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A Snitch in Time | ||||
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Category: Post-HBP Characters:Harry/Ginny Genres: Fluff Warnings: Sexual Situations Rating: PG-13 Reviews: 40 Summary: *** The author has been reminded via the e-mail address on file that this story is listed as incomplete and has not been updated since 2005 *** The train ride home. Ginny doesn't take no for an answer, thank Merlin. Hitcount: Story Total: 5173 |
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Disclaimer: I don't own, don't sue! * * * The first real summer of War. The first summer of real danger, where being away from Hogwarts meant that there would be fewer coming back. The first summer where Dungbombs and a game of Exploding Snaps would not be seen anywhere on the train ride home, where the air was laden with solemnity. Harry itched with the pain of it as he sat down, following Hermione and Ron into a compartment that held Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley. The three looked up, giving a nod of recognition. Harry noticed with a hot jolt that Ginny's gaze seemed to linger on him for longer than it should have, considering that they had just broken up. The War was being fought in earnest now. Tensions were high and emotions ran even higher, and Harry thought that the last thing he needed was this unfortunate attraction to the redheaded minx Ron called a sister. If not for his role in the War, he would've welcomed the respite of a relationship as much as his roomates at Hogwarts (well, everyone except for Ron now that Lavender was out of the picture, but with the determined glint that hovered in Hermione's eyes, that was only a matter of time and situation). Harry was nothing if not virtuous, however and despite his violent, heated attraction to Ginny, there would be nothing coming of it save for lonely nights and vivid dreams. Harry scowled to himself. Not that Ginny would be very accepting of his noble decision to end things- she already had that calculating, shrewd look about her that Harry had come to be wary of. "Rock cake?" Harry stole a startled glance around, realizing that he had yet to sit down. While he had been lost in thought, the other had taken their seats and the last space left was, predictably (for Harry had a feeling the universe conspired against him in these situations), next to Ginny. She was staring up at him with an amused smile, her head cocked and eyebrow raised. Harry sighed and plopped down next to her, taking care to edge himself as close as he could to Neville without making the poor boy uncomfortable. "I said, 'Rock cake?'" Ginny asked loudly from next to him, holding out a lumpy gray cake. Harry barely turned to speak to her. "I heard you the first time, Ginny. No." Harry heard Ginny's intake of breath and slightly turned his head. Ginny's eyes were hurt, but her mouth was in a tight, grim line. Harry felt a shudder of fear run through him. He knew that look- she was angry. Really angry. "No need to be rude," she finally said, after a minute in which silence prevailed in the cabin. "Though with you, it's something of a habit," she said petulantly, turning to face the window. Harry gave a deep sigh. Their deeply meaningful goodbye had been reduced to nothing in these few short seconds. Ginny had said she understood- why couldn't she just let him alone until he did what he had to do? But in the back of his mind, Harry knew he was being unreasonable. Ginny has made no overtures after their discussion, just a sincere desire to keep their friendship, at least. It wasn't her fault that Harry couldn't be just friends with her, that if he wasn't able to kiss her, he didn't want to have to even be near her. It was too hard. "Harry!" "Huh?" Harry was again torn out of a reverie by someone's voice. Hermione was regarding him with a look of sympathy and impatient annoyance. "We're going to patrol the train. I think now more than ever, a little order will be needed." Hermione smoothed her skirt down and tugged Ron's arm. "Will you all be fine?" Harry nodded absently and Luna just waved as her magazine's pages rustled. Neville coughed and said, "Maybe I'll go with you both- I'd like to visit with a few people. I...I don't think Gran'll be letting me come back next year. If there's anything to come back to." Ginny's voice was achingly sad as she whispered, "Oh, Nev." Even Luna looked a bit teary, her large blue eyes unnaturally glassy as she kept on determinedly reading. Neville sighed. "Luna?" Luna looked up. "Yes? The Ministry is passing out charmed toothbrushes you know, in an effort to reach the health-consious Death-Eater, I suppose." Neville grinned a little. "Would you like to come with me? We can... we can talk." Luna looked startled for a moment, which in itself was startling- her eyes widened more than they usually did. "I'd like that, Neville. Perhaps we can talk off continuing our delicately budding relationship over the summer through correspondence." With that, a violently blushing Neville, serene Luna, and highly amused Ron and Hermione left the cabin. Harry gulped. That left him and Ginny quite alone. They sat in silence for awhile, Harry leaning his head back and closing his eyes, Ginny softly breathing next to him. It didn't occur to him to move now that there was room. He rather enjoyed the warmth coming from Ginny's body, and he knew he wouldn't get to enjoy it again for quite awhile. The sadness and fear that had started to eat at him since Dumbledore's funeral returned with a vengeance. He knew he had a great and terrible undertaking ahead of him. He was all right with his duty- the simple need to avenge his parents, Sirus, and Dumbledore drove him well enough. But his love and concern for the safety of people who were still alive kept him going. So Harry knew what he had to do, and he was okay with that. But the fact that he had to leave behind people he cared about, a girl who made him happy and amazed him in every way...Harry didn't want to deal with that just yet. He hated having to do what he had to alone. He wasn't going to let Ron and Hermione come along- it was better to placate them by saying he would, but Harry knew better. He'd be facing things alone, and despite the fact that he could smell Ginny right next to him, he already felt horribly lonely. "Harry," Ginny's voice said suddenly. "Kiss me." Harry turned slowly and gaped at her. "Ginny?" "I'm serious," said stubbornly. Her eyes were bright and challenging. "You're having some sort of inner row with yourself. Just give in and snog the daylight out of me. You know you want to." "Ginny," Harry said slowly. "We broke up. I can't be with you anymore, remember?" Ginny snorted. "Yeah, 'cos you're so noble and all. Well, sod it, Harry. You honestly believe you're going to save me, the youngest in a family of blood traitors and the girl who was possessed by Voldemort at an early age, from death just by breaking it off with me? Harry, wake up! Voldemort can try and kill me but the fact that I'm your girlfriend is just icing on the rock cake for that monster! If I'm already a target, keep me safe by keeping me with you. I'm not going to pretend to understand why you can't be happy, Harry! I tried at Dumbledore's funeral-" here she stumbled over her words, "-But I'm not that sort of bird. I need to be with you. And I know you need to be with me." Harry shook his head just as stubbornly. "No, Ginny. I'm not trying to be cruel, I do care for you, but no. We are not together anymore. I have things to do-" "Yeah, yeah, evil to fight, people to save! I know, Harry, that's your life! It's always been. What's different now?" "I might not come back." Harry's voice was flat. Ginny swore. "You self-serving bastard! Determined to keep me waiting by candlelight at the window! I won't, Harry. Like it or not, but you're stuck with me. If you're going to take Ron and Hermione along, you're taking me too!" With that, Ginny launched herself at Harry and- Kissed him. The kiss was unlike anything Harry had ever felt. They had snogged pretty heavily over the year, but nothing had ever come close to this. Ginny was in Harry's lap, her body pressing him up against the cabin wall. One hand gripped his shoulder tightly, the other threaded its fingers through his hair. Her lips were soft and tasted of Chocolate Frogs, and she was breathing so heavily Harry held onto her waist to keep her from sliding down. She kissed him with a desperation borne of need, little mewing sounds awaking the creature in Harry until he couldn't hear past the roaring in his ears. Harry couldn't feel anything except for the warm weight of Ginny lying on him, the silky strands of hair moving through his fingers, the hot slide of her tongue against his. Ginny was right; he did need her. Oh, Merlin, did he need her. Harry moaned as Ginny broke away and nipped at his ear, tugging gently. "Hear this, Harry Potter," she whispered raggedly. "I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, and after this, you'll never want to be rid of me again." Ginny's lips travelled a path down Harry's throat, stopping at the opening of his robes. She paused and then, grinning, ripped them apart! The fastenings flew everywhere and Harry stuggled to look cross. "Ginny, now I'll need new ones." Ginny laughed throatily before sliding her fingers through his hair and nipping his collarbone. "Always wanted to do that- why let the boys have the fun?" Before Harry could process the comment (and before the beast could start roaring again), Ginny had captured his mouth with hers again. She kissed him like she meant to take him to bed, and Harry struggled to rearrange Ginny on his lap so she didn't jump back in disgust. "Now." Ginny broke away again, her hair wild and eyes narrowed. "After that, if you really don't want me, Harry, I'll go. Just tell me." She waited a beat for Harry to regain coherency. When he didn't say anything, she leaned in again. "Good," she purred. "'Cos I wouldn't have listened to you anyhow." Harry grinned despite himself. "Ginny," he said softly, "You'll change your mind. I'm dangerous. People who love me die. And there's a really good chance that I may die, too. I don't want you to think there's some sort of promise for the future-" Ginny stopped him with a finger on his lips. "There are no promises, Harry," she said seriously. "I know that, why else do you think I want to come with you so badly? If we die tommorrow, at least we have this moment." Harry's heart almost stopped beating at the eloquence and feeling in words. He clutched her tightly to him, unable to speak. "Alright," he said after a moment, "I guess we're back together. But if Voldemort passes out posters with your face on it and 'Wanted: Harry Potter's Girlfriend' on them, don't say I didn't warn you when I go mad." Ginny gave a smug smile, snuggling closer to him. "I just hope they use a really good picture." Harry smiled. He was more scared than ever of losing the girl in his arms, of leading her into danger, of making her a target needlessly. He knew she'd be safe at home, safer than with him. And he couldn't bring himself to understand the vehemence with which Ginny was determined to accompany him. But the feeling of loneliness lessened in his chest, and a new feeling of hope rose within him. "You're impossible, Ginny." Harry said fondly, giving her a fierce hug. "Yeah," she agreed, "But you love me." Harry found he could not disagree. |
| Reviews 40 |
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