absolutely not. I wouldn't let you go even if he wanted you to."
Ginny crossed her arms. "You think you could stop me?" she challenged.
Ron narrowed his eyes, and now it was Ginny's turn to exhale hopelessly. "It doesn't matter. He wouldn't want me to come anyways."
Ron nodded, apparently relieved that he didn't have to answer whether he thought he could stop Ginny from coming with them. She continued, "So I need you to do something for me, Ron. I know Harry's going to want to leave as soon as the Trace lifts tomorrow. Whenever he does leave, you have to stay with him. If I can't be with him, I need to know that there's someone there who will watch his back and keep him safe."
Ron looked at her now with sadness and a protective fire in his eyes. "I will. I promise."
She did her best to not let her memory of the last time Ron had made a promise like this cloud her opinion of him now. He'd screwed up. Royally screwed up, in fact. But like everyone else, he'd grown a lot in the past year. She understood why there was a small part of Hermione that was worried about Ron potentially leaving her, but Ginny still believed that her brother would stay with her.
"Listen… I– Harry's my best mate. I know he seems okay about going back to Hogwarts and everything, but… I think things will be harder than he realises when you get back. Just– I know you will, but take care of him. He needs you as much as you need him."
Ginny nodded, wondering when her brother had become even slightly aware of the emotions of his friends. It was about time for him and Hermione to leave though, so she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she pulled him into a tight hug.
"Take care of yourself too, you bloody moron," she whispered, and Ron chuckled, nodding as they stepped apart and walked outside, where their parents, Hermione, and Harry were waiting for them.
HGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG
When Harry came downstairs, Hermione almost immediately went up the stairs, presumably to talk to Ginny. Molly and Arthur were waiting out in the yard for them all to finish, and the rest of the brothers had already left for the day, telling them all goodbye earlier, which left Ron and Harry alone in the living room.
"So… this is it," Harry began after an awkward moment of silence.
Ron nodded. "Yep."
"It's gonna be weird going to Hogwarts without you," Harry commented.
Ron nodded. "Gonna be weird being alone with Hermione for so long without you."
Harry snorted. "I'm sure the two of you will find plenty of things to keep you busy." He laughed when Ron began blushing furiously.
"I'm just– I'm gonna miss you, mate," Ron said as the redness in his cheeks and ears began fading slightly.
"Yeah. I'm gonna miss you, too. Just… take care of Hermione and get back as soon as you can," Harry responded, and Ron nodded.
They locked eyes, and there were a lot of unspoken feelings that Harry felt were being communicated between them. They didn't need to say anything more; they both knew how much they meant to each other. They were best friends and brothers, and that wouldn't ever change. Instead of talking, they settled for a long hug, clapping each other on the back several times before separating. Ron turned and Harry followed his gaze, seeing Hermione and Ginny standing at the base of the stairs. Ron walked over to his sister while Hermione came over to Harry, grabbing his arm and pulling him out to the porch.
Harry saw Molly and Arthur over by the shed before looking at Hermione, who had tears swimming in her eyes.
"We've been through everything together," she started, and Harry nodded.
"Time turners, Death Eaters, and far too much camping," Harry responded, earning a small giggle from Hermione before her expression became sad again.
"You're my best friend, Harry. Ever since our first year."
Harry nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. "You're the sister I never had," he replied, feeling a lump growing in the back of his throat.
"I still can't believe you're going to school instead of me," she said, wiping her eyes.
He chuckled. "You must've rubbed off on me some."
She smiled. "I doubt it. But don't entirely neglect your studies while you're at school, okay? I won't be there to help you this year."
He nodded, not having fully considered this before. "I know. I'll be okay though. Just like you two will be in Australia."
Hermione took a deep breath, looking at Harry like… well, like she was about to go a long time without seeing him. He wasn't surprised when she threw her arms around him, pulling him into a hug.
"I love you, Harry," she said quietly.
Harry nodded, still holding her close. "I love you too."
They separated after a moment, and it was interesting to Harry that neither of them seemed to be blushing. Ginny and Ron walked outside almost immediately after, and they all walked past the wards with Molly and Arthur.
Hermione and Ron went first, hugging the older Weasleys to tell them goodbye. "Take care of each other," Arthur said when Molly couldn't say anything because of the tears flowing down her face.
They both nodded, and Ron kissed his mum's cheek before they stepped away. Hermione and Ron both gave him a look, and he and Ginny raised their hands to wave goodbye. They smiled, turned on their heels, and both disappeared with a pop, going to the aeroport in London.
"Guess it's our turn," Harry commented, noticing that they were all sort of staring at the place where Ron and Hermione had been standing.
Ginny nodded, and they both walked to her parents. Ginny headed for her dad while Molly pulled Harry into a hug. "You two have a good time," she said through her sniffles.
Harry nodded. "Thanks… for everything."
She nodded and stepped back, wiping her eyes as another wave of tears threatened to fall. Harry and Ginny swapped places, and Harry was now pulled into a tight embrace by Arthur.
"Take care of her. And take care of yourself. I love you, son," Arthur whispered into his ear.
Harry nodded into the taller man's shoulder. "Love you too," he responded quietly. Arthur clapped his back and let him go, smiling affectionately at him.
"You ready?" Harry asked Ginny, walking to the spot Ron and Hermione had just disapparated from.
"Very," Ginny replied, tightly taking his arm in both of her hands.
They smiled at Molly and Arthur, and Harry caught one last look at the Burrow before turning on his heel, disappearing with a pop.
HGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG
For a moment, the sand under her feet made Ginny think they'd returned to Shell Cottage. It wasn't until she saw the house that she realised that she knew exactly where they were.
"Harry! This is the house you rented?" she exclaimed in disbelief.
They'd landed right in front of the house in Weymouth that she'd been so enamoured with when they'd visited a few weeks earlier and watched Godzilla. The stone exterior reminded her slightly of Hogwarts, and she adored the cosy feeling she got looking at it.
Harry was grinning proudly. "Hermione helped me figure out how to find houses that I could rent, and I liked the pictures of this one. So when we came here, I wanted to see if it looked as good as it did in the photos and see if we'd like it here. I wasn't expecting you to be quite so taken with it though. When you were, I knew I was right to want it."
She laughed, still completely stunned. "You're incredible, you know?"
His cheeks reddened slightly as he shrugged. "I just try to make you happy."
She stood on her toes and planted a kiss on his lips. "Mission accomplished," she said.
"Do you wanna see the inside of our house?" Harry asked, still smiling lovingly at her, and Ginny nodded, fully aware of the flutter in her heartbeat when he called it their house.
He took her hand and led her up the two stairs that brought them onto the long porch that reminded her of the one at home, complete with a wooden swinging bench. He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door, which was a little funny considering he could've easily used magic to do that, but there was something about using a key that made it feel even more real.
She gasped when he opened the door and she followed him in. They entered into the living room, where several plush red chairs and a loveseat were arranged, oriented around a large stone fireplace on the wall. The walls were painted a deep red as well, and Ginny realised that this room sort of reminded her of the Gryffindor common room, but much smaller.
Beyond the living room, she saw the kitchen, which wasn't very large, but it would be more than enough for the two of them. There was a small wooden table against the far wall of the kitchen, nowhere near as big as the table at home. Then again, it wasn't like they'd be entertaining anybody this week.
She followed Harry into the only bedroom in the cottage, and she couldn't help but feel a little tingly at seeing the large bed, which may have been twice as large as hers, covered in a red duvet. There wasn't room for much else other than two bedside tables and a chest of drawers, but she did see a closet that would be useful without a wardrobe in the room. There was also a door to the bathroom, which was a little bigger than the one at the Burrow. The feature this one had that she was very excited to try out was an oversized bath with a shower head above it. She felt her ears reddening as she came to the realisation that this bath could certainly hold both her and Harry at the same time.
The last place they stopped to look at was the area behind the house— Ginny was curious to see if it was as isolated from behind as it seemed from the front, and she was very happy to see that it seemed like there weren't any other houses anywhere near them.
"Ron and I checked when we came down here to fill out some final paperwork. Nobody else within a couple miles, so we should be able to fly around here quite a bit," Harry answered the question she'd been thinking, sounding like he was trying to remain casual even though she could tell he was anxious about her liking everything.
She turned to him, beaming as brightly as she possibly could. "This is perfect!" she almost squealed, practically tackling him and smothering him in kisses that left him somewhere between moaning and laughing.
Ginny sat up eventually, breathing heavily. "Sorry," she said, grinning in a way that made it clear she wasn't sorry at all.
Harry shook his head, smiling at her. "I've told you before. I want you to hex me if I ever turn down a chance to kiss the most beautiful witch in the world."
She was sure she was blushing when she stood and helped Harry off the ground. "Can we go for a swim?" Ginny asked, thinking the water would be a good way for them to cool off.
He nodded. "That's usually the point of coming to the beach," he responded sarcastically, making her roll her eyes.
"You keep talking like that and I won't let you see my bikini," she threatened, and he immediately adopted an apologetic expression that made her laugh loudly.
"You're adorable," she said, patting his cheek before heading to the bedroom with her bag to change.
She was much less concerned with what people would think about what she was wearing now that she was alone on the beach with Harry, selecting a green bikini that she thought very closely resembled the colour of Harry's eyes. She adjusted the top slightly, checking herself in the bathroom mirror. Satisfied, she walked out to the living room, where Harry had changed into a red pair of trunks and was unashamedly shirtless.
Harry's mouth opened slightly when she walked out, and she knew a red tinge was spreading across her cheeks and chest as she smiled shyly. Granted, she didn't imagine the way her eyes were roving over him looked any less hungry. She approached him and put a hand over his heart, feeling the thumping that seemed to speed up at her touch.
Harry looked down affectionately at her. "I've been looking forward to this for a month."
"Seeing me in a bikini?" she teasingly asked, and he chuckled.
"Well that's definitely a perk," he acknowledged with a satisfied grin. "But I meant being alone."
She inhaled sharply, suddenly realising that they were actually truly alone for the first time… ever. "For a whole week," she added, making him grin almost giddily.
"This is gonna be the best week ever," he promised.
She was smiling back at him when she said, "Prove it."
He more than rose to the challenge, distracting her with a kiss before picking her up, still kissing her as she wrapped her legs around him. He took them out to the beach, and Ginny gasped against his lips when she unexpectedly felt water on her legs. Before she knew it, they were almost completely under water except for their heads, which remained very close together even though they'd stopped kissing.
"Perfect," he whispered, and Ginny didn't need to ask if he meant the beach or the holiday or her. It was all perfect.
Several hours later, after a lot of time in the water and a dinner at The Shack, which they learned was the actual name of the seafood shack they'd eaten at the last time they were in Weymouth, Ginny was lying against Harry on the sandy beach. The moon and stars overhead provided all the mood they needed for a romantic evening.
"Do you ever think about how unpredictable life is?" Harry asked abruptly, making Ginny sit up to face him.
She thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. "Not really. I think it's just a part of life, not knowing what'll happen. Especially in our lives."
He regarded her with a vulnerability that exceeded what she was used to from him. "When we went to The Shack, I was thinking about how they catch the fish. I haven't thought about it in years, but I remembered that when I was little, I wanted to be a sailor. Back before… well, before everything changed."
There was a reason he was telling her this. But she couldn't put her finger on it. "I suppose you could still be a sailor if you wanted to," she joked, and Harry exhaled sharply, smiling a little.
"I don't think I ever actually wanted to be a sailor. It was just…"
"A way out," Ginny finished, knowing that he'd hated living with his Muggle family even if he never talked about them. He just nodded.
"But things did change," she added, running a hand through Harry's hair. He'd never said it out loud, but she could tell he loved when she did that.
"Yeah, they did," he responded after a moment, but he didn't seem too thrilled about it, apparently lost in thought.
"That's a good thing, right?" she asked, and he immediately looked up, as if he was surprised that she was asking that.
"What? Yeah, of course it's a good thing– the best thing. It's just– I dunno, it's weird that I'd had… magic in me the whole time and like… a better life waiting for me, and it took eleven years for me to find out about it."
"I guess that's how most Muggle-borns feel," Ginny commented.
"It sometimes makes me wonder how much we really know about ourselves, you know? Like how could I have had that in me for so long and not known about it? It's like I didn't even know who I was."
She thought about it for a moment. "I don't think– magic's not you, Harry. It's something that you can do, but… you've always been you, even before you knew you were a wizard."
His eyebrows raised as his intense green eyes pierced her with a dizzying blend of admiration and trepidation. "You think so?"
She placed her hand on his. "I know that I fell in love with Harry Potter, not The Boy Who Lived or The Chosen One or even The Saviour of the Wizarding World. I'd have fallen for you if we met and you weren't a wizard."
Some girls she knew had talked, before she ever dated Harry, about how he'd be a fun boyfriend for the celebrity status, but it might get exhausting dating somebody who was full of themselves like celebrities tended to be. Ginny had known for ages that Harry was humble– that much was obvious to anybody who spent any time getting to know him. As she'd gotten even closer to him over the past couple years though, she'd learned that he was more than humble. He almost actively believed that everyone around him was better and he deserved less for some reason. The current expression on his face was blatant proof that he struggled to understand that he was just as deserving as everyone else, if not more, of love and a good life.
"Really?" he whispered in a suddenly hoarse voice.
She scooted on the sand closer to him. He kept his eyes firmly fixed on her even though he was still reclining on his elbows. "Really," she responded emphatically before climbing on top of him. He waited for her to come to him, lowering her head over his and kissing him as her hair formed a curtain around them.
The kiss started out slow, but when Harry fell backwards, moving his arms from supporting himself to embracing her, she took the initiative to deepen the kiss. He responded enthusiastically, tangling a hand in her hair while the other hand rested on her bum. When she slipped a hand under his shirt, she could feel his moan against her lips. Taking the invitation, she began tugging at the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up until she had to break their kiss for the briefest of seconds to get it over his head.
Harry sighed. "Ginny…" he whispered just before she began kissing him again, so she moved her head up slightly, not giving him much room to talk. She really didn't want to stop– everything in her body was screaming at her to never stop– but him being comfortable was far more important to her than that.
"I just…" he started and immediately trailed off.
She nodded and kissed his forehead before getting off of him. "I'm sorry," he said sadly, and she put a hand to the back of his head, not to pull him into a kiss but to provide comfort.
"You don't ever have to apologise to me for who you are or what you're feeling. I'm still perfectly happy to wait until you're ready," she responded, smiling at the way Harry exhaled, as if relieved that she still was willing to wait for him.
"I love you," he said.
"And I love you," she agreed, kissing him quickly before standing up to go inside for the night. Even though nothing was escalating in their physical relationship, she still couldn't wait to spend the night with him.
HGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG
"Come… come to me… let me rip you… let me tear you… let me kill you…"
He bolted upright in his dormitory bed, hearing the voice of the basilisk. He didn't hesitate. He immediately sprinted out of the dormitory, through the portrait hole, and into the corridors of Hogwarts. He didn't have the Sword of Gryffindor, but there wasn't time to try and find it. He knew where the basilisk would be.
"Open," he hissed to the sink in the second-floor girls' toilet. Like the only other time he'd come here, the sink disappeared from view, exposing a large, empty pipe, which he jumped in without hesitation.
He ignored the crunching animal bones underneath his feet as he scrambled forward, having been dumped unceremoniously out of the pipe. He ran through the tunnels as fast as he could until he reached the familiar dark chamber with the towering statue of a man at the opposite end. He passed rows of columns as he approached this statue, not so afraid of the basilisk at the moment since he knew it was too big to hide anywhere in the chamber other than its usual resting place.
He almost forgot how to breathe, seeing a familiar splash of red hair between the statue's feet. He collapsed to his knees as he slid next to her.
"Ginny! Don't be dead! Please don't be dead!" he gasped, seeing his Ginny, not eleven year old Ginny, on the floor in front of him. Her beautiful face was deathly pale and still. He kissed her forehead, shuddering at the coldness of it. She was barely breathing.
"She won't wake," a familiar voice said from behind him, and he jumped to his feet, pulling his wand out as he stood between the love of his life and his nemesis.
"You," he growled.
Tom Riddle chuckled. "Come now, Harry. Is that any way to greet an old friend?"
He spat, disgusted by Riddle, and Riddle's high pitched laugh pierced the air again, making it feel even colder in the Chamber of Secrets than it already was. "Oh, we are old friends, Harry. I've known you longer than any of these weaklings, blood traitors, and Mudbloods you call friends."
He trembled with rage. "Shut up," he said with a shaky voice.
Riddle's sneer grew wider. "Why? My voice has been in your head for as long as you remember. I've seen everything, Harry. Your fears. Your hopes. Your dreams. Your loves…" Riddle trailed off suggestively, and he took a step towards him.
"You know nothing about me," he snapped.
"Don't I? I know everything about you. I know there's things you still hide from those you call family. I've been inside your mind for seventeen years. I know everything. Which is why I know you'll do what I say."
"Not a chance," he responded, raising his wand.
"Oh, I wasn't asking, Harry. I know you'll obey my commands. And now, I order you to kill this filthy blood traitor."
"No!" he shouted, but he wasn't in control of his body anymore. He heard Riddle's voice inside his head, even though Riddle didn't appear to be talking.
'Kill. Kill. Kill.' It chanted that horrible word over and over as he turned and pointed his wand at Ginny, completely powerless to the will of the voice inside his head.
He felt tears rolling down his face as he heard a voice that sounded disturbingly like his own utter words he never thought he'd say. "Avada Kedavra!"
"Harry! Harry! Please wake up!" he heard a familiar voice begging. His heart was pounding so fast that he could barely breathe. There was a ringing in his ears still, and he kept hearing himself casting the Killing Curse.
Then lips were on his, and he froze, unsure how to respond, still seeing a green light in the fogginess of his vision. It took a second to realise what was happening, and he could finally see Ginny above him, desperately worried as she worked to wake him up. She saw his eyes open and took his head in both of her hands, gently caressing his scalp in a way he loved, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
He exhaled heavily, slowly feeling his breathing come under control again. He fell into her arms, savouring the comfort her embrace brought before recoiling, remembering the nightmare he'd been in the middle of. He pushed himself to the edge of the bed, inwardly cursing himself at the hurt look she had on her face. This was safer though.
"H–Harry…" she whispered, and he shook his head, tightly shutting his eyes and covering them with his hands to prevent tears from falling. He felt her moving on the bed, and when he finally looked, she was right in front of him again. Of course she was.
"I– I can't," he choked out as a sob wracked his body. He looked down, unable to look at her, but he tensed when she put a hand on his.
"Harry, I'm here, babe. Just talk to me," she encouraged, and he involuntarily clenched his fists.
"You can't– I don't–" he tried but stopped, feeling a lump in the back of his throat that he tried unsuccessfully to swallow down. "I don't think– understand."
"Try me," she challenged resolutely, and he looked at her now, not seeing any sadness in her face. Her eyes were blazing– the eyes he'd fallen in love with. How could he have done that in his dream?
"I–" he started before shaking his head. How could he tell her this?
"Harry, it's me. I love you. That's not gonna change."
He felt another sob fighting to escape as he mentally weighed his options. This was Ginny. If he couldn't talk to her, who could he talk to? Amelia, maybe? He kind of doubted it though. The alternative was to say nothing and risk making her feel like he didn't trust her when he really trusted her more than anybody.
"We promised no more secrets," she whispered, seeing his indecision. Fuck, that cut him to the core. The last time he'd kept a real secret from her, he'd been scared that he'd lost her. Nothing, even this, was worth that.
He let a shuddering breath out and then another, mustering up his courage. "I– I still don't think you'll understand. And don't– don't forget… I love you."
She put her hand on his again, and he managed to not tense at her touch. "I'll do my best. And you know I love you too."
He nodded but couldn't smile right now. "I was in the dormitory at school. I dreamed that… I heard the basilisk in the walls like I did at the start of my second year. It was saying it– it wanted to kill someone."
She stiffened when he started talking about the basilisk, and he couldn't blame her. But that wasn't the worst of it. "I ran to the Chamber as fast as I could. When I got there, you were… lying there, unconscious, just like last time. But you– you were like you are now, not when you were eleven."
Ginny was looking more horrified by the second as he continued telling this story. She appreciated the reminders of that horrible time even less than he did, and that was saying something.
"Riddle was there–" Ginny cursed under her breath "– and he called me– he called me an old friend because– because he'd been in my mind my whole life. He said he– he knew everything about me and that he knew I'd do… whatever he wanted me to. Then I heard his voice in my head and I– I couldn't control my body anymore. I– I fought as hard as I could, but he was the one in control. And he– he made me… kill you," Harry choked out, feeling a tear rolling down his cheek.
Ginny stared at him, and for a second, he was sure she'd pull away, repulsed by him. Instead, she put her hand on his face and wiped his tear away.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered as more tears fell. He bowed his head, but Ginny tilted it back up to face her.
"Harry… that wasn't you. I know that could never be you," she said, and he shook his head.
"That's just it though. It could've been me. He was in my head for so long that sometimes I can't even tell what's me and what's him anymore!" he almost shouted, eyes widening as he vocalised that fear for the first time ever. And then he was worried she'd push away because she surely hadn't thought of that before either.
Ginny's eyes became soft, and she continued rubbing his cheek with her thumb, not moving away even a centimetre. "I know the feeling," she said, and he immediately regretted saying she wouldn't understand because she was probably the only person in his life who actually had a possibility of understanding.
He exhaled again. "How– how did you… you know?"
She shook her head, looking down for a moment, as if remembering, before looking back at him. "It took a long time. He was the only voice in my head for most of my first year. It took years to stop hearing his voice. But… well, what finally got me through was actually doing something about it. I stopped hearing him for good in my fourth year, after we started the D.A. and I finally felt strong again. Like I was finally doing something with all my anger about what had happened to me."
He sighed. "You've always been strong."
She smiled a little. "Not always. But I am now. It took me figuring out who I was and fighting for something to finally leave him in the past."
"I– I just don't know who I am anymore. How can I? He's– he's been in my head my– my whole life," he bemoaned despondently, fighting the urge to cover his face again.
"I know exactly who you are," she declared confidently. He stared at her longingly, like she held the answers he needed to unravel all of this.
"How?" he whispered.
She reached her hand out and touched his chest, just above his heart. "Because I know you and… I know him. He may have been in your head, but he never had any control over you. You're everything he wasn't. You're everything he hated. You're brave and honest. You're so kind and selfless and giving. You have friends and trust other people. And you love. You love our family. You love me."
He bit the inside of his cheek, feeling a lot of emotions welling up inside of him. "But in the dream… I– I killed you," he protested even though he wasn't completely sure why.
Ginny shook her head. "It was just a bad dream, Harry, and you had no control. I didn't have any control when people were attacked by the basilisk, and you still love me. I know you wouldn't ever do anything to hurt me, so why should something like that dream keep me from loving you?"
"I just… I guess I don't understand how– how you can love me… knowing that he was a part of me."
She smiled softly at him even though her eyes were still blazing. "Don't you remember what I told you on the beach? I'd have fallen in love with you even if you weren't a wizard. I love you even though part of Riddle's soul was inside you. I love you even though you were possessed by him in the Ministry. I love you even though you've used Unforgivable Curses. I love you even though you dumped me and left me for a year. I love you because of who you are. You're the best person I know, and I don't ever want to be with anybody else. I. Love. You."
He stared at her, now completely overwhelmed with love and adoration and… joy. He slumped, almost involuntarily, into her arms. She hugged him fiercely, and he felt free. It felt like a brutal weight he'd been carrying for months had been lifted off his shoulders. He'd tried to push it down for so long, but he'd been wrestling with the knowledge that Riddle's soul had been latched onto his for months now. But it didn't matter to her. It hadn't ever mattered to her.
Harry planted several worshipful kisses on Ginny's shoulder and neck, still holding her tightly, feeling totally wrapped in her love. He couldn't fathom how this absolutely perfect person loved him that much, but he was done questioning it. He knew she was the only person he'd ever want to be with, the only person who he could possibly feel this close to, and he was about damn tired of letting Riddle come between them and create insecurities in his mind about who he was and what Ginny would think if she saw the real him.
"I love you," Harry whispered, continuing to kiss up her neck reverently before planting a chaste kiss on her lips. He took a second to admire everything about her, especially the care she showed him in her eyes. Those eyes could blaze furiously, but, in moments like this, they were the most gentle things he'd ever seen. It was an amazing contradiction… almost as amazing as her having the entire world to choose from and still choosing him. He loved her, and he was done waiting. He'd waited long enough. "And… I– I want you," he finished.
Her eyes widened fractionally, revealing the desire behind them. "Are you saying…" she began, trailing off a little hopefully.
He nodded. "I'm ready," he whispered, knowing that everything that had been holding him back had been overcome by their love.
She didn't even bother hiding her excitement. She grinned, laying back down on the bed. "Come and get it then," she demanded, and Harry complied immediately.
They kissed furiously, hands exploring each other's bodies. Ginny's hands were on his back and stomach, and he didn't resist when she started pulling at his shirt, fisting the cloth in both her hands. Their kiss broke as she quickly pulled it up, but he recoiled when her very fast-moving fist hit him in the nose, causing a wave of pain to explode across his face.
"Shit! Are you okay?" Ginny exclaimed worriedly. Harry kept his hands over his throbbing nose.
"Fine, I think," he managed, though his voice was coming out strangely. He certainly didn't feel fine.
Ginny gently pulled his hand away from his face and grimaced when she saw what was beneath it. "That bad?" Harry asked.
She smiled wryly. "A little. Episkey," she cast, having grabbed her wand, and Harry felt a shock on his face as his nose mended itself. "Scourgify," she added, making him guess that there had been blood on his face too. Then she smiled, quickly pecking his nose. "All better. I really am sorry about that. Guess I– I just got a little excited."
He chuckled and rubbed at his nose. "Can't say I blame you. Even if it did ruin the mood a bit."
She looked up at him, eyes heavy lidded in an expression that pretty much wiped every thought of his previously broken nose from his mind. "Is the mood really that ruined?" Ginny asked curiously.
Harry stared at her for a fraction of a second before answering her question by pulling her closer to him and capturing her lips again. After a moment, he frantically began kissing down her neck, savouring every taste of her sweet skin.
He began pulling her shirt to the side to kiss more of her shoulder before realising that he could just take it off. Well aware that she didn't wear a bra at night, he sat up slightly and pulled the bottom of her shirt up, exposing her pale, flat, lightly freckled stomach. He raised an eyebrow to her, and she wordlessly helped him, pulling the shirt up and over her head– much more cautious around her own face than his, he noticed– exposing her top half completely to him.
Harry felt his mouth go dry, staring down at her. "Wow," he whispered. She rolled her eyes, grinning brightly at him before pulling him into another deep kiss. His hands began exploring all this new skin first before his lips followed, delighting in every gasp that a kiss or nibble of his brought to her. He was certain that he could do this for the rest of his life and never grow tired of it.
He had no idea how much time passed before Ginny lightly tugged on his hair, inviting him back up to capture her lips in yet another earth-shattering kiss. Somehow, she pushed off the bed enough to roll so she was now on top of him. Their kiss did break though, just long enough for Ginny to accidentally drool on his chin.
She blushed apologetically and wiped it off, even though he really didn't mind. He didn't get a chance to tell her that before her lips were back on his, any embarrassment apparently forgotten. Then her hands were on the waistband of his pyjama pants, and he lifted his hips off the bed enough to allow her access. She began covering his body with kisses, and Harry couldn't have held in the moans of pleasure that she elicited if he tried.
Suddenly, he realised that he was completely bare, and she was staring at all of him hungrily. The second she touched him, he realised that he didn't stand a chance of lasting. His toes curled and he tried to warn her, but it was much too late.
Her eyes were wide, and he was blushing furiously. "Sorry–" he began, but Ginny shook her head and grabbed her wand off the bedside table.
"Scourgify," she cast before kissing him. "Don't you dare apologise," she almost growled protectively, and Harry felt reinvigorated, grabbing her by the shoulders and rolling her onto her back.
"You're wearing too much still," he whispered, kissing his way down her body again. Her thumbs were already looped through the waistband of her pyjama pants when he made it down that far, and he helped her, pulling the garment off her. His mouth opened slightly as he once again found himself staring at the heavenly sight in front of him. Her fair skin was almost shining with sweat already, and it was dotted with freckles all over– not as much as on her face, but still enough that he was sure he'd never grow tired of trying to kiss them all.
"Harry," Ginny said, breaking him out of his daze and making him blink rapidly several times. "You get a little distracted?" she asked teasingly.
He swallowed, a little nervously, somehow. "Er– it– it's easy to be distracted… looking at you."
She beamed brightly and yanked him down towards her by his arms. He didn't need any further invitation to continue his exploration of her body with his hands and mouth. He really had no clue what he was doing, but she certainly seemed to be enjoying it, so he wasn't about to question it. He'd thought that she'd been moaning a lot when he'd been working on her chest and stomach, but she was practically screaming now.
He grinned against her, as her trembling eased and she began lovingly caressing his head, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh before sitting up.
"I fucking love you," she gasped, looking even better now, somehow, than she had before– even redder, sweatier, and totally out of breath.
He knew he was staring again, but he couldn't help it. He vaguely noticed her moving, but it wasn't until she said "Pressimino" that he noticed she was pointing her wand at her stomach. He raised his eyebrows, and she winked at him.
"Just wanna be sure Teddy's still the only baby we have to worry about," she explained.
"Oh," Harry replied. Then the meaning behind that explanation hit him. "Oh…" he repeated in a more understanding tone. "So– so then…"
Ginny nodded. "I told you I'm yours. I'm ready to prove it now," she said, and he realised he was even more in love with her now than he had been this morning. He didn't know how that was possible, but he knew it was true.
He was also gripped by a new sense of nervousness. He still had no clue what he was doing. Logically, of course, he knew the mechanics of it all, thanks to a book Seamus had in the dormitory several years ago, but he'd heard stories at Hogwarts about girls who were very disappointed with their sexual encounters, for reasons that usually revolved around the insensitivity of whatever bloke they were with. At least, that's what he gathered from hearing older boys saying things like 'I tried for like five minutes and she didn't finish; what else was I supposed to do?' Ginny didn't deserve anything like that, and he was going to do everything he could to make things perfect for her.
"Whoa! Not there!" Ginny almost shouted, flinching and nearly kicking him in the face.
So much for making it perfect. "Fuck," he muttered, jerking away, feeling incredibly embarrassed, but Ginny locked her legs around his waist, keeping him pressed against her.
"You're not going anywhere, Potter," she told him, propping herself up on her shoulders, the fire in her eyes burning brightly. "If you wanted to keep going after I broke your nose, that sure as hell isn't gonna change my mind."
Harry swallowed a lump of love and admiration for her. "I just– I want you to enjoy it."
She smiled, a bit hungrily, at him. "I want us both to enjoy it. But we can't very well do that if you run away. So… do you want me or not?"
His knees almost buckled at that, which would've been pretty embarrassing in its own right. But seeing Ginny like that, staring up at him like he was all that mattered, wanting to take this step together, almost broke him. Plus, in all his wildest dreams about this day eventually coming, she'd never looked as amazing as she did now.
"Yeah. I– I really, really do."
"Good answer," she replied, still adoringly and longingly looking at him before her gaze darted downward. She tensed her legs, giving him a very clear signal that he wasn't about to ignore.
Harry did his best to control himself, but he was very much in love, attracted to Ginny, and randy, and, as much as he tried, he couldn't help but moan as he quickly pressed forward, eager despite his nerves. He tensed almost immediately when Ginny gasped, like she was in pain. One look at her face confirmed that. She seemed to be trying to do her best to mask it, but he knew her well enough to know the way her face was screwed up had much more to do with pain than any possible pleasure she was getting out of this.
"Shit… are you okay?" Harry asked nervously, starting to reverse course in hopes of alleviating her pain.
She tightened the hold her locked legs had on his waist, keeping him right where he was. She swallowed tightly and nodded, looking up at him with both want and wariness. "Yeah," she worked out. "I– I'll be fine. Don't stop… just– slower."
He took a breath and nodded, doing his best to go as slow as he possibly could, burying his face in the curve of her neck. Below him, she seemed to gradually calm– at least in that she wasn't visibly in pain anymore. He didn't dare change anything though. If she was enjoying it, he could control himself. But when she began growing more enthusiastic and vocal, as pleasure finally replaced the pain for her, it made it even more difficult to last.
All he could think, with the incredibly limited thinking ability he had, was that he'd never felt more complete or loved in his life. This was unlike any sort of pleasure he'd ever felt before, but it was the intimacy that was almost more overwhelming than anything– a perfect feeling of vulnerability and oneness with the woman he loved above all else. He knew his life would never be the same, so transformed by this step he and Ginny had taken together, breaking down all the barriers, both emotional and physical, that had still separated them.
"Love you," he managed, despite his energy being focussed elsewhere. It was really all he could possibly think to say, and Ginny moaned contentedly underneath him, as unable as he was to string anything more coherent together. It was perfect– it just didn't last long enough, which was, admittedly, his fault, but he couldn't help it at all. He was also positive that he would never think it was long enough. It was safe to say he was addicted, and he couldn't be happier.
Gradually, he rolled off her, but he made sure not to lose contact with her, still touching and kissing as much of her as he could.
"Wow," Ginny whispered plainly, still breathing heavily.
Harry nodded, kissing her shoulder. "Wow," he agreed. "That was… wow."
She rolled over and looked deeply into his eyes. "Are you sure you were ready?" she asked, apparently concerned for him now.
He pretended to think about it. "I mean, we might need to try it out a few more times before I really know for sure."
Ginny laughed, maybe the only sound on earth that could rival the perfection of her moans. "I think we can arrange that," she offered.
"Good," he replied. Then, he added with a grin, "I can't believe you broke my nose."
Ginny grinned right back at him. "And I can't believe you almost–"
Harry groaned. "Merlin, can we forget about that? I didn't mean to–"
She interrupted him by laughing and kissing him. "I won't ever mention it again. We were both clearly very nervous. I really am sorry about breaking your nose though. I was way too excited."
"I didn't mind… too much at least. Although I'd be okay if we didn't try that part out again."
"I guess it all depends on how excited you get me," she decided, winking at him.
Harry chuckled and pulled her tightly to him, kissing the top of her head. "You're mine?" he asked, as if she hadn't already made that very clear.
She nodded firmly. "And you're mine." Not a question. Just a statement of fact.
He grinned as he closed his eyes, suddenly becoming very tired. "Forever," he promised.
HGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG
It took more than a minute or two after she woke up to realise that it hadn't all just been an amazing dream. The epiphany came when she noticed that Harry was holding her close to him. She was used to that. She wasn't used to not wearing any clothes in bed, and she certainly wasn't used to Harry not wearing any clothes in bed. But there he was, holding her as always. Just with less clothes.
That reminder immediately had Ginny's skin tingling with want, with need, as she remembered just how incredible last night had been. She had nothing to compare it to, but that didn't matter in the slightest. She knew she'd never felt that much physical pleasure before, but she was almost more awed by just how close she'd felt with Harry. Obviously, it didn't seem possible to not become closer after that, but she could never have imagined just how different things would feel after that one night. It was like something magical had happened, literally transforming them from who they were before to who they were now. Last night had felt like a huge step in the life they were building together, and she couldn't be happier.
Truthfully, Ginny had been wondering for a while when this would finally happen. She'd been ready for at least a month, which wasn't a long time in the grand scheme of things, but, considering how close they'd become, it had seemed like only a matter of time. There hadn't been any reason for her to not want to other than Harry not being there yet. In the end though, she was just glad that he'd been ready.
The circumstances probably hadn't been ideal. She understood now that the conversation they'd had on the beach last night had been about much more than him being unaware of the magic he'd had as a child. But then again, nothing about the circumstances of their relationship had been ideal at all. Despite that, they'd continued to strengthen their relationship to the point where Harry was comfortable crying to her about nightmares. There wasn't another way to put it. It was love.
She felt love– and a lot of other things– admiring Harry while he slept. He was still thin, but his lean muscles were still incredibly attractive. His hair was still as unruly as ever; she didn't think he'd cut it since the battle, and it had been almost to his shoulders then. She didn't mind it though– it gave him a rugged look, although she supposed that anyone who'd spent more than six months camping would probably have a rugged look about them.
His strong hand was on her hip, tensed ever so slightly, as if he was just wanting to make sure he didn't let go of her. She noticed that Harry's mouth was formed into a small smile, which made her happy– he deserved some good dreams after the horrific one he'd had last night. She'd been so scared. Nothing she'd done had made him wake up, and he'd had to deal with the whole nightmare before snapping out of it.
That wasn't a problem for him now. His bright green eyes cracked open and his smile grew much wider seeing her. "Good morning, love," Ginny said brightly.
He responded by kissing her, very soundly, and she noticed that the hand that had been on her hip was now firmly cupping her bum. Not that she minded.
"Last night was…" he trailed off, still grinning at her.
She nodded. "Yeah it was." They just stared into each other's eyes for what felt like several minutes before she added, "Ready to test it again?"
He raised an eyebrow, now playing with her hair with the hand that wasn't groping her. "Test it?"
"Yeah. You said you'd need to test it a few more times before you knew if you were really ready for us to be having sex," she answered.
He laughed. "Wow, you're eager."
"Very," she responded, showing him just how eager she was when she crawled on top of him.
After testing it a second and third time– luckily with no more injuries aside from Ginny accidentally kicking Harry in a place that made having a fourth consecutive test rather difficult– they spent a very lazy day on the beach. One lazy day turned into three lazy days before Ginny remembered that she needed to try out her new broom.
"We should go flying today," she suggested while they were lying in bed after another very thorough test. Harry had been absently playing with her hair but he grinned and sat upright at this idea.
"That sounds brilliant!" he exclaimed, jumping out of bed and bringing their brooms in from the living room.
Ginny began giggling. "I think you forgot something," she commented, seeing his confused expression.
He frowned and looked around, wondering what he forgot. Then he looked down and blushed, noticing he wasn't wearing any clothes. "Yep, that would be it," Ginny said, still smiling at him.
He shrugged. "Could always do a naked flight," he suggested with a wink.
She wrinkled her nose and cringed slightly. "That sounds rather painful."
He furrowed his brow as if trying to find a way around it. "We're not gonna fly around naked on a broom in the middle of the day either," she added, even though she thought it was cute that, in just a couple days, he'd become very enthusiastic about nudity.
"I mean… if anybody saw us on a broom, we'd be in trouble, regardless of whether we were wearing clothes or not," he reasoned, and she snorted, realising that he was right.
Ginny climbed out of bed and he looked at her hopefully, slowly extending the broom to her and becoming crestfallen when she rolled her eyes and put some clothes on. He sighed and began dressing next to her. Once they were both ready, she kissed him on the cheek.
"I can think of some things other than flying that we can do naked later," she offered temptingly, and that snapped Harry right back to a grinning state that he maintained as they walked out the front door of the house and mounted their brooms.
They both kicked off, flying out over the ocean. If it was possible, the Firebolt felt even faster than it had when they played Quidditch at Chudley Coliseum. Without communicating, Ginny and Harry flew in unison. They looped around each other, seemingly knowing exactly where the other one was going to go. They may not have known how to dance, but this elaborate choreography showed that it wasn't for a lack of synchronisation between them.
They raced together, low over the water– so low that she reached her hand out and skimmed it with her hand, spraying Harry with more water than she'd intended. Her laugh was lost in the wind, but he was smiling all the same. At least until they slowed down and he was able to splash her back. Fair enough– she probably deserved that.
They returned to the cottage briefly to grab the Quaffle they'd brought. They made a game out of seeing how close they could let the ball get to the water before catching it, which led to them both falling off their brooms and into the water on more than one occasion. It didn't seem to matter though– they were both just having fun. It was the kind of silly, goofy fun that she could only imagine having with a partner, someone who got her completely and embraced every part of her. He had to feel the same– she knew how rare it was for him to be this carefree, and she was determined to prolong it for as long as possible.
After Harry fell into the water for what must've been the seventh time, she helped him up and flew him over to his broom, which was hovering over the water about twenty feet away. They'd been playing for most of the day, and Ginny had an idea for another game she wanted to play.
"You think you can beat me to a Snitch?" she asked over her shoulder, giving him a challenge he couldn't refuse.
He chuckled. "In my sleep," he taunted as he climbed onto his broom.
"Cocky," she accused.
"Confident," he corrected.
"If memory serves, I've caught more Cup-winning Snitches," she said, flying slowly next to him towards the beach.
"True, but I've caught… seven Snitches in total. How many have you caught?"
"I've caught three– never started a match as Seeker and didn't catch the Snitch," she bragged, and Harry's eyebrows raised a little.
"Why aren't you Gryffindor's Seeker, again?" he asked, making her laugh.
"I like Chasing more. Besides, I think my boyfriend would be upset at me if I took his spot on the team."
"I'm really looking forward to being on the same team this year," he commented, and she grinned.
"So am I. So I think I'll let you be Seeker, even if I'm a little better."
"Only one way to find out," Harry said, racing inside to grab the Snitch he'd brought with him.
"You ready?" she asked.
"Ready to kick your arse," he teased, and Ginny did her best to not laugh at that. It was a little hard to imagine Harry actually being that serious about Quidditch, but it was adorable nonetheless.
"Why don't we make it a little interesting then?" she asked, and he looked curiously at her. She continued, "If you win and you can figure out your whole naked flight thing, we'll do that. If I win, you have to give me the nicest bath ever."
"Do I get to join you in the bath?" he asked, seeming very interested in that idea.
She thought about it. "Depends on how good of a bath it is, I guess."
He nodded slowly. "Deal," he said before pulling her into a quick kiss. "For luck, right?"
She blinked twice and then realised what he'd said. "Y–yeah," she responded, grinning in a way that she figured was rather stupid at him. He laughed and then let the Snitch go. She followed it as far as she could as it darted out over the ocean, but the sunset glittering off the water made it much more difficult to see.
"Three… two… one…" Harry counted off, and they both leapt from the ground at the same time, racing in the general direction that they'd last seen the Snitch. They couldn't find it anywhere though. A couple times, they flew low to the water, thinking they saw the sun reflecting off it, but every time, it was just the water.
They settled into flying side by side over the water, still looking around for it even as they talked and taunted each other further.
"You have seen how I've beaten Charlie to the Snitch this summer, right?"
"Yeah, I've seen you trying to kill yourself for no bloody reason," she responded.
"You're one to talk. I seem to remember hearing all about how you used the Wronski Feint to beat Cho a year ago," he countered.
"That's different! We practised that in the summer," she argued.
"And we agreed that it would be too risky to try in a real match, didn't we?"
She let out a frustrated puff of air. She did remember something, vaguely, about some promise they'd made to not ever actually try it. "But it worked," she grumbled, making Harry laugh.
"That's why I love you," he said affectionately, making her smile at him, distracting her for just a second. Of course, in that second, Harry caught sight of something, and he dove directly down towards the water.
Ginny was less than a broom length behind him, having reacted as quickly as she could, but he was going to get there first. The water was getting really close though, and he was going too fast to even be trying the Wronski Feint. He thought he'd seen the Snitch, and he wasn't stopping.
She winced, thankful at least that it wasn't solid ground he was rushing to, and pulled up as he broke the surface, leaving a large splash in his wake. She hovered hesitantly above the water, waiting for him to come back up. Ten seconds passed, and then twenty. She was about to dive into the water after him when he burst through behind her. She spun around on her broom and saw a big grin on his face, making her breathe a tiny sigh of relief.
"I win," he said, holding the Snitch up between his thumb and forefinger.
She chuckled and shook her head in disbelief. "You're absolutely insane. That is why you're the Gryffindor Seeker."
"That's a sweet compliment, Blaze," he said, flying over to her and kissing her on the cheek before they flew back to the beach.
The sun had almost completely set and Ginny felt at least a little more comfortable about the idea of a naked flight on the broom in the dark. "So, do you have any ideas for how to make our flight work?" she asked, shouldering her broom and walking hand in hand with him up to the cottage.
He laughed. "Not yet. I'll figure something out. But tonight, I think a bath sounds brilliant."
"Oh, stealing my idea, huh?" she asked, giving him a light push to the side.
"I'm the first to admit you're much smarter than me. If you've got a good idea, I'm gonna use it," he answered, pushing her back equally lightly. Just enough to make Ginny want to push him again. She wasn't expecting him to drop his broom and step backwards, causing her to stumble. She also wasn't expecting him to literally sweep her off her feet, but that's exactly what he did, spinning her so he had one hand under her knees and the other behind her back.
"Harry–" she said unsteadily, captivated by his expression– a curious mix of resolute eyes and a bashful grin. Confidence contrasted with a desire to make sure she was comfortable.
"D'you mind summoning my Firebolt? Got my hands a bit full," he joked, carrying her up the stairs and onto the porch.
He turned her around and she did what he asked. "Accio Firebolt!"
Harry chuckled and the Firebolt easily flew over to her, so she now held both in her hands. It felt like something familiar that she should've recognised, but her attention was now on the fact that Harry was carrying her in a way that was exactly like how grooms carried their brides in magazines that Ginny had stolen from her mum. He apparently didn't notice anything interesting about it though, looking the same at her as he had been before.
She set the brooms down on the loveseat as they passed, heading into the bedroom. Almost reverently, Harry laid her down on the bed. She propped herself up on her elbows, and Harry kissed her quickly.
"Two minutes," he said, slipping into the bathroom. As he was filling the tub, she decided to make Harry's work worth it, removing her clothes and laying back on the bed. A moment later, Harry reentered the bedroom, staring dumbfoundedly at her even though he'd seen her nude for a rather significant portion of the holiday.
"I can't be the only one without any clothes on," she complained, smiling as he took the hint and divested himself of his clothes. She was aware enough to know that even though she found it amusing that he was still staring at her like that every time he saw her without clothes, she was doing the same with him.
"You're a goddess," he whispered, lifting her off the bed and carrying her into the bathroom.
In almost any other context, the chivalrous nature of a boyfriend carrying her around might've felt demeaning. It wasn't so long ago that she'd broken up with a boy in part for trying to help her through a door, after all. But she'd found in the time that she'd dated Harry that there was a difference in the way he behaved chivalrously. And it was all found in that wonderful comment that he'd just made, layered with so much love and respect and adoration.
Harry wasn't carrying her now because he thought she couldn't do it herself, just like when he held a door open for her or helped her off the ground. They were partners, and he respected her like an equal— she was often the one helping him up off the ground. When Harry acted like this, he did it because he felt like she deserved something beyond what other girls had. He adored her so much that he wanted to do everything to make her as happy as possible, even if it meant carrying her from the bed to the tub. It would've been nothing for her to walk there herself, and he knew that, but she couldn't deny her heart the pleasure of feeling like it might burst when he looked down at her in his arms like she was the most precious thing he could ever hold.
He gently set her down in the oversized tub, which she was very impressed to find filled with warm water, pink and blue bubbles, and the smell of… roses, maybe?
"Not bad," she commented understatedly, seeing a proud look flash across Harry's face.
"You want company?" he asked, appearing very interested in joining her in the tub.
"There's only one person I want in this tub with me," she answered, looking pointedly at him. He didn't need any more encouragement, so she slid forward to let him climb in behind her. He understood her intentions, wrapping his comforting arms around her and pulling her back so that she was pressed against his chest.
She exhaled softly, feeling the stubble of his cheek on her own as he kissed her neck and shoulder. One of his hands was freely roaming her breasts while the other was beginning to send her into another world of pleasure below the water. They had all the sexual experience of four days, yet Harry seemed to be a very fast learner when it came to making her feel good. He apparently learned quickly when he was interested in the subject. He actually seemed to revel in making her feel good, caring more about whether she enjoyed the experience than if he did, even though they both loved everything they were doing together.
Within a handful of minutes, he sent her over the edge, and she wrapped her arm under his chin and around his head, tangling her fingers in his hair.
"Harry–" she gasped, and he answered the call with another round of kisses along her neck and behind her ear.
She almost curled up against him, resting her cheek on his arm as she looked up into his eyes. He swallowed before opening and closing his mouth twice, apparently struggling to put something into words. She waited patiently, and he made the wait worth it.
"The next thing on my list… I– I don't even know how to explain it. But I've heard people say my name so many different ways. A lot of times it was people who didn't want me around or thought I was trouble… or were trying to kill me. The way you say it has always been the best, but there's something about the way you say my name when you're… like this… that makes me love you even more."
She tilted her head up to kiss him on the cheek. "I love the way you make me feel. I love the way you care for me– the way you call me a goddess and make me believe it when you treat me like one."
He blinked before kissing the top of her head. "You are a goddess," he insisted. "Absolute perfection, in every way."
She knew she was very red, and it had nothing to do with the temperature of the water or the very exciting experience she'd just had. It had everything to do with the only man she'd ever trusted enough to be this open, vulnerable, and intimate with. He loved her so deeply that all he saw when he looked at her was perfection, somehow. He saw all her scars, fears, and mistakes, to be sure. She'd stopped hiding those because of the trust she had in him. He saw all of her. And despite that, or maybe because of that, he showed her in everything he did that all he felt when he looked at her was love.
Ginny could relate to that. She didn't know what love was when she was ten, but she'd fallen as in love with a boy with green eyes and messy black hair as a ten year old possibly could the first time she saw him. And that love had only deepened since then, to the point that she marvelled, almost daily, at how it continued to grow. It hadn't been a straight road by any stretch of the imagination to this point, but it was their road all the same. And she loved Harry with every ounce of her being, damn everyone else. This was all that mattered, and she was determined to show him that as she kissed her way up his neck and jaw before invading his mouth with her zealous tongue.
Hours later, when they were both clean, smelled of roses, and had slightly pruny skin, they were of the same mind on several things. First, they loved each other with everything. Second, they couldn't ever go months without having time alone again. Third, they wouldn't ever tire of making each other feel good like that. And fourth, the bath had been a bloody brilliant idea.
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A/N: I have written 80ish chapters in Happier Every Day so far, and there isn't a chapter I've rewritten and edited more times than this one. I always do a final read through the day before posting, just to check everything again, and yesterday, I added several hundred more words. I'm positive that if I read this again in a couple weeks, there will be things I wish I could change. This chapter is, in my opinion, the most foundational chapter to their relationship since they told each other 'I love you'. Obviously, them having sex for the first time is a big part of that, but there was always this final layer of vulnerability that Harry had to peel back for that to happen, and now, I really don't feel like there's any secrets or any thing between them. I'm going to be completely honest and say that won't always be the case because there does have to be a plot, but right now, things are as perfect as possible.
The reason this chapter was so much more difficult to write than Chapter 15 with the first 'I love you' is that I didn't actually have as straightforward a plan for this as I did for that. To be clear, this is the fourth of the eight foundational plot points of the story of their first year together, but my idea for it largely centred around them being in this house that Harry had surprised her with and breaking down some final barrier that was keeping them from having sex. It might feel obvious now, but it wasn't obvious to me what that barrier would be for a long time. I actually remember making the two hour drive home from college sometime last autumn and spending the entire drive really thinking critically about Harry's character and what insecurities he might still have that would make him so reluctant to take that final step. When I did finally land on the fact that he hasn't really dealt with sharing his soul with Voldemort's, it clicked. Subconsciously, Harry has been afraid, for weeks or months, that he's not entirely himself because Voldemort was a part of him, and he's been terrified of the possibility of what that could mean for his identity and his relationship with Ginny. I've done my best to give tiny hints about that to make it less abrupt too. It might seem a bit irrational, but none of us have ever randomly learned that we had a dark wizard's soul living in us our whole lives… or, at least, I hope not.
The analogy to Harry being surprised to learn he was a wizard fit very well from there, and I think him dreaming of sailing away from the Dursleys one day makes perfect sense. He had to have some hope of getting out, and I really didn't want Harry to dream of joining the military or something, considering how his life has turned out so far. Plus it was perfect for the beach setting.
Some random notes I'm just going to throw out… Harry and Ginny aren't going to be able to have any contact with Ron and Hermione while they're gone, which is going to be difficult but also means they'll have a lot to talk about when they do eventually return. Personally, I loved the one on one moments that each of the four of them had with each other when saying goodbye because of how different and amazing all of their relationships are. I intentionally used dialogue and descriptions from CoS in writing Harry's nightmare because I felt like it would make it seem more real to him. Pressimino is derived, like usual, from a Latin word meaning close or seal for reasons I hope are obvious. It doesn't matter at all, but their bath initially smelled like lavender, until I read it once and thought of Lavender Brown, and then I couldn't read it without seeing that and needed to change it to roses. Just thought you all might find that funny.
Finally, it was very, very difficult for me to write sex scenes in a way that felt real without being overly smutty because I just didn't want to write that way. For what it's worth, nothing I have written or will write will ever be more graphic or smutty than this. I didn't want to do a 'fade to black' type thing, especially for their first time, and it felt like it should be easy to describe loosely because everyone understands exactly what's happening, but it's harder than it looks… no pun intended. So I chose to focus more on emotions than anything else, since that's what's at the heart of this story, and to really lean into the awkwardness of a first time, which I hope, for my own sake, that a lot of us can relate to. Granted, I don't think everyone breaks their partner's nose like Ginny did, but at least there was an easy way to fix it!
As difficult as this chapter was to write, it truly is one of my top 5 favourite chapters in SoR, and I'm rather proud of it, honestly. Harry and Ginny have officially navigated a lot of new waters together, and I can pat myself on the back for the sailing reference now. The summer is almost over, and its end is right around the corner…
Coming Friday: Final Preparations- "Do you think we're making a mistake?"
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Zjy: I'm glad you liked it! I definitely agree with you that I really like Crookshanks too and do regret him not being in SoR, but I do think everyone will like when he does eventually come back! The exchange rate between Muggle money and wizard money is something that's just impossible to have consistency with because JKR is bad at maths and didn't think that part through as much. I think the absolute minimum that a Galleon has to be worth is £25, but it's such a weird thing that also doesn't really matter because they don't really need to worry about converting to Muggle money anyways. And as for Buckbeak, all I can say is who knows? Well… I guess I do know, but there have to be some mysteries!
Dust1423: Thanks so much! The plan for this series has just continued to grow and grow and grow. I have 6 books planned and mapped out, plus I'm going to compile all of Ginny's memories into an additional book that can essentially be read as her life story (hopefully), so that'll make a perfect 7! It'll be quite a while before I'm at that point, but I'm excited!
Lilly: Harry offering her a Firebolt is 1000% on brand to me, so I'm glad you agree. The only thing that would've probably been more on brand was him just giving it to her, which is why Ron had to step in and tell him to at least talk with her first. Harry's pretty good at the romance, but it doesn't hurt to have Ron help him out a bit with keeping a level head from time to time, as crazy as that sounds!
Finnspa23: Yep, I totally agree, JKR's conversion rate makes no sense. It's pretty impossible to actually make a reasonable and consistent conversion, but I did my best to at least make an educated guess! And that's a super interesting question about Harry possibly buying the house. It would've been better if I could've responded to your comment before this chapter came out to build suspense more a bit haha, but I suppose it still isn't completely crazy to think that Harry wasn't just renting the house. We'll have to see!
Jennimileski: Just responding to this one that's a couple chapters back so hopefully you'll see it eventually… Ginny's Patronus is a horse in the OotP film, but none of the books ever actually confirm that Ginny can cast a Patronus at all (but obviously she can because she's awesome), much less what form that Patronus would take. In the book version of Harry teaching them to the D.A., we only learn the Patronus forms of Cho and Hermione and also get confirmation that, at the time, Lavender, Neville, and Seamus couldn't produce corporeal Patroni. Granted, since JKR did consult with the writers and directors of the films, it is reasonable to think that she intended Ginny's Patronus to be a mare all along, and if you consider that to be canon, that's totally up to you. However, I don't see the movies as anything other than an adaptation that allows us to visualise the things described in the books better without expanding canon at all. So for me, if something isn't written within the seven books themselves, I don't feel bound to stick to it as canon, and that includes Ginny's Patronus being a mare.
TheRiflesSpiral: Definitely agree with you on the money, and that price point for high end brooms makes total sense to me. I'm really glad you're enjoying the memories so much! It was so important to me to build their relationship and Ginny's entire life story more than what we got in the books to explain how they are where they are right now. Genuinely, they're one of my favourite parts about writing this series, and I love that everyone loves them as much as I do!