Camp Potter II [Camfire Songs: Week 3]

What We Miss

He held her close, breathing the smell of her hair.

It was illogical really. It wasn't as if he would never see her again, especially since the rest of the Weasleys had agreed to give him a chance per Harry's prompting, but he would never be able to hug her, and hold her within Hogwarts again. They would never be able to relax together in the ruby or emerald common rooms as they usually did.

There were so many lingering memories within the reconstructed walls of Hogwarts, some were good others not so much but all of it had been part of what had led him to her, the fiery red-head that was currently leaning on him looking extremely comfortable.

It seemed like he was in an extremely reminiscent mood today, remembering all the little details he had believed he had long since forgotten. All of them were small moments that hadn't seemed important at the time, an insult towards Gryffindors here and a toss of a random ingredient into Neville's cauldron when he wasn't looking along with rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin that had managed to finally fade as both sides realized its childishness. He was glad for that. Ginny had become particularly creative with her hexes and curses during the war.

He held her a bit closer as he remembered what his father had made her go through during second year. He hadn't been affected too much by it, but he could still remember the haggard, drained look Ginny had been spotting for most of the year. The hadn't thought much of it back then with the Malfoy-Weasley feud still going strong without much hope for it ending, or to ever know the beginning, but an experience like that would have scarred most people for life.

Not Ginny though. Ginny was brave, stronger than he could ever be. He knew he would have cracked in half the time it had taken her, just like he had in Sixth year. He would never have been able to face the Dark Lord again afterwards had that happened to him, yet Ginny had fought in the war against the Dark Lord, never once backing down despite what she had been through. He shuddered at the thought of Ginny having succumbed to the Dark Lord and possibly have died at eleven. The thought was terrible.

His arms must have tightened without him realizing it because Ginny moved a moment later, and he realized that she had been sleeping the entire time.

"Draco?" she murmured sleepily, turning around slightly to face him. He immediately felt bad for waking her with his memories.

"Sorry for waking you. You can go back to sleep if you want," he whispered, even though he knew Ginny probably wouldn't go back to sleep, not immediately after waking from sleep.

"That's okay. I'm awake now," she paused. She must have seen something in his expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking."

"About?" She was starting to get annoyed with his evasiveness. He could tell by the slight frown on her face.

"The number of times I could have lost you."

Her expression softened. She reached out to touch his face. He couldn't stop himself from leaning into her touch. It was so gentle, filled with so much care, he was almost afraid to think that all of this could have never happened had anything been different.

"But you haven't. I'm right here, aren't I?"

He smiled. "Yes, you are, and I'm eternally grateful for that."

"Of course you are. Why wouldn't anyone want to spend time with the wonderful Ginny Weasley who just happens to be me?" she asked dramatically, adding an additional flip and toss of her hair for added effect.

"Why indeed," he murmured, grateful for the beauty who had decided he was worth her time.

This may be their last day together within Hogwarts, but he was sure they would definitely have many other days and nights they would share together. An uncountable number, because he knew he would never let her go.

And he would like to think she felt the same way.