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Dec. 12th, 2006 05:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fics_by_mapleWithin You, Without You
Chapter Eight - Two of Us
~^~
Red? No. The black one, maybe? Not in July, of course not. Okay, just white then. No, bugger, I’ll spill something and be a sight for the rest of day. T -shirt, no, polo. No – shit!
“Harry, just pick a fucking t-shirt, you prat.” Ron watched from the doorway of Harry’s room with a sandwich in his hand as half a dozen shirts circled in the air above the bed.
Disregarding Ron’s words, Harry unleashed his nerves on his best friend.
“Are you eating again? We just had breakfast,” Harry snapped.
“Leave off my food, eh? I was still hungry.”
Harry grumbled as he shoved two pairs of underpants and navy boxers into his kit bag.
“What do you need with-?” Ron began, but Harry held up his wand in warning.
“You do not get to comment on my pants,” he said sharply.
“Well, you’re a fuckin’ cauldron of sunshine, aren’t ya?” Ron took another bite, talking through his ham and avocado. “You better lighten up or Ginny’s gonna kick your arse on your own holiday.”
“I don’t give a kipper’s dick what you think of my mood, Ron. If you’re not gonna help, then sod off. And if Hermione hasn’t left yet, tell her I need her.”
“Grouchy bastard,” Ron grumbled before throwing his head back and shouting. “Hermione! The git needs help with his shirts!”
“Nice,” Harry said sarcastically. He ran his fingers through his hair, gripping a handful at the crown and making himself wince as he looked around.
He felt pressure increasing from every direction and maybe it wasn’t rational, but he was nervous. This was supposed to be a holiday, but it was really a weekend that he hoped would alter his life and he was completely spun up about it.
“Hey now, so are you-?” Ron started in a serious tone, but Hermione entered so he took another bite instead. She was dressed for work, with a satchel slung over her shoulder.
“Honestly, Harry, you could have planned ahead of time,” she said, walking right past his rotating assortment of clothes in the air and going into his wardrobe with her wand out.
“I’ve been planning plenty, just not for my sodding shirts,” Harry protested.
“Wear this one today,” Hermione said, thrusting a white oxford at him. He immediately tugged off his pajama top to put it on. “Change into this one later tonight if you have a nice dinner. Wear this one to bed.” Harry was sure to avoid Ron’s eyes at that comment. “And this one for tomorrow.” Each of Hermione’s selections sailed through the air, folding and tucking neatly into his bag.
“And pack your green robes, not the black. They match everything and if you spill something, it won’t show as badly and-” She raised his chin in her hand from where he was looking down at his buttons. “They complement your eyes.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Good luck, Harry!”
“Thanks. Wait, what do you mean ‘good luck’?” he asked, but she ignored his last question while she kissed Ron goodbye. Harry returned to his buttons, and then she left. “I don’t know what she thinks I need ‘luck’ for anyway, we’re just going on an overnight.”
“Will you quit being such a wanker,” Ron chided, shoving the last of his sandwich in his mouth. “We all know. So come on already, show it to me.”
“Show you what?” Harry asked, his voice an octave higher than it ought to have been.
Ron crossed his arms. “You know bloody well ‘what.’ I showed you Hermione’s.”
“Well, I was with you when you bought it. That doesn’t count.”
“Does so count. I didn’t keep you out of things.”
Harry wasn’t ready to be pushed so hard on this, so he went for a deliberate change of topic.
“You’ll do the rounds in Diagon Ally, yeah?”
Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry, not missing his diversion. “Yes, I will.”
“Be sure to ask after Madam Malkin’s cousin for me.”
“Of course. I’ve been investigating this with you since the beginning, Harry. I think I’ve got a handle on it.”
“I know you do. It’s just – I don’t feel right about leaving them.”
“You’re not leaving them. And you can’t not have a life just because some nutter’s terrorizing Diagon Alley. You’ve done everything you can for now.”
Harry grunted, but he still felt a twinge of guilt. The twins had been the real targets when Lee had been attacked, and each attack that followed had been on someone who had helped the Order during their war efforts. It was impossible not to feel responsible.
“You going alone?”
“Nah, George is going to come with me. I’m gonna go by his new place first.”
Harry snorted.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just, Kensington? Kind of posh for a couple of bachelors, don’t you think?”
Ron shrugged. “I dunno, is it? They’ve got enough money, I reckon. Maybe it’ll help ‘em get girls. Merlin knows those two need to get laid.” He sniggered at his own joke, but Harry didn’t bother with a courtesy laugh. He had finished his packing and was fidgeting nervously, tapping his wand on his bureau. “Damn, mate, you’re wound up like Pig. You’re so moody you’re gonna ruin the weekend if you don’t get a grip on yourself.”
Harry sighed and flopped on the edge of his bed, rubbing the bridge of his nose under his glasses.
“I know, you’re right. Look, I’m not trying to keep it from you, y’know? I just – this is something I’m supposed to do on my own, without your and Hermione’s help. …Except for her picking out my clothes, apparently.”
Harry looked sideways at Ron, took a deep breath and gave in. Ron sat next to him while he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny purple velvet bag with a silver drawstring. He tapped it with his wand and the magical knot slipped loose, and the contents fell onto his palm.
“Huh,” Ron grunted, sounding surprised. He smiled and put a hand on Harry’s shoulder, squeezing for moment just before giving him a shove. “You know what, Harry? It’s perfect.”
~^~
Ginny held onto Harry tightly when he Side-Along Apparated her. Now that they were alone, he slipped his arms around her and pulled her up into a kiss.
“So, are we there?” she asked several minutes later, looking around the grassy area they were standing in. There was a country road nearby.
“Nearly. I was thinking we’d walk through the village if you don’t mind?”
“Sounds good to me,” she agreed, but then looked around them. “Erm, where’s our baggage, Harry? Hope you didn’t leave it at the Burrow. I’d hate to have to go back there.”
“I sent it along to the bed and breakfast. But you’re not kidding about that,” he puffed. “Your mum isn’t too thrilled, is she? She didn’t even kiss me like usual.”
“Bah. Don’t let her get to you. She’s just anxious. It is an overnight trip, after all.” Ginny smirked at him suggestively, walking her fingers along his ribs.
He gave her a quick kiss, but his apparent enthusiasm about their destination had him oblivious to her advances. He always did have a one-track mind, she thought.
“You ready, then? Come on, let’s go,” Harry said, taking her hand and leading the way up the road. “You know about Godric’s Hollow, of course.”
“A bit. We’re somewhere near Scarborough, I reckon.”
“Right. The coast is that way.” Harry pointed with one hand, while happily swinging their clasped hands between them. “For the most part, Godric’s Hollow is populated by wizard shop keepers who serve the tourists. The Muggles never stay too long, so they don’t pay much mind to the wizarding population here. It’s a perfect relationship, really.”
“Yeah, sounds like it.”
“No, it really is.”
Ginny laughed. “I believe you, Harry. A village where wizards and Muggles coexist peacefully – I really like the idea.”
They crested the hill, and down below them lay a tiny village of old buildings with red tile roofs.
“There it is,” Harry said. Ginny stifled a giggle at his adoring expression. He had an air of prickling anticipation about him while just gazing at the town with a silly smile on his face.
“The people here are fantastic, Gin. They’re totally understanding of the Muggles, but it’s more than that really; they claim the roots of Gryffindor himself. Especially after what happened with me here when I was a baby, well, they take it all very seriously. It was a real blow to these people that it happened right under their noses.”
Harry had that feisty look about him that Ginny liked to see. His face was full of determination.
“And, they don’t gape at me and carry on like in other wizarding places. When I first came here with Ron and Hermione, they were just decent folks. They keep their noses down and go about their business, but they’re friendly too. I think it must be why my parents picked this place.”
“Okay, you don’t need to convince me. I understand,” Ginny said, stepping into his embrace. His earnest determination faded into a sheepish grin when he realized how excited he sounded.
This time she pulled him forward. “What shall we see first?”
“Oh. Actually, about that.” Harry repositioned his glasses, and a tiny worry line showed in between his eyebrows. “I think there’s something we should just get out of the way.”
The first place they stopped was a Muggle abbey at the outskirts of the village. It was the place where his parents were buried. Harry was no longer chatty, and he squeezed her hand as they approached. She felt a streak of pride run through her at the look of calm respect on his face. Harry had borne more than his share of sorrow and pain in his life, but his spirit was always strong.
“Go on if you want,” he indicated with a nod a little ways ahead. “I’ll wait.”
“You don’t want to-” Ginny shrugged. “I dunno, say hi or something?”
He shook his head, scrunching his nose slightly with a tiny smile. “Nah. I’ve done all that. I don’t think they’re really here, you know? They’re always with me when I need them. Wherever you go on that next great adventure, I highly doubt it includes hanging about in a cemetery..”
“Oh.”
“I just mean, I talk to them whenever I want to. Magic has shown me I can do that. This is just a resting place for them. But – you go on if you want.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, and though he didn’t look disturbed, he did look quite stubborn.
Ginny went ahead and stood in wonder at what she thought should be hallowed magical ground. There was no ornate white tomb or eternally burning flame here: just two simple grave sites in a quiet forgotten Muggle cemetery.
Recent years had acquainted her too well with death, but it was seeing POTTER etched into marble that gave her a sick feeling. It was a reminder of all that time she had been so afraid of seeing Harry’s name among the dead.
She looked to James’s headstone and spoke in a quiet voice, not really wanting Harry to hear her.
“I know Harry’s a lot like you, so I bet we’d have got on famously. The bond you had with him must have been very strong; your stag has always been there for him. He’s become such a good man, sir. You would be so proud of him.”
Next, she knelt down and ran fingers over the engraved letters of LILY. She was surprised to see her hand trembling, and unexpected emotion welled up as her vision blurred.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry that you didn’t get to know what a sweet little boy you had, but I want to thank you for keeping him safe.” Ginny’s whisper was lost as her throat seized up. She rarely gave into tears, but the gratitude she felt towards this woman fell upon her all at once. “I’ve loved him my whole life. I’ll take care of him now. I promise you that.”
Ginny swallowed hard, blinking and trying to sniff quietly so Harry wouldn’t see what a git she was. She stuck out her bottom lip and puffed air onto her face.
When her eyes finally dried, she returned to Harry and they walked silently from under the shade trees and back into the sun. There wasn’t really any more to say about that.
~^~
Mrs. Bentley’s bed and breakfast was a two-story building of gray brick with a white door. It looked like it had been standing since Gryffindor’s time, but was well cared for.
“Harry, what’s that?” Ginny asked, pointing to what looked like a round barn behind the house.
“That’s the owlery,” he answered with disinterest. “Mrs. Bentley also fosters owls.”
“You never mentioned that before.”
“Didn’t I?”
Ginny thought it was no accident that Harry had left off that information. He hadn’t been particularly warm to any owls since Hedwig’s death.
A slender witch with olive skin waylaid them as soon as they entered. She looked both quite old and youthful at once.
“And there you are, already!” she spoke to Harry in a surprisingly deep alto voice. “Let me look at you!” She took Harry into a tight one-armed hug, careful not to ruffle what appeared to be a sleeping owl tucked under one arm. “You’ve been eating well, I see. Are you well? I was just beside myself when I got your letter. How are the Ron Weasleys?” She seemed to infer an answer to each of her questions and continued talking fast. “And this must be the lass you wrote about. Hello young lady, welcome!”
“Hello, ma’am. Thank you.”
“Well there’s no question you’re your brother’s sister, is there? Lawks – she’s a bonny thing! Now come here, I’ll tell you, won’t bother with that one.” She waved her hand at Harry. “If you’re anything like your brother, then you’re better with the details, yes?”
Ginny barely had time to register everything the woman said and that she had been asked a question before Mrs. Bentley was talking again.
“Now, all your things are in the two rooms up the stairs and to the right. He booked two rooms - Godric love a gentleman! You’ll have the whole place to yourself anyhow. I cleared the book for ya. Do you prefer lamb or beef? The larder’s full, but there’ll be a supper for you later. Tea things are on the counter, don’t be shy. Ignore the Muggle things in the kitchen and just use your wand, yes?”
Ginny nodded rapidly, looking over Mrs. Bentley’s shoulder at Harry who was grinning. He had the look of someone slightly embarrassed about the antics of a loony aunt.
“Harry told me you’d be going out to the old place, so there’s a picnic lunch. It’s there on the table. There’s Floo connection in the main lounge only – but you won’t want it, will you? That’s why you’re here after all.”
“That’s very considerate, thank you,” Ginny said, peeking at the dark feathered creature that her hostess carried.
“Oh, little Castor here never pops his head for anyone. Don’t mind him; he doesn’t mean to be rude.”
“Is he poorly?”
Mrs. Bentley put her free hand over the sleeping owl, and whispered. “He’s had a hard go of it, I’m afraid: gets jittery around strangers. So don’t be surpris- well, will you look at that?” Castor the owl had untucked his head from under his wing and looked sideways at Ginny. “Now, I don’t believe he’s ever shown himself to anyone since I’ve had him. Like the Miss Weasley, do ya, Castor?”
Ginny reached out to him and the bird flinched at first, but she gently stroked over the ruffled feathers on his head and he closed his eyes and let out a tiny hoot at her touch. Mrs. Bentley exhaled, sounding quite impressed.
Ginny smiled and looked to Harry for his reaction, but he was busy collecting their picnic lunch and wasn’t showing any of her interest in the owl.
After several more rapid fire instructions from Mrs. Bentley, Harry and Ginny were on their way again.
~^~
“This is it,” Harry said, his chest extended with pride. “This is my parents’ land - my land.”
Ginny raised an eyebrow, looking at the stretch of overgrown terrain before them.
“Now I know what you’re thinking,” he said in a hurry, taking both her hands, trying to change her train of thought. “You’re thinking this place is kind of morbid, and that maybe it’s a little creepy considering what happened here.”
“Uhm, well I wouldn’t say morbid exactly.” She didn’t want to hamper his enthusiasm; she liked how passionate he was when he got charged up about something.
“See, the way I figure it,” he pressed on, “my parents picked this place and I completely understand why they did. You can’t argue that it’s beautiful country.”
“No, it is that,” Ginny agreed. The lush hills and moors occasionally broken up by wooded areas made it picturesque.
“Loads of people tried to get me to sell. They thought I’d want to quit the whole place.”
“I remember. I heard lots of that talk myself.”
“Yeah, but there’s just something about it. This was where I was supposed to be all that time.” Harry was being so sincere, but he began avoiding her gaze as he continued. “Even though I didn’t get to grow up here, I’ve been thinking that-” He nervously ruffled his hair. “That it’s still a really great place for kids to grow up, and that, erm… I’d like to raise my own – my own kids here. You know … if I’m lucky enough to have...” Harry’s voice faded so that he couldn’t be heard, and his cheeks tinged pink.
“Harry, love, we’ve talked about this. It’s okay to want to have a family of your own. It is. You’ll make a fabulous dad.” This was something she was absolutely convinced of.
Harry let out a nervous little chuckle. “I sometimes wonder if I’m reaching a bit. That whole ‘parent/child’ dynamic didn’t work out too well the first time around.”
“Oh stop it! That,” she scolded, gesturing in the direction of an old brick chimney, the last remnants of the old house, “had nothing to do with your value as a child or your potential as a father. You have a long life ahead of you, and plenty of dreams to make come true.”
“You think?”
“I know. Now, show me around? How much of the property is yours?”
Harry beamed and quickly kissed her before taking off in one direction. He went on and on, telling her about the landscape and the magical animals and about the town. His affection for this location was quite evident, and she happily followed along behind him, watching his arse shift in his jeans as he walked through the tall grass. When he raised his arm to point out the nearest neighbor’s house, she admired how his shirt pulled taut across the back of his shoulder. Those shoulders, which were now so broad and strong.
The property was truly beautiful, but it was the dark haired man in front of her that held her attention. What did she need with miles and miles of green grass when she could get lost in those emerald eyes of his?
After their third pass across the grounds, she’d had her fill. Ginny sat down in the heather, the tall grass nearly concealing her, and waited. Harry’s voice got further away before he realized she was no longer following.
“Gin?” She could hear him backtracking now. “What are you doing? You all right?” he asked, kneeling next to her with a hand on her shoulder. He always touched her so gently.
Ginny tried her best to summon her inner Hermione before she spoke. “This is all very interesting, Harry, but I think it’s important that we find out if there is any magic in this area.”
“Uh, yeah?” He sat opposite her with a suspicious look. “So, what is it you’re after?”
Ginny couldn’t fight back a grin; he just made it so easy.
She shifted herself onto her hands and knees and fixed her eyes on him as she crawled, stalked, towards him. His concerned face quickly gave way to a deflated exasperation as he realized he’d been taken in.
“You, witch, are just as bad as the rest of your clan,” Harry protested, though he stretched out his legs and reclined onto his elbows, becoming her willing prey.
“Hmm, mm.” Ginny nodded, crawling over his legs until she was lying on top of him. She kissed away his smirk, sucking delicately on the bow of his upper lip. Harry made the quietest murmur, and his eyes fluttered shut as she lay on top of him. She ran her tongue very slowly along the inside of his bottom lip and when she claimed his mouth with a deeper kiss, his hands caressed the small of her back.
When they parted from their languid kiss, Ginny sighed deeply. She had intended to hold him down and snog him breathless, but now that she was here she just wanted to wrap herself up in his embrace. She rested her face on the flat plain of his chest and wriggled slightly, settling into him. “See, Harry, there is a little magic here.” It was a pleasant discovery to find that simple snuggling and togetherness could provide such contentment.
Harry stroked lazy circles over her back, and leaned up and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Ginny.”
She heard his heartbeat quicken under her ear, while her own heart was flailing in excitement. How many years had she waited to hear those words? She squeezed him tight. “I love you too, Harry.”
They lay like that for a long time, watching a pair of Jobberknolls nesting in a nearby tree and feeling their skin slowly burn under the summer sun. It seemed that they belonged here, and neither was in a hurry to move.
“Thanks for coming,” Harry finally spoke.
“Mm, I’m glad you asked me. I can see why you’re so thrilled with it. But you know, honestly-” She sat up to look at him again. “I just want to be with you. I don’t much care where we are. I miss you when we’re apart … especially the nights.”
“I know what you mean. I don’t ever want to be away from you.” Harry sat up quickly, shifting her weight to the side and leaning over her. “I was going to wait until later, but I just can’t.”
Ginny raised her eyebrows in question.
“You know, Gin, I really do love Hermione,” Harry began sincerely.
Ginny shook with giggles as she brushed his hair back, cupping his cheek in her hand.
“Really, Harry, you’re going to have to work on improving those endearments.”
Harry shrugged and chuckled at his blunder. “Sorry. See, what I mean is... I love Hermione and your brother; they’re my family. I think some people thought it was odd that I moved into their house, but I didn’t care. Truth is …” Harry glanced away. “I’ve spent my whole magical life with them; I didn’t want to be away from them. But now I don’t need Ron watching my back all the time, and I don’t want Hermione to pick out my shirts anymore.”
“Yes, I can see how that would be annoying,” Ginny joked, poking her fingers between the buttons on his shirt.
“It’s not just that. I want something else now.” He looked very earnest and took her playful hand into his. “I told you on that day you came back home that I’d never let you go, and I don’t aim too. I don’t want to say goodbye to you every night, anymore. I don’t want Ron and Hermione to be the ones I go home to.”
“I understand. I love my parents and my home, but it’s really time for me to be on my own. Actually, I want to be with you.” She reached up, stroking his neck and trailing a finger over his collarbone, just wanting to touch more of him.
“Yeah? You’ve always made me feel normal. But better than normal, you make me feel special.” He blew out an awkward laugh. “But not special in the way other people always have; just because they know my name, they think they know me. But you do know me, and you still manage to make me feel wanted.”
“You are wanted.”
“I never felt like it. Not wanted for the real me.”
“Oh babe, I’ve known you for such a long time. The real Harry Potter is even better than the famous Harry Potter.”
Harry smiled and leaned down to kiss her again, and then gently stroked a finger over her cheek.
“If you’ll let me, Gin, I’d like to spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy. Even when I can’t - because I know I can’t always - I’ll always stick by your side. No matter what, I’ll always be here. I’ll always love you.” Harry swallowed hard and took a breath. “Would you want to get married? Would you have me? As your husband?”
Harry spoke with an unwavering voice and he held his head high, but she could see a glint of fear in his eyes.
This moment had played in her dreams since childhood, but there was no music or heroics. It was simple and real. This tousled-haired, handsome young man with a tragic past and heart made of a thousand broken pieces wanted her - trusted her with his love and his future. Her warrior was being so gentle and earnest.
Ginny felt a Snitch flutter in her stomach before settling again.
“With all of my heart, Harry, I do want to marry you.” He hugged her, clung to her as though grateful for her acceptance. “You know that it means forever and ever, until we’re old and wrinkly?” she continued. “You know I very well may become my mother? I’m not very pleasant in mornings, and I get short tempered sometimes, and there are plenty of times I just want to be left alone.”
Harry smiled, running his nose along her jawbone and behind her ear before looking at her again. “I could handle that. I think we’re a lot alike in that regard.”
“Then we’ll get married. And I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”
The rest of the afternoon passed with them laughing and talking easily under the sun.
When dusk began to set them in shadow, they returned and a hot dinner of roast and potatoes was waiting for them. They both wanted to shower off the layer of dust from their lazy day in the grass, and Harry asked Ginny to come to his room when she was ready.
~^~
When Harry opened his bedroom door to Ginny, all his focused concentration from the moment before was thoroughly broken. He leaned his forearm on the door jamb and pushed up his glasses, giving her a smirk.
“Ginevra Weasley, I told you not to dress in anything sexy. This-” He wagged a finger at her attire. “- is a distraction.”
“What are you on about?” she argued. “I’m wearing a proper nightshirt.” And she was, for the most part: if you called the thin, faded green and gray pinstriped boy’s pyjama shirt ‘proper.’ The hem hung down to her knees and though she had rolled the cuffs, the arms were still helplessly long.
“There’s still the problem of your legs, Ginny,” Harry said, tilting his head to the side and giving her legs a yearning look.
“Do you mean these things?” She lifted the shirt and canted her knee inward, displaying the line of muscle running up the side of her thigh.
“Argh,” Harry snarl-laughed and moved aside. “Get in here, temptress.”
Ginny gave a triumphant chuckle as she entered and after Harry shut the door, she flung herself at him, seizing the back of his neck and claiming him with a hungry kiss.
“Mm. - Mm,” Harry sounded between kisses as he tried to break away, but was also clearly conflicted about reproving her advances.
“Will you just - just-” He backed away from her with his hands in front of him, pointing her away. “Stop it now. I’m trying to do something here.”
“So am I, love,” she said, sauntering towards him. Harry snickered, but then pulled his ‘I am powerful wizard’ face.
“No! You will behave yourself! For at least an hour or two! Please?”
Ginny pursed her lips and sighed. “Oh, very well then.” She spied the items spread across the bed: a stack of blank parchments and a breakfast tray with ink bottles and quills. “Wait a minute, Potter, this looks like revision. I’ve left school; what are you trying to lure me into?”
“It’s nothing like that, come on. You gotta trust me.”
She squinted her eyes at him.
“Woman, could you just not argue for once, please? Come on, I’ve been working really hard on this.”
“Okay then, fine. But you’ve got to give me something.”
Harry huffed as though he was terribly put out, but she knew he would give her the shirt off his back if she asked.
Actually…
“You have to take off your shirt, Harry.”
He chortled. “You’re not serious?”
“I am completely serious. If you want me to cooperate with whatever project you’ve concocted, then you hand over that shirt.”
Harry opened his mouth to protest, but then resigned himself to accept her ultimatum.
“Okay.” He rolled his eyes, but she saw a slight smile play in the corners of his mouth. “Fine.” He crossed his hands at his waist and lifted the hem of his blue t-shirt.
Ginny’s breath hitched as she watched him expose his tight belly, every etched muscle visible as he shifted. Scant dark hair at his navel beckoned her eyes to travel down where her mind so happily settled.
“You promise?” His voice muffled through the shirt as he pulled it over his head.
“I promise,” she swore while mentally ravishing his chest. “I’ll go along with whatever, but I get to look at you … like this.” He had discarded his shirt and she licked her lips, wanting to kiss every bit of peach colored skin.
Harry scratched at his arm, blushing slightly. “Are you quite done now?”
Ginny tore her eyes from all his irresistible bare flesh and met his gaze.
“Yes. Right. Let’s get on with it.”
Harry led her to the side of the bed and sat with his back against the pillows. She put one knee on the bed and splayed her fingers over his chest.
“Eh, eh, eh,” he scolded, snatching her hand up, but he kissed her knuckles tenderly. “You can do whatever you want to me - after. Now come here.” He took her by the waist and shifted her around so that she sat in front of him, with her back against his chest.
“Hmm…” she moaned, running her hands along his thighs on either side of her, wriggling her bum back into his groin.
“Gin!”
“- Sorry.”
“Now, I need you to trust me, and you’ll have to keep your eyes shut tight, all right?”
Ginny snorted. “Do you know how often that line was used in my house growing up? Not a chance, mate.”
“I would never take advantage of your trust. … I’d be too scared to do that.”
“You promise nothing is going to grow out of someplace it shouldn’t or leave a rash?”
“I swear it. It’s nothing like that. Now close your eyes.” She settled against him, and he picked up his wand. “Now, remember when I met you that morning and we went flying?”
“You showed me the sunrise.”
“Right. You told me about the house you wanted. I want you imagine it now. The spell I’m going to perform might make you feel a little off balance, but I’m right here to hold you. You just think about that house, okay?”
“Oh-kay.” Ginny nodded, feeling a bit apprehensive.
He kissed the side of her head and then spoke. “Animadverto.”
Ginny suddenly felt like the bed had fallen out from underneath her. As soon as she startled, she felt Harry’s arm tighten around her waist, felt his breath against her ear.
“I’m right here. I’ve got you. Now think about your house, love. Go to the front door.”
The darkness behind her eyelids cleared as she saw herself approaching a red brick house with a bay window. She walked through the front door and heard a distant scratching noise.
“Harry?”
“You’re doing fine, just keep going.”
It was like taking a Day Dream Charm; this was a place she had idly imagined, but only ever in disjointed images. This was vivid. Everything from the dark wood floors and painted wainscoting looked real. From room to room she walked, feeling like an intruder into someone else’s home, but intrigued by everything she saw because it was just perfect.
“What’s upstairs, Gin? Just keep concentrating.” She proceeded up the stairway, feeling at every minute as though she was going to fall off the edge of a cliff but solid ground met her every step. She didn’t understand the scratching sound she heard and was beginning to think there was a Boggart hiding someplace.
She walked into each bedroom and sighed at the sight of the ensuite master bath.
“All right,” she heard Harry say at long last, reminding her that she wasn’t actually inside this house she was exploring. “You can open your eyes now. Come back.”
“It’s nice here,” she said idly, taking one last look around.
“Yeah it is,” he agreed softly, and she felt his arm once again tighten around her waist. She didn’t realize he had ever let go.
“Finite Incantatem,” Harry said and she went wobbly like she had spun in circles, but she leaned into him and slowly opened her eyes.
“That was perfect, Gin!” Harry kissed her. “Look what you did.”
Spread out before them, on several layers of parchments, were sketches of the house. Each room was drawn out in perfect detail.
“This is brilliant, Harry. How did you-? This would have taken hours.”
“Yeah. It’s been almost two hours now.”
“No way, really?”
“Yep. And this?” He pulled the sketch of the exterior entrance closer. “I’m gonna build this house for you. For us, for our family.”
“Build a house? A brand new house?” Ginny boggled at him, unable to decide if she were thrilled or mortified. “Harry, exactly how loaded are you?”
Harry raised his eyebrows and nodded heftily. “Well, first, I love that this is the first time you’ve asked me that. Second, you know of course that you get everything that’s mine. There are a lot of lousy attachments to me, you know? But you will get all of my money, of which there is quite a lot actually.”
She looked at him, and then at the sketches and then back to him, all with her mouth open.
“I don’t know what to say. It seems like too much. It’s too big.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just let me do this for us. We’ll do it together.”
Ginny shifted onto her knees between his thighs and faced him. Taking his face into her hands, she kissed him hard. Harry squeaked as she climbed onto his lap, pressing him back against the pillows and rocking her pelvis against him.
“Wait, let me just-” He strained to look over her while he returned her fervent kiss. “- Clear this stuff off.”
Using his wand he sent the parchments and supplies sailing across the room, landing in a rough pile on top of the dresser. With the bed now unfettered he shoved his wand under a pillow and placed his hands on her back, pulling her against him. He leaned up into her kiss, teasing her mouth with his, moaning at the pressure of her grinding movements over his waking erection.
“Been wanting you all day,” Harry said in a husky voice as he rolled them over so that he was on top of her.
“That so?” she asked, as she leaned to the side while he sucked and kissed underneath her jaw. “You’ve been a bit distracted.”
“Ugh.” Harry sat back on his heels. “I’ve been out of my head all day. Petrified.” He removed his glasses and shoved them under a pillow. “Hoping that you’d like Godric’s Hollow enough to live here. That you’d say ‘yes.’”
“You should never have doubted that.”
“I know,” he said, reaching for the top button of her shirt. “Think I’m over it now.” He paused after unbuttoning the first two, squinting at the fabric in his hand. “Hey, I recognize this. Ron has the bottoms for this.”
“I know. I nicked it from him after Bill’s wedding.”
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not have any reminders of your brother in my face while I … ” He popped open the last button.
“While you what?”
Harry smirked and pushed open her nightshirt. He took a deep breath at the sight of her freckle-dusted, porcelain skin.
Leaning onto one elbow, he began kissing her again while his free hand ran up her waist, then ribs and finally cupped her breast. Her skin was warm against his bare chest.
“I love you so much,” he muttered against her skin. The words came easily to him now.
She arched into his touch, running her hands over his back, grasping and pulling him closer.
“Love you too. Love your hands on me.”
He grunted in assent as he squeezed her luscious thighs.
Breathing over the peak of her breast, he saw the the tender skin react before he sucked it into his mouth. He laved it with the center of his tongue while he continued to clutch her waist.
“Harry,” she whispered in an aimless plea.
As she slid her fingers through his hair, he slid his hands up the back of her thighs and over her arse. Of course this would be the time she wears knickers.
He sat back again and tugged on the white cotton so that she lifted her bum for him to pull them off, both agreeing with a smile in their eyes that they wanted this.
Ginny sat forward to shrug the shirt completely off. Harry snagged it and threw it across the room.
“If you want old pyjamas, I’ll give you some of mine.”
“Good,” Ginny said, leaning up to wrap arms around his waist, kissing all of his torso that she could reach. She dragged her teeth along the sideline of his ab muscles and nipped at his hipbone jutting above his waistband.
The lack of pressure against his hard-on was becoming increasingly frustrating. Harry jumped when her hands dived into the back of his pants and clawed his arse with her fine nails.
Unable to resist any longer, he pushed his pyjama bottoms down, finally freeing his heavy cock.
Ginny leaned back against the pillows. It was such a rush to see that hungry look in her eye that she had for him: for his naked body.
“What was that face for?” she asked, her face showing a rosy hue.
“Just the way you make me feel,” he said as he pushed his pants past his feet and tossed them aside.
“How’s that?”
He shrugged.
“Loved … wanted … sexy.” He hid his embarrassment over the last word by lowering his body onto hers and hiding his face in her neck.
“Oh, you are. You are,” Ginny promised, holding him tight and kissing the side of his face.
This was the first time their intimate touching wasn’t done past disheveled clothing, through a pushed aside blouse or trousers bunched around knees. They both hissed and groaned at the heat of such complete, unencumbered contact.
Harry sat up, teasing through her auburn curls with one hand while lifting one leg from under the knee. He pressed his lips to her smooth thigh, moving downward. He had to continue, he had to know what it was like.
Ginny bent her knees wide when his shoulders pressed against her thighs. Harry accepted her breathless gasps and arching as encouragement. As his fingers delved into the softness that made her keen, his want out-flew his hesitance and he quickly followed the path of his fingers with his tongue.
“Oh my - ahh,” Ginny moaned and for the first time Harry had the luxury of being deeply turned by the loud sounds she made, rather than fearing they’d be overheard. He caressed her womanhood with his mouth and his hands, which was so utterly new for him and yet it felt so thoroughly normal. He’d never allowed himself such intimacy before, and now felt foolish for it. This was brilliant.
While he worked her sensitive spot over and over with his mouth, Ginny fisted the quilt with one hand and clutched his shoulder with the other.
“Ah, yes,” she whimpered, quaking from his touch.
He lost all sense of time as he slowly learned how to love her like this: licking and sucking, first gently and then with increasing vigor until his motions brought her to completion.
Resting his head against her belly while she calmed, he fought against the urge to rut against the bed. His body was begging attention, and now that she had been fulfilled he couldn’t refrain any longer.
Surreptitiously wiping his mouth he lay over her again, trapping his cock between them.
“Okay, love?” he asked into her neck.
She only nodded, her mouth still open. “I still want you.”
“I know,” he murmured, “want you too.”
Raising off of her just enough to grasp himself, he ran the head of his cock over her parted entrance, getting warm and slick from her moisture. So close.
He opened his eyes and saw her eyebrows tight with anticipation. He loved her so much: he’d made difficult decisions out of that love before, and he wanted so badly to do right by her.
“’M sorry,” he said tightly.
“‘S ok, I’m ready.”
“No, it’s –want to marry you first.” As he muttered those difficult words, he stroked himself and came against her. He shook and collapsed on top of her in his fatigue.
After he caught his breath, he sat up to look at her.
“Are you angry?”
“No,” she answered quickly, looking a bit disappointed. “It’s a bit old fashioned, you git.”
“I know it. But I really need to be able to look your brothers in the face -”
“My brothers? Are they to be a part of our sex life, too? Is that what our life is going be like?”
“No. Well, just this once. Ginny, you’ve got to understand, each one of them has a real ‘thing’ about being honorable. If I want to be able to hold my head high among them, I have to do right by them.”
“They have nothing to do with this,” she pressed. It seemed silly to be arguing while lying naked and sweaty together.
“But you sort of belong to them-”
“I do not belong to anyone.”
“I realize that,” he agreed quickly and though she was clearly annoyed, he kept his voice passive. “I don’t mean it to be a sexist wizard thing, but in a lot of ways, you do belong to them. You’ve always been theirs to look after. As long as I can be honest about this, then I can tell the lot of them to sod off after we’re married. I promise, they’ll never be a factor in our private life again.”
Ginny took a deep breath to cool off and shook her head at him.
“Stupid, noble reasons,” she muttered.
Harry smiled and then nudged and nuzzled her face and neck playfully with his nose until she finally smiled in return. He magicked them clean using his wand and they slipped naked underneath he blankets.
“Hey, I’ve still got something for you.”
“Something more? I’m already overwhelmed about the house.”
“This is just a little thing.” He scooted next to and slightly behind her, and took her hand. “I’m new at all this, but I’m pretty certain that to be a proper fiancé, you are supposed to have a ring.” Harry slid a band onto her petite finger. It was brushed gold with a delicate vine of shimmering red stone winding along the center. “I could get you something bigger or shinier if you want. I’ll buy you loads of jewelry if you want it, but I just figured nothing could compare to your beauty anyway.”
“Oh Harry, it’s perfect. It’s so elegant and simple. Thank you.”
They lay together, with her head nestled in the crook of his arm, with her hand on his chest. Harry ran his fingertip over and over the smooth ring on her finger, until they eventually fell asleep.
~^~
When they woke in the morning, loving embraces turned into teasing touches, which led to bolder exploring with hands and mouths. Their attentions to each other sated their primal need, but couldn’t completely satisfy the desire to know each other fully. Resistance was not going to be easy.
They ate a breakfast that was sent to their room, and then they showered together, which wasn’t nearly as sexy as they thought it might be in the old-fashioned Muggle bathroom. Each took turns under the water spray while the other shivered in the air and then tried not to fall out of the tub or get the shower curtain stuck to their bum as they traded positions. It was still fun, and it had them giggling on their walk through the village.
Once again at the property that would become their home, they discussed and argued the best situation of the house until they heard the unmistakable sound of Apparition not too far off.
“Dears! Oh, Merlin me, there you are!” Mrs. Bentley rushed towards them, looking quite distressed. “I hoped you’d be here. This just arrived by that fluttery little owl of your brother’s.”
Harry and Ginny looked at each other, slightly skeptical, as he opened the letter she had brought. Pig was of course always ‘fluttery’ and it had nothing to do with urgency.
“Thank you, ma’am, I’m sorry you got alarmed. I’m sure it’s nothing though,” Ginny said.
“It’s from Hermione,” Harry said as he read the letter. “Gin, we need to go. She says your dad’s been hurt. He’s in St. Mungo’s.”
~^~ Continue to Chapter Nine
A/N – I’d like to thank Allipotter and PhoenixAnkaa for their help and encouragement with this chapter, and many thanks to Belovedranger for the speedy and careful beta work.
I really appreciate hearing your comments. There are genuine answers coming in the next chapter – I promise!
Chapter Eight - Two of Us
~^~
Red? No. The black one, maybe? Not in July, of course not. Okay, just white then. No, bugger, I’ll spill something and be a sight for the rest of day. T -shirt, no, polo. No – shit!
“Harry, just pick a fucking t-shirt, you prat.” Ron watched from the doorway of Harry’s room with a sandwich in his hand as half a dozen shirts circled in the air above the bed.
Disregarding Ron’s words, Harry unleashed his nerves on his best friend.
“Are you eating again? We just had breakfast,” Harry snapped.
“Leave off my food, eh? I was still hungry.”
Harry grumbled as he shoved two pairs of underpants and navy boxers into his kit bag.
“What do you need with-?” Ron began, but Harry held up his wand in warning.
“You do not get to comment on my pants,” he said sharply.
“Well, you’re a fuckin’ cauldron of sunshine, aren’t ya?” Ron took another bite, talking through his ham and avocado. “You better lighten up or Ginny’s gonna kick your arse on your own holiday.”
“I don’t give a kipper’s dick what you think of my mood, Ron. If you’re not gonna help, then sod off. And if Hermione hasn’t left yet, tell her I need her.”
“Grouchy bastard,” Ron grumbled before throwing his head back and shouting. “Hermione! The git needs help with his shirts!”
“Nice,” Harry said sarcastically. He ran his fingers through his hair, gripping a handful at the crown and making himself wince as he looked around.
He felt pressure increasing from every direction and maybe it wasn’t rational, but he was nervous. This was supposed to be a holiday, but it was really a weekend that he hoped would alter his life and he was completely spun up about it.
“Hey now, so are you-?” Ron started in a serious tone, but Hermione entered so he took another bite instead. She was dressed for work, with a satchel slung over her shoulder.
“Honestly, Harry, you could have planned ahead of time,” she said, walking right past his rotating assortment of clothes in the air and going into his wardrobe with her wand out.
“I’ve been planning plenty, just not for my sodding shirts,” Harry protested.
“Wear this one today,” Hermione said, thrusting a white oxford at him. He immediately tugged off his pajama top to put it on. “Change into this one later tonight if you have a nice dinner. Wear this one to bed.” Harry was sure to avoid Ron’s eyes at that comment. “And this one for tomorrow.” Each of Hermione’s selections sailed through the air, folding and tucking neatly into his bag.
“And pack your green robes, not the black. They match everything and if you spill something, it won’t show as badly and-” She raised his chin in her hand from where he was looking down at his buttons. “They complement your eyes.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Good luck, Harry!”
“Thanks. Wait, what do you mean ‘good luck’?” he asked, but she ignored his last question while she kissed Ron goodbye. Harry returned to his buttons, and then she left. “I don’t know what she thinks I need ‘luck’ for anyway, we’re just going on an overnight.”
“Will you quit being such a wanker,” Ron chided, shoving the last of his sandwich in his mouth. “We all know. So come on already, show it to me.”
“Show you what?” Harry asked, his voice an octave higher than it ought to have been.
Ron crossed his arms. “You know bloody well ‘what.’ I showed you Hermione’s.”
“Well, I was with you when you bought it. That doesn’t count.”
“Does so count. I didn’t keep you out of things.”
Harry wasn’t ready to be pushed so hard on this, so he went for a deliberate change of topic.
“You’ll do the rounds in Diagon Ally, yeah?”
Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry, not missing his diversion. “Yes, I will.”
“Be sure to ask after Madam Malkin’s cousin for me.”
“Of course. I’ve been investigating this with you since the beginning, Harry. I think I’ve got a handle on it.”
“I know you do. It’s just – I don’t feel right about leaving them.”
“You’re not leaving them. And you can’t not have a life just because some nutter’s terrorizing Diagon Alley. You’ve done everything you can for now.”
Harry grunted, but he still felt a twinge of guilt. The twins had been the real targets when Lee had been attacked, and each attack that followed had been on someone who had helped the Order during their war efforts. It was impossible not to feel responsible.
“You going alone?”
“Nah, George is going to come with me. I’m gonna go by his new place first.”
Harry snorted.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just, Kensington? Kind of posh for a couple of bachelors, don’t you think?”
Ron shrugged. “I dunno, is it? They’ve got enough money, I reckon. Maybe it’ll help ‘em get girls. Merlin knows those two need to get laid.” He sniggered at his own joke, but Harry didn’t bother with a courtesy laugh. He had finished his packing and was fidgeting nervously, tapping his wand on his bureau. “Damn, mate, you’re wound up like Pig. You’re so moody you’re gonna ruin the weekend if you don’t get a grip on yourself.”
Harry sighed and flopped on the edge of his bed, rubbing the bridge of his nose under his glasses.
“I know, you’re right. Look, I’m not trying to keep it from you, y’know? I just – this is something I’m supposed to do on my own, without your and Hermione’s help. …Except for her picking out my clothes, apparently.”
Harry looked sideways at Ron, took a deep breath and gave in. Ron sat next to him while he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny purple velvet bag with a silver drawstring. He tapped it with his wand and the magical knot slipped loose, and the contents fell onto his palm.
“Huh,” Ron grunted, sounding surprised. He smiled and put a hand on Harry’s shoulder, squeezing for moment just before giving him a shove. “You know what, Harry? It’s perfect.”
~^~
Ginny held onto Harry tightly when he Side-Along Apparated her. Now that they were alone, he slipped his arms around her and pulled her up into a kiss.
“So, are we there?” she asked several minutes later, looking around the grassy area they were standing in. There was a country road nearby.
“Nearly. I was thinking we’d walk through the village if you don’t mind?”
“Sounds good to me,” she agreed, but then looked around them. “Erm, where’s our baggage, Harry? Hope you didn’t leave it at the Burrow. I’d hate to have to go back there.”
“I sent it along to the bed and breakfast. But you’re not kidding about that,” he puffed. “Your mum isn’t too thrilled, is she? She didn’t even kiss me like usual.”
“Bah. Don’t let her get to you. She’s just anxious. It is an overnight trip, after all.” Ginny smirked at him suggestively, walking her fingers along his ribs.
He gave her a quick kiss, but his apparent enthusiasm about their destination had him oblivious to her advances. He always did have a one-track mind, she thought.
“You ready, then? Come on, let’s go,” Harry said, taking her hand and leading the way up the road. “You know about Godric’s Hollow, of course.”
“A bit. We’re somewhere near Scarborough, I reckon.”
“Right. The coast is that way.” Harry pointed with one hand, while happily swinging their clasped hands between them. “For the most part, Godric’s Hollow is populated by wizard shop keepers who serve the tourists. The Muggles never stay too long, so they don’t pay much mind to the wizarding population here. It’s a perfect relationship, really.”
“Yeah, sounds like it.”
“No, it really is.”
Ginny laughed. “I believe you, Harry. A village where wizards and Muggles coexist peacefully – I really like the idea.”
They crested the hill, and down below them lay a tiny village of old buildings with red tile roofs.
“There it is,” Harry said. Ginny stifled a giggle at his adoring expression. He had an air of prickling anticipation about him while just gazing at the town with a silly smile on his face.
“The people here are fantastic, Gin. They’re totally understanding of the Muggles, but it’s more than that really; they claim the roots of Gryffindor himself. Especially after what happened with me here when I was a baby, well, they take it all very seriously. It was a real blow to these people that it happened right under their noses.”
Harry had that feisty look about him that Ginny liked to see. His face was full of determination.
“And, they don’t gape at me and carry on like in other wizarding places. When I first came here with Ron and Hermione, they were just decent folks. They keep their noses down and go about their business, but they’re friendly too. I think it must be why my parents picked this place.”
“Okay, you don’t need to convince me. I understand,” Ginny said, stepping into his embrace. His earnest determination faded into a sheepish grin when he realized how excited he sounded.
This time she pulled him forward. “What shall we see first?”
“Oh. Actually, about that.” Harry repositioned his glasses, and a tiny worry line showed in between his eyebrows. “I think there’s something we should just get out of the way.”
The first place they stopped was a Muggle abbey at the outskirts of the village. It was the place where his parents were buried. Harry was no longer chatty, and he squeezed her hand as they approached. She felt a streak of pride run through her at the look of calm respect on his face. Harry had borne more than his share of sorrow and pain in his life, but his spirit was always strong.
“Go on if you want,” he indicated with a nod a little ways ahead. “I’ll wait.”
“You don’t want to-” Ginny shrugged. “I dunno, say hi or something?”
He shook his head, scrunching his nose slightly with a tiny smile. “Nah. I’ve done all that. I don’t think they’re really here, you know? They’re always with me when I need them. Wherever you go on that next great adventure, I highly doubt it includes hanging about in a cemetery..”
“Oh.”
“I just mean, I talk to them whenever I want to. Magic has shown me I can do that. This is just a resting place for them. But – you go on if you want.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, and though he didn’t look disturbed, he did look quite stubborn.
Ginny went ahead and stood in wonder at what she thought should be hallowed magical ground. There was no ornate white tomb or eternally burning flame here: just two simple grave sites in a quiet forgotten Muggle cemetery.
Recent years had acquainted her too well with death, but it was seeing POTTER etched into marble that gave her a sick feeling. It was a reminder of all that time she had been so afraid of seeing Harry’s name among the dead.
She looked to James’s headstone and spoke in a quiet voice, not really wanting Harry to hear her.
“I know Harry’s a lot like you, so I bet we’d have got on famously. The bond you had with him must have been very strong; your stag has always been there for him. He’s become such a good man, sir. You would be so proud of him.”
Next, she knelt down and ran fingers over the engraved letters of LILY. She was surprised to see her hand trembling, and unexpected emotion welled up as her vision blurred.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry that you didn’t get to know what a sweet little boy you had, but I want to thank you for keeping him safe.” Ginny’s whisper was lost as her throat seized up. She rarely gave into tears, but the gratitude she felt towards this woman fell upon her all at once. “I’ve loved him my whole life. I’ll take care of him now. I promise you that.”
Ginny swallowed hard, blinking and trying to sniff quietly so Harry wouldn’t see what a git she was. She stuck out her bottom lip and puffed air onto her face.
When her eyes finally dried, she returned to Harry and they walked silently from under the shade trees and back into the sun. There wasn’t really any more to say about that.
~^~
Mrs. Bentley’s bed and breakfast was a two-story building of gray brick with a white door. It looked like it had been standing since Gryffindor’s time, but was well cared for.
“Harry, what’s that?” Ginny asked, pointing to what looked like a round barn behind the house.
“That’s the owlery,” he answered with disinterest. “Mrs. Bentley also fosters owls.”
“You never mentioned that before.”
“Didn’t I?”
Ginny thought it was no accident that Harry had left off that information. He hadn’t been particularly warm to any owls since Hedwig’s death.
A slender witch with olive skin waylaid them as soon as they entered. She looked both quite old and youthful at once.
“And there you are, already!” she spoke to Harry in a surprisingly deep alto voice. “Let me look at you!” She took Harry into a tight one-armed hug, careful not to ruffle what appeared to be a sleeping owl tucked under one arm. “You’ve been eating well, I see. Are you well? I was just beside myself when I got your letter. How are the Ron Weasleys?” She seemed to infer an answer to each of her questions and continued talking fast. “And this must be the lass you wrote about. Hello young lady, welcome!”
“Hello, ma’am. Thank you.”
“Well there’s no question you’re your brother’s sister, is there? Lawks – she’s a bonny thing! Now come here, I’ll tell you, won’t bother with that one.” She waved her hand at Harry. “If you’re anything like your brother, then you’re better with the details, yes?”
Ginny barely had time to register everything the woman said and that she had been asked a question before Mrs. Bentley was talking again.
“Now, all your things are in the two rooms up the stairs and to the right. He booked two rooms - Godric love a gentleman! You’ll have the whole place to yourself anyhow. I cleared the book for ya. Do you prefer lamb or beef? The larder’s full, but there’ll be a supper for you later. Tea things are on the counter, don’t be shy. Ignore the Muggle things in the kitchen and just use your wand, yes?”
Ginny nodded rapidly, looking over Mrs. Bentley’s shoulder at Harry who was grinning. He had the look of someone slightly embarrassed about the antics of a loony aunt.
“Harry told me you’d be going out to the old place, so there’s a picnic lunch. It’s there on the table. There’s Floo connection in the main lounge only – but you won’t want it, will you? That’s why you’re here after all.”
“That’s very considerate, thank you,” Ginny said, peeking at the dark feathered creature that her hostess carried.
“Oh, little Castor here never pops his head for anyone. Don’t mind him; he doesn’t mean to be rude.”
“Is he poorly?”
Mrs. Bentley put her free hand over the sleeping owl, and whispered. “He’s had a hard go of it, I’m afraid: gets jittery around strangers. So don’t be surpris- well, will you look at that?” Castor the owl had untucked his head from under his wing and looked sideways at Ginny. “Now, I don’t believe he’s ever shown himself to anyone since I’ve had him. Like the Miss Weasley, do ya, Castor?”
Ginny reached out to him and the bird flinched at first, but she gently stroked over the ruffled feathers on his head and he closed his eyes and let out a tiny hoot at her touch. Mrs. Bentley exhaled, sounding quite impressed.
Ginny smiled and looked to Harry for his reaction, but he was busy collecting their picnic lunch and wasn’t showing any of her interest in the owl.
After several more rapid fire instructions from Mrs. Bentley, Harry and Ginny were on their way again.
~^~
“This is it,” Harry said, his chest extended with pride. “This is my parents’ land - my land.”
Ginny raised an eyebrow, looking at the stretch of overgrown terrain before them.
“Now I know what you’re thinking,” he said in a hurry, taking both her hands, trying to change her train of thought. “You’re thinking this place is kind of morbid, and that maybe it’s a little creepy considering what happened here.”
“Uhm, well I wouldn’t say morbid exactly.” She didn’t want to hamper his enthusiasm; she liked how passionate he was when he got charged up about something.
“See, the way I figure it,” he pressed on, “my parents picked this place and I completely understand why they did. You can’t argue that it’s beautiful country.”
“No, it is that,” Ginny agreed. The lush hills and moors occasionally broken up by wooded areas made it picturesque.
“Loads of people tried to get me to sell. They thought I’d want to quit the whole place.”
“I remember. I heard lots of that talk myself.”
“Yeah, but there’s just something about it. This was where I was supposed to be all that time.” Harry was being so sincere, but he began avoiding her gaze as he continued. “Even though I didn’t get to grow up here, I’ve been thinking that-” He nervously ruffled his hair. “That it’s still a really great place for kids to grow up, and that, erm… I’d like to raise my own – my own kids here. You know … if I’m lucky enough to have...” Harry’s voice faded so that he couldn’t be heard, and his cheeks tinged pink.
“Harry, love, we’ve talked about this. It’s okay to want to have a family of your own. It is. You’ll make a fabulous dad.” This was something she was absolutely convinced of.
Harry let out a nervous little chuckle. “I sometimes wonder if I’m reaching a bit. That whole ‘parent/child’ dynamic didn’t work out too well the first time around.”
“Oh stop it! That,” she scolded, gesturing in the direction of an old brick chimney, the last remnants of the old house, “had nothing to do with your value as a child or your potential as a father. You have a long life ahead of you, and plenty of dreams to make come true.”
“You think?”
“I know. Now, show me around? How much of the property is yours?”
Harry beamed and quickly kissed her before taking off in one direction. He went on and on, telling her about the landscape and the magical animals and about the town. His affection for this location was quite evident, and she happily followed along behind him, watching his arse shift in his jeans as he walked through the tall grass. When he raised his arm to point out the nearest neighbor’s house, she admired how his shirt pulled taut across the back of his shoulder. Those shoulders, which were now so broad and strong.
The property was truly beautiful, but it was the dark haired man in front of her that held her attention. What did she need with miles and miles of green grass when she could get lost in those emerald eyes of his?
After their third pass across the grounds, she’d had her fill. Ginny sat down in the heather, the tall grass nearly concealing her, and waited. Harry’s voice got further away before he realized she was no longer following.
“Gin?” She could hear him backtracking now. “What are you doing? You all right?” he asked, kneeling next to her with a hand on her shoulder. He always touched her so gently.
Ginny tried her best to summon her inner Hermione before she spoke. “This is all very interesting, Harry, but I think it’s important that we find out if there is any magic in this area.”
“Uh, yeah?” He sat opposite her with a suspicious look. “So, what is it you’re after?”
Ginny couldn’t fight back a grin; he just made it so easy.
She shifted herself onto her hands and knees and fixed her eyes on him as she crawled, stalked, towards him. His concerned face quickly gave way to a deflated exasperation as he realized he’d been taken in.
“You, witch, are just as bad as the rest of your clan,” Harry protested, though he stretched out his legs and reclined onto his elbows, becoming her willing prey.
“Hmm, mm.” Ginny nodded, crawling over his legs until she was lying on top of him. She kissed away his smirk, sucking delicately on the bow of his upper lip. Harry made the quietest murmur, and his eyes fluttered shut as she lay on top of him. She ran her tongue very slowly along the inside of his bottom lip and when she claimed his mouth with a deeper kiss, his hands caressed the small of her back.
When they parted from their languid kiss, Ginny sighed deeply. She had intended to hold him down and snog him breathless, but now that she was here she just wanted to wrap herself up in his embrace. She rested her face on the flat plain of his chest and wriggled slightly, settling into him. “See, Harry, there is a little magic here.” It was a pleasant discovery to find that simple snuggling and togetherness could provide such contentment.
Harry stroked lazy circles over her back, and leaned up and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Ginny.”
She heard his heartbeat quicken under her ear, while her own heart was flailing in excitement. How many years had she waited to hear those words? She squeezed him tight. “I love you too, Harry.”
They lay like that for a long time, watching a pair of Jobberknolls nesting in a nearby tree and feeling their skin slowly burn under the summer sun. It seemed that they belonged here, and neither was in a hurry to move.
“Thanks for coming,” Harry finally spoke.
“Mm, I’m glad you asked me. I can see why you’re so thrilled with it. But you know, honestly-” She sat up to look at him again. “I just want to be with you. I don’t much care where we are. I miss you when we’re apart … especially the nights.”
“I know what you mean. I don’t ever want to be away from you.” Harry sat up quickly, shifting her weight to the side and leaning over her. “I was going to wait until later, but I just can’t.”
Ginny raised her eyebrows in question.
“You know, Gin, I really do love Hermione,” Harry began sincerely.
Ginny shook with giggles as she brushed his hair back, cupping his cheek in her hand.
“Really, Harry, you’re going to have to work on improving those endearments.”
Harry shrugged and chuckled at his blunder. “Sorry. See, what I mean is... I love Hermione and your brother; they’re my family. I think some people thought it was odd that I moved into their house, but I didn’t care. Truth is …” Harry glanced away. “I’ve spent my whole magical life with them; I didn’t want to be away from them. But now I don’t need Ron watching my back all the time, and I don’t want Hermione to pick out my shirts anymore.”
“Yes, I can see how that would be annoying,” Ginny joked, poking her fingers between the buttons on his shirt.
“It’s not just that. I want something else now.” He looked very earnest and took her playful hand into his. “I told you on that day you came back home that I’d never let you go, and I don’t aim too. I don’t want to say goodbye to you every night, anymore. I don’t want Ron and Hermione to be the ones I go home to.”
“I understand. I love my parents and my home, but it’s really time for me to be on my own. Actually, I want to be with you.” She reached up, stroking his neck and trailing a finger over his collarbone, just wanting to touch more of him.
“Yeah? You’ve always made me feel normal. But better than normal, you make me feel special.” He blew out an awkward laugh. “But not special in the way other people always have; just because they know my name, they think they know me. But you do know me, and you still manage to make me feel wanted.”
“You are wanted.”
“I never felt like it. Not wanted for the real me.”
“Oh babe, I’ve known you for such a long time. The real Harry Potter is even better than the famous Harry Potter.”
Harry smiled and leaned down to kiss her again, and then gently stroked a finger over her cheek.
“If you’ll let me, Gin, I’d like to spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy. Even when I can’t - because I know I can’t always - I’ll always stick by your side. No matter what, I’ll always be here. I’ll always love you.” Harry swallowed hard and took a breath. “Would you want to get married? Would you have me? As your husband?”
Harry spoke with an unwavering voice and he held his head high, but she could see a glint of fear in his eyes.
This moment had played in her dreams since childhood, but there was no music or heroics. It was simple and real. This tousled-haired, handsome young man with a tragic past and heart made of a thousand broken pieces wanted her - trusted her with his love and his future. Her warrior was being so gentle and earnest.
Ginny felt a Snitch flutter in her stomach before settling again.
“With all of my heart, Harry, I do want to marry you.” He hugged her, clung to her as though grateful for her acceptance. “You know that it means forever and ever, until we’re old and wrinkly?” she continued. “You know I very well may become my mother? I’m not very pleasant in mornings, and I get short tempered sometimes, and there are plenty of times I just want to be left alone.”
Harry smiled, running his nose along her jawbone and behind her ear before looking at her again. “I could handle that. I think we’re a lot alike in that regard.”
“Then we’ll get married. And I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”
The rest of the afternoon passed with them laughing and talking easily under the sun.
When dusk began to set them in shadow, they returned and a hot dinner of roast and potatoes was waiting for them. They both wanted to shower off the layer of dust from their lazy day in the grass, and Harry asked Ginny to come to his room when she was ready.
~^~
When Harry opened his bedroom door to Ginny, all his focused concentration from the moment before was thoroughly broken. He leaned his forearm on the door jamb and pushed up his glasses, giving her a smirk.
“Ginevra Weasley, I told you not to dress in anything sexy. This-” He wagged a finger at her attire. “- is a distraction.”
“What are you on about?” she argued. “I’m wearing a proper nightshirt.” And she was, for the most part: if you called the thin, faded green and gray pinstriped boy’s pyjama shirt ‘proper.’ The hem hung down to her knees and though she had rolled the cuffs, the arms were still helplessly long.
“There’s still the problem of your legs, Ginny,” Harry said, tilting his head to the side and giving her legs a yearning look.
“Do you mean these things?” She lifted the shirt and canted her knee inward, displaying the line of muscle running up the side of her thigh.
“Argh,” Harry snarl-laughed and moved aside. “Get in here, temptress.”
Ginny gave a triumphant chuckle as she entered and after Harry shut the door, she flung herself at him, seizing the back of his neck and claiming him with a hungry kiss.
“Mm. - Mm,” Harry sounded between kisses as he tried to break away, but was also clearly conflicted about reproving her advances.
“Will you just - just-” He backed away from her with his hands in front of him, pointing her away. “Stop it now. I’m trying to do something here.”
“So am I, love,” she said, sauntering towards him. Harry snickered, but then pulled his ‘I am powerful wizard’ face.
“No! You will behave yourself! For at least an hour or two! Please?”
Ginny pursed her lips and sighed. “Oh, very well then.” She spied the items spread across the bed: a stack of blank parchments and a breakfast tray with ink bottles and quills. “Wait a minute, Potter, this looks like revision. I’ve left school; what are you trying to lure me into?”
“It’s nothing like that, come on. You gotta trust me.”
She squinted her eyes at him.
“Woman, could you just not argue for once, please? Come on, I’ve been working really hard on this.”
“Okay then, fine. But you’ve got to give me something.”
Harry huffed as though he was terribly put out, but she knew he would give her the shirt off his back if she asked.
Actually…
“You have to take off your shirt, Harry.”
He chortled. “You’re not serious?”
“I am completely serious. If you want me to cooperate with whatever project you’ve concocted, then you hand over that shirt.”
Harry opened his mouth to protest, but then resigned himself to accept her ultimatum.
“Okay.” He rolled his eyes, but she saw a slight smile play in the corners of his mouth. “Fine.” He crossed his hands at his waist and lifted the hem of his blue t-shirt.
Ginny’s breath hitched as she watched him expose his tight belly, every etched muscle visible as he shifted. Scant dark hair at his navel beckoned her eyes to travel down where her mind so happily settled.
“You promise?” His voice muffled through the shirt as he pulled it over his head.
“I promise,” she swore while mentally ravishing his chest. “I’ll go along with whatever, but I get to look at you … like this.” He had discarded his shirt and she licked her lips, wanting to kiss every bit of peach colored skin.
Harry scratched at his arm, blushing slightly. “Are you quite done now?”
Ginny tore her eyes from all his irresistible bare flesh and met his gaze.
“Yes. Right. Let’s get on with it.”
Harry led her to the side of the bed and sat with his back against the pillows. She put one knee on the bed and splayed her fingers over his chest.
“Eh, eh, eh,” he scolded, snatching her hand up, but he kissed her knuckles tenderly. “You can do whatever you want to me - after. Now come here.” He took her by the waist and shifted her around so that she sat in front of him, with her back against his chest.
“Hmm…” she moaned, running her hands along his thighs on either side of her, wriggling her bum back into his groin.
“Gin!”
“- Sorry.”
“Now, I need you to trust me, and you’ll have to keep your eyes shut tight, all right?”
Ginny snorted. “Do you know how often that line was used in my house growing up? Not a chance, mate.”
“I would never take advantage of your trust. … I’d be too scared to do that.”
“You promise nothing is going to grow out of someplace it shouldn’t or leave a rash?”
“I swear it. It’s nothing like that. Now close your eyes.” She settled against him, and he picked up his wand. “Now, remember when I met you that morning and we went flying?”
“You showed me the sunrise.”
“Right. You told me about the house you wanted. I want you imagine it now. The spell I’m going to perform might make you feel a little off balance, but I’m right here to hold you. You just think about that house, okay?”
“Oh-kay.” Ginny nodded, feeling a bit apprehensive.
He kissed the side of her head and then spoke. “Animadverto.”
Ginny suddenly felt like the bed had fallen out from underneath her. As soon as she startled, she felt Harry’s arm tighten around her waist, felt his breath against her ear.
“I’m right here. I’ve got you. Now think about your house, love. Go to the front door.”
The darkness behind her eyelids cleared as she saw herself approaching a red brick house with a bay window. She walked through the front door and heard a distant scratching noise.
“Harry?”
“You’re doing fine, just keep going.”
It was like taking a Day Dream Charm; this was a place she had idly imagined, but only ever in disjointed images. This was vivid. Everything from the dark wood floors and painted wainscoting looked real. From room to room she walked, feeling like an intruder into someone else’s home, but intrigued by everything she saw because it was just perfect.
“What’s upstairs, Gin? Just keep concentrating.” She proceeded up the stairway, feeling at every minute as though she was going to fall off the edge of a cliff but solid ground met her every step. She didn’t understand the scratching sound she heard and was beginning to think there was a Boggart hiding someplace.
She walked into each bedroom and sighed at the sight of the ensuite master bath.
“All right,” she heard Harry say at long last, reminding her that she wasn’t actually inside this house she was exploring. “You can open your eyes now. Come back.”
“It’s nice here,” she said idly, taking one last look around.
“Yeah it is,” he agreed softly, and she felt his arm once again tighten around her waist. She didn’t realize he had ever let go.
“Finite Incantatem,” Harry said and she went wobbly like she had spun in circles, but she leaned into him and slowly opened her eyes.
“That was perfect, Gin!” Harry kissed her. “Look what you did.”
Spread out before them, on several layers of parchments, were sketches of the house. Each room was drawn out in perfect detail.
“This is brilliant, Harry. How did you-? This would have taken hours.”
“Yeah. It’s been almost two hours now.”
“No way, really?”
“Yep. And this?” He pulled the sketch of the exterior entrance closer. “I’m gonna build this house for you. For us, for our family.”
“Build a house? A brand new house?” Ginny boggled at him, unable to decide if she were thrilled or mortified. “Harry, exactly how loaded are you?”
Harry raised his eyebrows and nodded heftily. “Well, first, I love that this is the first time you’ve asked me that. Second, you know of course that you get everything that’s mine. There are a lot of lousy attachments to me, you know? But you will get all of my money, of which there is quite a lot actually.”
She looked at him, and then at the sketches and then back to him, all with her mouth open.
“I don’t know what to say. It seems like too much. It’s too big.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just let me do this for us. We’ll do it together.”
Ginny shifted onto her knees between his thighs and faced him. Taking his face into her hands, she kissed him hard. Harry squeaked as she climbed onto his lap, pressing him back against the pillows and rocking her pelvis against him.
“Wait, let me just-” He strained to look over her while he returned her fervent kiss. “- Clear this stuff off.”
Using his wand he sent the parchments and supplies sailing across the room, landing in a rough pile on top of the dresser. With the bed now unfettered he shoved his wand under a pillow and placed his hands on her back, pulling her against him. He leaned up into her kiss, teasing her mouth with his, moaning at the pressure of her grinding movements over his waking erection.
“Been wanting you all day,” Harry said in a husky voice as he rolled them over so that he was on top of her.
“That so?” she asked, as she leaned to the side while he sucked and kissed underneath her jaw. “You’ve been a bit distracted.”
“Ugh.” Harry sat back on his heels. “I’ve been out of my head all day. Petrified.” He removed his glasses and shoved them under a pillow. “Hoping that you’d like Godric’s Hollow enough to live here. That you’d say ‘yes.’”
“You should never have doubted that.”
“I know,” he said, reaching for the top button of her shirt. “Think I’m over it now.” He paused after unbuttoning the first two, squinting at the fabric in his hand. “Hey, I recognize this. Ron has the bottoms for this.”
“I know. I nicked it from him after Bill’s wedding.”
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not have any reminders of your brother in my face while I … ” He popped open the last button.
“While you what?”
Harry smirked and pushed open her nightshirt. He took a deep breath at the sight of her freckle-dusted, porcelain skin.
Leaning onto one elbow, he began kissing her again while his free hand ran up her waist, then ribs and finally cupped her breast. Her skin was warm against his bare chest.
“I love you so much,” he muttered against her skin. The words came easily to him now.
She arched into his touch, running her hands over his back, grasping and pulling him closer.
“Love you too. Love your hands on me.”
He grunted in assent as he squeezed her luscious thighs.
Breathing over the peak of her breast, he saw the the tender skin react before he sucked it into his mouth. He laved it with the center of his tongue while he continued to clutch her waist.
“Harry,” she whispered in an aimless plea.
As she slid her fingers through his hair, he slid his hands up the back of her thighs and over her arse. Of course this would be the time she wears knickers.
He sat back again and tugged on the white cotton so that she lifted her bum for him to pull them off, both agreeing with a smile in their eyes that they wanted this.
Ginny sat forward to shrug the shirt completely off. Harry snagged it and threw it across the room.
“If you want old pyjamas, I’ll give you some of mine.”
“Good,” Ginny said, leaning up to wrap arms around his waist, kissing all of his torso that she could reach. She dragged her teeth along the sideline of his ab muscles and nipped at his hipbone jutting above his waistband.
The lack of pressure against his hard-on was becoming increasingly frustrating. Harry jumped when her hands dived into the back of his pants and clawed his arse with her fine nails.
Unable to resist any longer, he pushed his pyjama bottoms down, finally freeing his heavy cock.
Ginny leaned back against the pillows. It was such a rush to see that hungry look in her eye that she had for him: for his naked body.
“What was that face for?” she asked, her face showing a rosy hue.
“Just the way you make me feel,” he said as he pushed his pants past his feet and tossed them aside.
“How’s that?”
He shrugged.
“Loved … wanted … sexy.” He hid his embarrassment over the last word by lowering his body onto hers and hiding his face in her neck.
“Oh, you are. You are,” Ginny promised, holding him tight and kissing the side of his face.
This was the first time their intimate touching wasn’t done past disheveled clothing, through a pushed aside blouse or trousers bunched around knees. They both hissed and groaned at the heat of such complete, unencumbered contact.
Harry sat up, teasing through her auburn curls with one hand while lifting one leg from under the knee. He pressed his lips to her smooth thigh, moving downward. He had to continue, he had to know what it was like.
Ginny bent her knees wide when his shoulders pressed against her thighs. Harry accepted her breathless gasps and arching as encouragement. As his fingers delved into the softness that made her keen, his want out-flew his hesitance and he quickly followed the path of his fingers with his tongue.
“Oh my - ahh,” Ginny moaned and for the first time Harry had the luxury of being deeply turned by the loud sounds she made, rather than fearing they’d be overheard. He caressed her womanhood with his mouth and his hands, which was so utterly new for him and yet it felt so thoroughly normal. He’d never allowed himself such intimacy before, and now felt foolish for it. This was brilliant.
While he worked her sensitive spot over and over with his mouth, Ginny fisted the quilt with one hand and clutched his shoulder with the other.
“Ah, yes,” she whimpered, quaking from his touch.
He lost all sense of time as he slowly learned how to love her like this: licking and sucking, first gently and then with increasing vigor until his motions brought her to completion.
Resting his head against her belly while she calmed, he fought against the urge to rut against the bed. His body was begging attention, and now that she had been fulfilled he couldn’t refrain any longer.
Surreptitiously wiping his mouth he lay over her again, trapping his cock between them.
“Okay, love?” he asked into her neck.
She only nodded, her mouth still open. “I still want you.”
“I know,” he murmured, “want you too.”
Raising off of her just enough to grasp himself, he ran the head of his cock over her parted entrance, getting warm and slick from her moisture. So close.
He opened his eyes and saw her eyebrows tight with anticipation. He loved her so much: he’d made difficult decisions out of that love before, and he wanted so badly to do right by her.
“’M sorry,” he said tightly.
“‘S ok, I’m ready.”
“No, it’s –want to marry you first.” As he muttered those difficult words, he stroked himself and came against her. He shook and collapsed on top of her in his fatigue.
After he caught his breath, he sat up to look at her.
“Are you angry?”
“No,” she answered quickly, looking a bit disappointed. “It’s a bit old fashioned, you git.”
“I know it. But I really need to be able to look your brothers in the face -”
“My brothers? Are they to be a part of our sex life, too? Is that what our life is going be like?”
“No. Well, just this once. Ginny, you’ve got to understand, each one of them has a real ‘thing’ about being honorable. If I want to be able to hold my head high among them, I have to do right by them.”
“They have nothing to do with this,” she pressed. It seemed silly to be arguing while lying naked and sweaty together.
“But you sort of belong to them-”
“I do not belong to anyone.”
“I realize that,” he agreed quickly and though she was clearly annoyed, he kept his voice passive. “I don’t mean it to be a sexist wizard thing, but in a lot of ways, you do belong to them. You’ve always been theirs to look after. As long as I can be honest about this, then I can tell the lot of them to sod off after we’re married. I promise, they’ll never be a factor in our private life again.”
Ginny took a deep breath to cool off and shook her head at him.
“Stupid, noble reasons,” she muttered.
Harry smiled and then nudged and nuzzled her face and neck playfully with his nose until she finally smiled in return. He magicked them clean using his wand and they slipped naked underneath he blankets.
“Hey, I’ve still got something for you.”
“Something more? I’m already overwhelmed about the house.”
“This is just a little thing.” He scooted next to and slightly behind her, and took her hand. “I’m new at all this, but I’m pretty certain that to be a proper fiancé, you are supposed to have a ring.” Harry slid a band onto her petite finger. It was brushed gold with a delicate vine of shimmering red stone winding along the center. “I could get you something bigger or shinier if you want. I’ll buy you loads of jewelry if you want it, but I just figured nothing could compare to your beauty anyway.”
“Oh Harry, it’s perfect. It’s so elegant and simple. Thank you.”
They lay together, with her head nestled in the crook of his arm, with her hand on his chest. Harry ran his fingertip over and over the smooth ring on her finger, until they eventually fell asleep.
~^~
When they woke in the morning, loving embraces turned into teasing touches, which led to bolder exploring with hands and mouths. Their attentions to each other sated their primal need, but couldn’t completely satisfy the desire to know each other fully. Resistance was not going to be easy.
They ate a breakfast that was sent to their room, and then they showered together, which wasn’t nearly as sexy as they thought it might be in the old-fashioned Muggle bathroom. Each took turns under the water spray while the other shivered in the air and then tried not to fall out of the tub or get the shower curtain stuck to their bum as they traded positions. It was still fun, and it had them giggling on their walk through the village.
Once again at the property that would become their home, they discussed and argued the best situation of the house until they heard the unmistakable sound of Apparition not too far off.
“Dears! Oh, Merlin me, there you are!” Mrs. Bentley rushed towards them, looking quite distressed. “I hoped you’d be here. This just arrived by that fluttery little owl of your brother’s.”
Harry and Ginny looked at each other, slightly skeptical, as he opened the letter she had brought. Pig was of course always ‘fluttery’ and it had nothing to do with urgency.
“Thank you, ma’am, I’m sorry you got alarmed. I’m sure it’s nothing though,” Ginny said.
“It’s from Hermione,” Harry said as he read the letter. “Gin, we need to go. She says your dad’s been hurt. He’s in St. Mungo’s.”
~^~ Continue to Chapter Nine
A/N – I’d like to thank Allipotter and PhoenixAnkaa for their help and encouragement with this chapter, and many thanks to Belovedranger for the speedy and careful beta work.
I really appreciate hearing your comments. There are genuine answers coming in the next chapter – I promise!
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Date: 2007-01-16 07:28 pm (UTC)A quicky comment, You are not old fashioned you are romantic, and the smut was sweet as well as hot! I am so enjoying this story!
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Date: 2007-01-18 05:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-06 03:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-06 04:37 am (UTC)The whole thing is complete though.