I'd like to say a heartfelt thanks to Peter for all his suggestions and encouragement. He not only helped me edit this story but inspired me to write it in the first place.
I hope you enjoy reading this, my first story ever, as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.
Sincerely - Beverly
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Moments Before the Moment | ||||
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Category: Post-OotP Characters:All Genres: Romance Warnings: Mild Sexual Situations Story is Complete Rating: PG Reviews: 6 Summary: I’m one of those people who always wonders about how the characters feel and what they were thinking, this is one of those situations. In this story Ginny is reliving all the moments in her history with Harry that have led up to this moment, THE moment – the moment when her dreams of a chance with Harry either happen or they don’t. Then, as we all know, the moment happens and it turns about to be MUCH more than she had planned…. Hitcount: Story Total: 4159 Disclaimer: Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R. Note the opinions in this story are my own and in no way represent the owners of this site. This story subject to copyright law under transformative use. No compensation is made for this work. Author's Notes: |
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She was still breathless but she couldn’t deicide if it was from the match — they had just won the Quidditch Cup — or if it was in anticipation of his arrival. Her head was pounding too, from all the noise in the room, or was that her heart? Again she couldn’t decide. Harry had missed the match because he had been in detention with Snape - AGAIN. It was no secret how Harry and Professor Snape felt about each other; hate was too tame a word for it, but in Harry’s defense he hadn’t started it, he just hadn’t done anything to try and smooth things out, either. Harry wasn’t responsible for the almost life—long grudge Snape held against anyone with the last name Potter, but Harry had taken up the grudge, mostly on principle, too. People normally had strong reactions when they met Harry; she remembered the first time she had seen him…. Ginny had been 10 years old and remembered it as if it were yesterday. She had been standing in the train station waiting to get onto platform 9 ¾ where the Hogwarts Express, was preparing to leave and take her last brother and final playmate off to Hogwarts without her. There he had been, standing and watching the other Weasleys as they disappeared through the barrier, not quite sure what to do until her Mum noticed and spoke up to help him. That was the first contact between a Weasley and Harry Potter, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Harry had ended up becoming her brother Ron’s best mate; little did they know the adventures were about to begin. Harry had always been a hero, not only to Ginny but to the whole Wizarding world as well, and he had proved himself in his first year at Hogwarts. Not only had he and Ron saved Hermione from a troll, they had kept Voldemort from getting what he needed to return to human form. Ginny was glad Harry and Ron had taken Hermione into their circle and become good friends with her. Ginny’d had the feeling that Hermione would become a valuable asset, but she never realized just how important she would become. She even suspected her brother had certain feelings for Hermione that he hadn’t even realized yet; if Ron and Hermione did end up together, that was fine with Ginny because Hermione had become one of her best friends too, and a trusted confidant. Oh what was keeping Harry? Ginny didn’t know how much longer she could stand to wait. Snape, that stupid git, had always been out to get Harry, although he had saved Harry from a bucking broom once. The broom had been enchanted, compliments of Professor Quirrell. Quirrell had been possessed by Voldemort at the time and Ginny, unfortunately, knew what that was like. Her first year at Hogwarts had been quite and ordeal. She had been so happy that summer morning when she had woken up and found Harry in her kitchen. He had been rescued by her brothers from his horrible aunt’s house. Ginny had been so excited to have him there that every time he was around she couldn’t speak, which was NOT like her at all. She smiled as she thought of how her brothers had teased her, especially Fred and George; they were merciless, as always. Then she had gotten to Hogwarts, found that stupid diary, and all her troubles began. She had to laugh to herself about one part though, sending Harry that silly Valentine — “his eyes are as green as a pickled toad?” What had she been thinking? What could she say, she had been only eleven. Harry had never laughed at her or ridiculed her, but he had rescued her from the Chamber of Secrets. She had unleashed a monster on the school, nearly closing it down, and had almost gotten Hermione killed. Then Ron and Harry’s memories had nearly been erased and Harry had faced Voldemort, again in the Chamber itself, and it had all been HER fault. Yet he had never called her a silly little girl for falling prey to that old diary, or judged her or said she was stupid or weak enough for Voldemort to possess her so easily. He hadn’t made her feel worse than she most certainly had. He had never been anything but kind and understanding, even trying to protect her so she wouldn’t get expelled, or worse, when it all came down. Thinking about it even now, she got all warm inside. He was quite a guy, but then he always had been. The next year had brought Harry some well—deserved luck when he found his godfather; even that hadn’t been easy though. Ginny guessed that nothing ever would be for Harry. She had been glad that he finally had someone he could call family, who truly loved and cared about him, although she was sure her mother would have adopted him if she could have. She had to laugh at the thought; how awkward would that have been? They had all been worried for him in her third year when his name came out of the Goblet, automatically entering him the Triwizard Tournament. She had been surprised by how many people had been stupid enough to believe he’d put it in himself. Yet again he had risen to the task, as she knew he would. She remembered the Yule Ball from that year and how she could have killed her brother. Ron had the brilliant, last minute idea to have Harry go with her and he would take Hermione. The only thing was she and Hermione already had dates. Oh she had kicked herself, why hadn’t she waited? Neville had been nice and a surprisingly good dancer, much to her delight. She’d had a really good time that night, she and Neville had remained good friends. She looked over at her sweet but socially challenged friend as he was talking to Seamus, and felt nothing but fondness. He was truly a sweetheart, but he was certainly no Harry. She often wondered what would have happened if she and Harry had gone to the ball together that night. Would she have been comfortable enough to have relaxed and have a good time or would she have totally choked? Would he have thought of her as just his best mate’s kid sister? Or would that have been the start of it all? She decided to try and fix Neville up with someone, Luna maybe? Chuckling, she thought, maybe not, Luna might be a little much for shy, reserved Neville. She’d keep it in the back of her mind though. There must be at least one girl at Hogwarts who’d be a good match for Neville; she’d give it some more thought later. Oh what was keeping Harry? She didn’t know how much longer she could take this. The wait was killing her. But then she had waited for and worried about Harry before, like at the second task in the Tournament. He had been in that lake for over an hour before surfacing, saving Ron and Fleur’s little sister Gabrielle. She had been glad they were all ok, but at the same time she had wished that she had been the thing taken that Harry would miss most, not Ron. After all, Cho and Hermione had been taken because of the other boys. That old familiar ache crept into her heart. Yes, now was the time, today was the day. She HAD to know one way or the other how he felt about her. She had dated those other guys, Michael and Dean, but her heart hadn’t ever been truly in it and she knew that those relationships had been destined to fail. It really hadn’t been the fault of either one of them; it’s just that they weren’t Harry either. She, however, couldn’t go on like this; she had to either try and make a go of it with Harry or force him, somehow, out of her heart so she could find love with someone else, even though the thought of that was almost repulsive to her. Weren’t she and Harry meant to be together? Wasn’t he already part of her family, anyway? Hadn’t it been her mother and brother who had shown up to support him as his family before the last task? As she thought about that fateful night, a new chill went through her. She had been in the stadium as Harry had appeared clutching Cedric’s lifeless body. She had wanted to rush to his side and tell him all was going to be alright, calm his fear and cradle him as he sobbed hysterically. It was bad enough that Cedric had been killed, but to hear that Voldemort had returned and was using Harry’s blood to do it… The though of all he had endured that night almost brought her to tears even in this room so alive with celebration and jubilation. She thought back to the year that had followed, all the salacious news stories decrying him and Dumbledore, calling them liars, saying they were insane or worse, traitors. Through it all Harry had remained solid, as did those who supported him. He had certainly endured a lot: the attack by the dementors, being accused by the Ministry, and then there was that horrible Umbridge woman. She had actually forced him to scar his hand. Then Ginny remembered about the scar on his forehead, it had really started to bother him that year, and his connection with Voldemort had become even more pronounced, not that he’d told anyone or asked anyone for help. It had gotten so bad that Harry had thought he was starting to become possessed by Voldemort, which really pissed Ginny off because instead of asking her what it felt like he withdrew, withdrew till she had given him a piece of her mind. How dare he sulk like that when she was right there, willing to help and tell him what it was REALLY like to be possessed by Voldemort. Finally they had been able to make him come to his senses, but it had been hard. He had also been hurt that Dumbledore, it seemed, had distanced himself from Harry, but that turned out to be for Harry’s own safety. The connection to Voldemort had its upside though, because if it hadn’t been for that, Harry would never have been able to see her father being attacked by Nagini and raise the alarm that saved him. She thought that’s what had made him the official hero of her family. After saving her, Ron and now their father, he really had become her hero. Then they had all gone with him to the Ministry to help rescue Sirius, or so they had thought; it had been an ambush. Ginny would never forget being surrounded by Death Eaters and Bellatrix threatening to harm her. Harry had moved instinctively in front of her, blocking her as the others follow suit and closed ranks around her. She had never felt safer or more protected in her life. Fighting alongside Harry that night she had felt as if there was nothing they couldn’t get through together. She and Harry, side by side, fighting to protect all they believed in. She’d thought maybe then they’d get their chance to be together, but yet again Harry’s world was shattered. Bellatrix had killed Sirius. How much more was Harry meant to endure? Once more she had wanted to kiss his tears away and tell him she’d always be there and never leave him. But after the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort, in the Atrium of the Ministry no less, it was not the time. Voldemort had tried to possess Harry but once again Harry had fought him off. The ironic thing was that it was the love that Harry had in him that had not allowed Voldemort to posses him. Ginny mused that Dumbledore had always told Harry that the most powerful force on Earth was love. The way she felt now she’d have to agree. She couldn’t eat, she couldn’t sleep. Forget homework or even paying attention in class, and the only reason she had been able to play so well today was that she’d be damned if she was going to let Harry down — no matter how stupid he had been. He had no business using a spell when he had no idea what it would do. He knew better than that, but then when you’re in the middle of a duel, she supposed, you really aren’t thinking about consequences, just survival. So, here she was in a room full of noisy, rowdy people. Ginny sat, alone with her thoughts. As she sat there reflecting on all that had happened, she couldn’t help but be amazed at all they had been through and survived. Weren’t they meant to be together, couldn’t he see it too, were boys really that blind? She thought she had seen a small, almost imperceptible change in his behavior toward her lately and that’s what was driving her crazy. Was it real or just perceived? Was he ready, FINALLY, to give them the chance they so deserved? They had been a part of each other’s lives for the last six years in one way or another. Ginny knew that Harry cared, for he had always been protective of her, almost brotherly at times, but Ginny had enough brothers, a few too many at times. She didn’t know what to do or what to think; thank God she knew someone who did, Hermione. Hermione was great; she had sat and listened, offered advice, didn’t judge or criticize and was in the unique position of being not only Ginny’s friend but Harry’s as well. Ginny thought it was wonderful that Hermione could separate Harry her friend from Harry the heart’s desire of her other friend. Hermione had told Ginny to relax around Harry years ago and it had helped. She and Harry had managed to become friends and even had things in common beyond Ron. They both lived for Quidditch, had fought side by side at the ministry, and there was Dumbledore’s Army and their personal troubles with Voldemort. Hermione had also told Ginny that when she mentioned the breakup with Dean, Harry had noticeably perked up. Of course he had tried to play it off and she hadn’t pushed the issue, but Hermione thought he was almost there too. Ginny had also noticed how he’d find one excuse or another to walk with her back from Quidditch. She was hoping it wasn’t just her imagination, but she got the distinct impression he had been annoyed when Ron had shown up the other day while she and Harry were talking. Her talk with Hermione had made one thing perfectly clear — there was no time like the present. It always seemed before that just as Ginny was going to make her move and try to talk to Harry about ‘them,’ something always happened and it was usually bad. This time the timing was perfect, they had just won the Quidditch cup, neither of them was involved with anyone, and for once there wasn’t impending doom compliments of Voldemort hanging over them. Could it be? Had the stars FINNALY aligned? Hermione had told her to just sit him down, get it all out and let the chips fall where they may, and that’s what she was determined to do, IF Snape ever let him out of this bloody detention…. With all of this swimming in her head Ginny was quite lost in her own thoughts, and then something changed, a feeling really, like when the wind picks up right before it’s about to pour down rain. Seconds before it happened she knew, she felt it, she felt his presence, she felt HIM. Almost in slow motion, she turned toward the door. Six years of emotion came boiling to the surface and began to blaze from her soul, through her body and into her eyes. The door to the Gryffindor common room swung open and there he was, standing in the midst of all this chaos. Not really in control of her own body, Ginny found herself up from the chair she had been sitting in running across the crowded room toward Harry. When she reached him she was planning to wrap her arms around him and press her forehead to his, making sure she had his full attention, and tell him they needed to talk, but that was not quite what happened…. Harry saw Ginny running toward him and braced himself; she had this look of fire in her eyes that stirred his very soul. She threw her arms around him and then something very unexpected happened. He kissed her. His kiss was soft and somewhat uncertain at first but then Ginny parted her lips just slightly inviting him in and his kiss deepened. His mouth was warm, wet and delicious and as their tongues danced around each other’s, Ginny felt her spirit soar. She had been kissed before but nothing like this; it was as if all the passion she had was flowing from her body into his and being refilled by his own passion for her. His hand on her back pressed their bodies together and for just a moment they melted into one. The room was empty and all she could hear was the beating of two hearts, opening to let true love begin. When they finally broke apart there was a beat of total silence, then the whole room erupted anew. Ginny fixed the most seductive smile she could muster to her face and looked up at Harry who, much to her surprise and bemusement wasn’t looking back at her. Harry’s eyes sought out the one person whose acceptance would allow Ginny’s dreams of Harry to come true or, if not, break her heart. Her happiness, her whole world seemed to hinge on this one person’s reaction. She didn’t see exactly how Ron responded but it must have been positive because Harry grabbed her hand and started toward the door. She could feel every eye in the room on her and Harry but she didn’t care because in that moment all her dreams had come true, the person she was born to love had just claimed her as his own, and their future together, it seemed, had been sealed. The feeling of Harry’s hand holding hers felt so natural, so right, that as he led her out of the castle and onto the grounds Ginny knew that no matter what happened or how long it took, one day she’d be Mrs. Harry Potter. |
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