For the second day in a row, Harry found himself watching the sun set over the hills and fields behind the Burrow. He again wondered how the day as a whole could have passed by so quickly, when each moment was so excruciatingly long. He took a long breath, and reveled in Ginny's unique flowery scent. So much had happened that day; it seemed impossible that only twenty-four hours ago the silence between them had felt like an insurmountable chasm. That silence had been shattered, and in the wake of her tears a companionable quiet had emerged.
Ginny had stopped crying but had not pulled her face out of the crook of his neck. He could hardly believe she was there, in his arms. The creature in his chest hummed contentedly. Harry wanted to express how relieved he was that she could even look at him, let alone touch him, but he couldn't even begin to form the words. He forced down his anxiety, reminding himself there was no reason to rush, no deadline. I wonder when I'll stop feeling like my time is about to run out, he thought.
It was a few more minutes before Ginny extracted herself from his lap, his soft grunts of protest unheeded. Truthfully his leg had fallen asleep, but he would never admit that; it was worth putting up with to keep her there with him. To his relief she did not let go of his hand, but plopped down beside him and leaned in to his dry shoulder. She let out a small sigh, and broke the silence.
"Harry?" she said softly.
"Mmm?"
"I'm glad we're talking again."
"Me too, Ginny," he breathed. "Me too." There was a pause as they relaxed into each other again.
"I'm sorry I yelled," she said, her eyes flicking up to his face and back down nervously. "I mean, I'm sorry I yelled at you the other night."
Harry swapped hands so he could put his arm around her and pull her in closer. "I'm not," he snorted, and she gave him an odd look. "I should have known that sooner or later you'd kick my arse back into shape. You always seem to be the one to do that."
Ginny squeezed his hand and they both looked out over the pond. The heavy dusk rays were lethargically giving way to the blanket of night. He barely heard her whispered response, "You'd better believe it, Potter."
They resumed their comfortable lull in conversation, the clamor of the bullfrogs and crickets somehow adding to Harry's feeling of peace. There were still many questions in his mind, but he knew he'd be able to express them in time. There was one concern, however, that he needed to get off his chest.
"Gin?" he said and paused, looking for the right words.
"Mmm?" she murmured, unconsciously mimicking his earlier reply.
Do you want to be my...? Are we still...? Did what you say mean...? He couldn't find the right way to approach the question properly. He grunted in frustration.
She squeezed his hand, and suddenly turned her head to look him in the eyes. She broke contact a second before looking back up at him coyly. "Did you meet any Veela in your travels, Mr. Potter?" she asked him softly, the break in her voice belied her uncertainty.
For a moment he could only stare into her soft brown eyes. The little flecks of gold in them just barely caught the light from the Burrow. It was mesmerizing. His sluggishly brain processed her question and he gave himself a mental shake.
"No," he finally choked out. "No Veela. Besides, I doubt they would have been impressed by the tent I pitched," he added ruefully, thinking about the sad state of Perkins' old tent they had borrowed.
For a minute Ginny just stared at him, her expression unreadable, her face reddening. What did I say wrong? He sat there nervously, trying not to flinch in anticipation of her explosion. Abruptly she let out a loud guffaw, breaking into a fit of giggles. It was then that Harry realized exactly what he had just said, and he felt his face heating up. He tried to melt into the ground as she failed to contain her mirth.
"I didn't mean..." he tried to explain, "That's not what..." But she was not to be deterred. It was a while before she calmed down, and then for only a moment. She looked up at him, not quite meeting his eyes.
"Tell me about this tent," she said in a sultry voice, and once again broke out laughing. Harry's whole face was hot, and he had no choice but to wait for her giggling fit to subside.
"Well what about you?" Harry asked quickly after she finally quieted. As much as he was afraid to hear her answer, he had to know. "Any new..."
"No," she broke in firmly. "There's no one else." He tried his best to contain his relief.
"And anyway, I was too busy with... with the Carrows," she continued bitterly, her mirth quickly forgotten.
Harry cringed inwardly, remembering what Neville had said when they met him in the Hog's Head. "We're supposed to practice the Cruciatus Curse on people who've earned detentions...They don't want to spill too much pure blood, so they'll torture us a bit if we're mouthy but they won't actually kill us." Ginny used the same matter-of-fact tone that Neville had. It had tied his stomach into knots to hear his friend's offhand description of the Death Eater's brutal methods. From Ginny, it was heartbreaking.
After a moment, Harry regained his voice. "Do you... Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really," she said, shaking her head.
"Ginny..."
"No, Harry," she said sharply, and he winced. She gave his hand a squeeze and snuggled in closer. "Not yet. Maybe... but not yet."
"Okay."
After a short pause she pulled her head off his shoulder again. "And you're going to tell me about what you did too, right?" she said with a fierce look in her eye.
Harry stiffened, but underneath her stern glare he could see the concern and the hurt that threatened to overwhelm her. "Of course," he relented, and she visibly relaxed.
"But not yet?" she asked.
"No, not yet."
"I guess that's fair," she said, putting on a slight pout and turning away. She exhaled sharply, "but Potter, if we're going to be together again, you'd better believe I'm not going to put up with your 'noble hero' bollocks."
He gaped at her. "You... you... what?"
She turned to face him again. "You heard me," she said, her lips were quivering but her tone was steady and accusing. "You never get to pull that shite again, Harry Potter. No more leaving me in order to protect me. You couldn't take me this year because of the Trace, but in a couple of months I'm of age."
Her voice was picking up heat. "And in the Room of Requirement..." she took a breath. "Never again, you hear me? I will not sit quietly while you and everyone else I love risks their life!"
Harry was dumbfounded. Ginny seemed to have no idea how quickly she'd glossed over his biggest fear. After all he had put her through, she just offhandedly assumed they would be getting back together. His mouth moved soundlessly. He had already been reeling from her first assertion, and her newest attack had rendered him speechless.
"Never again, you hear me?" she insisted in a quieter voice.
"I hear you," Harry said at last, and she subsided. He paused anxiously. He had to be sure. "If we're going to be together...?"
Her eyes widened and shone with tears. "You don't...?" she asked softly.
"No!" he said quickly, "I mean, yes! I mean, I do!" He swallowed, forcing himself to calm down so he could resume speaking in full sentences. "I want that more than anything, Ginny."
Ginny's shoulders quite literally sagged with relief, and he grunted as she fell across his lap. "Oh thank Merlin!" she exclaimed. "I was so worried that you wouldn't... that you..."
Harry nodded his agreement. "Me too," he managed, the tightness in his chest slightly alleviated. He chuckled at the sight of her splayed across his legs, and they once again locked eyes. He unconsciously licked his lips, leaning in hesitantly to give her a kiss.
"Harry," she said quietly, and he stopped, his face inches from hers. The creature in his chest growled its protest. Her eyes darted away for a second and she chewed on her lip apprehensively.
"What's wrong?"
"I... Can–Can we take it slow?" she asked, pulling herself off of his lap in order to sit across from him. "I just... You were gone so long, and..."
Harry lowered his eyes. "And I messed you around," he said quietly. "Yeah, it's okay Ginny. I understand."
"Oh Harry," she sighed, touching his cheek, "it's not that. You didn't mess me around. I knew what was happening. I just didn't know where... and I wish I could have been with you."
Harry flopped backwards onto the grass."Yeah," he said. I wanted you there too, he added silently. Just not, you know, actually with us. Not in danger.
She gave him an inquiring look, as if she could sense his thoughts, but she didn't say anything. She lay next to him in the dewy grass and for a while they resumed watching the stars, unspeaking. As much as he wanted to pull her into his arms again, he held back. In all honesty he couldn't blame her for her reservedness. He was still disbelievingly ecstatic that she still wanted him at all.
It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her about the past year. She deserved to know, after all, what it was he had left her behind to do. But therein was the problem: What he, Ron and Hermione had been doing was incredibly dangerous, and he wasn't sure he was ready to relive the events of the past year. He also didn't know how to tell her about Ron's leaving... or Malfoy Manor... or the last Horcrux. Realising the scope of his tale and the depth of its unpleasantness, he was glad she seemed to understand his reticence.
Harry was so distracted by his thoughts that he didn't notice Ginny's movement until a curtain of red blocked his vision. He had only a moment to register her bright eyes and a mischievous smile, and then his mind went blank. Her mouth had met his hungrily, and then there was only sensation. His moan was muffled against her lips. Her tongue scraped across his teeth, demanding entry, and then fireworks went off behind his eyelids. He reached up to thread his fingers through her hair.
But then she was gone, deftly evading his grasping hands and giggling. He growled at her retreating form and she responded by sticking her tongue out at him.
"Come on, lazy bones!" she called. "Get up off the wet grass. Mum will flip if you so much as catch a cold."
He grumbled as she pulled him to his feet. "What about taking it slow?"
"A girl's gotta have some glaring contradictions in her life," she said impishly, flashing him another grin. "Besides, I've not been very good about following the rules this year."
She took his hand and pulled him back toward the Burrow, and Harry really smiled for the second time since the Battle. He was more than alright with letting her set the pace of their miraculously rekindled relationship. They still had a lot to do and a lot to talk about, but he couldn't help but think he could take on anything with Ginny at his side.
As Harry allowed himself to be led back into the kitchen, the first thing he noticed was that the Burrow's subdued atmosphere had not changed since he had left. The tension was so thick it was jarring, and for a moment he was struck with an intense desire to run away, to flee this house and its' occupants, to return to the peace of the paddock. His feelings of guilt rose with a vengeance. He didn't know how long they had been gone, but he was all too aware that he and Ginny had been teasing, cuddling, and even briefly snogging while the rest of the family continued mourning. She squeezed his hand tightly, urging him to relax, and he did his best to fight down his panic.
The second thing Harry noticed was that almost the entire family was waiting for them. It was certainly past time for dinner, but Molly was bustling around the kitchen making a variety assuredly unnecessary dishes. Hermione and Fleur, who were last seen hovering around the Weasley matriarch, had likely been firmly chastised as they were now sitting at the table next to Ron and Bill. Arthur and Percy had not yet returned from the Ministry. George was expectedly absent, but Charlie's presence hopefully indicated that his brother was sleeping.
The door shut loudly behind Harry and Ginny, making everyone jump and drawing their attention to the new arrivals. The hushed conversation died suddenly, and Harry tried not to cringe as he felt the weight of the family's gazes settle on the pair of them. He was very conscious of his palm sweating in Ginny's tenacious hold, and the light in her eyes as she stared defiantly at her brothers.
"Bloody hell, she talked him 'round," Charlie breathed, breaking the silence. "I thought they'd be dancing around each other for couple more days, at least."
"Charles Weasley! Language!" Molly said exasperatedly as the rest of the room's inhabitants chuckled. She then turned away and gave the two of them a tired, but warm smile. "I'm glad you were able to talk some things out, dears. Now sit down and have something to eat."
Ginny tugged Harry toward a pair of uninhabited chairs and gave Charlie a rude gesture when their mother wasn't looking. Harry hunched down in his seat, unconsciously trying to make himself smaller. He really wanted to ask to be excused from the table, but Ginny's grip on his hand brooked no argument.
The muted conversation started up again, and after a few moments Harry looked around the table hesitantly. Fleur and Hermione were quite nearly beaming at them, and Bill and Charlie looked to be in better spirits than they had been in days. The only exception was Ron, who was apparently unable to decide if he should be smiling or scowling, and ended up looking like he needed a bathroom. His best mate's expression was so absurd, Harry couldn't help but snicker at him, and he was relieved to see Ron sheepishly return his grin. Now Harry really did relax; no matter what they thought of him and Ginny, there was no impending brotherly explosion.
Harry found something about the familiarity of sitting around the Weasleys' kitchen table incredibly comforting. Even in mourning, the Burrow was a place of warmth and love. He had honestly expected they would not want him, and despite his guilt over the loss of Fred, a part of him had selfishly hoped he would be allowed to visit again someday. Against all the odds he was still apparently welcome, and the family was bound and determined to see that he didn't blame himself. After all that had happened since his second year, he was still just as surprised that everyone there seemed to like him. He was both in awe and horribly certain that he didn't deserve it.
Ginny's grip on his hand tightened once more, and he turned to look her in the eyes. Her stare was again determined, but her eyes were full of concern and love. Harry's breath caught and the ache in his heart melted away. How did she always know what he was thinking?
"You got so tense you were nearly vibrating," she whispered, seeing the question in his eyes. He took a breath, then squeezed her hand and gave her a weak smile.
Their moment was interrupted by the fireplace suddenly flaming green, and Percy emerged from under the mantle. He looked more than a little rumpled, and he had an ink stain on the side of his nose, but he was wearing a satisfied smile.
"Hello Mum!" He said tiredly. "Dad will be along shortly. We've both got big news!" Molly gave him a kiss on the cheek and characteristically fussed over him until he was sitting at the table with the rest of them.
"Well Perce, how's the Ministry doing?" Bill asked with a wry smile.
Percy frowned, though whether at the state of the Ministry or how Bill's question diverted his pronouncement, it couldn't be sure.
"Completely in shambles," Percy complained. "I'm amazed someone managed to put together the memorial earlier, you can barely lift a quill before someone comes around with another concern. Which is why the Minister asked me-"
"And how is Kingsley handling the mess?" Charlie interrupted, having caught on to Bill's intent. After all, the whole family know why Percy had gone with Arthur to the Ministry that morning. Percy turned his frown on his second oldest brother, his ears reddening.
"Minister Shacklebolt," Percy continued, "seems to be the only one capable of getting anything done. The Ministry is horribly understaffed, what with tracking down all the Death Eaters that escaped from the battle and all of the complications left by Thicknesse's band of cronies, and so, as I was saying, I was asked-"
"So that's why Dad's staying later, d'you reckon?" Ron asked, completely failing to conceal his smile. At his side, Harry could feel Ginny shaking from trying not to laugh, and he was biting the inside of his cheek in order to contain himself as well. Hermione was trying to fix Ron with a stern gaze but it was spoiled by her inability to keep a smile off her face.
Percy's face was completely red, and his lips were pressed into a thin line. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak, but it was surprisingly, Fleur, whose voice broke the silence.
"I 'ope everyzeeng will be alright," she said pensively, "I am surprised you did not offer to 'elp, Percee." She finished with a disapproving look, but at the sight of Percy's shocked face she broke into a fit of giggles.
There was a half-second of disbelieving silence before the table exploded with laughter. Bill managed to look proud of his wife in the middle of wiping away tears. Ginny turned to Harry and mouthed, Phlegm made a joke? Even Percy was chuckling after a minute.
"We'll make a Weasley out of you yet!" Charlie said, fighting for breath.
"Mais, I am a Weasley already, non?" Fleur retorted, flashing her wedding ring at him. Before he could respond, she turned to Percy again and gave him a warm smile. "I am sorry, Percee, please tell us your news."
"Thank you, Fleur," Percy said self-importantly and then cleared his throat. "I wanted to share that Minister Shacklebolt has asked me to- Oh for Merlin's sake!" he cried as the fireplace flared again. The green flames spit out Mr. Weasley, who barely managed to keep his feet.
If Percy looked rough, Arthur looked awful. His thinning hair was sticking out in every direction and he looked like he might fall asleep standing up. Molly was immediately ushering him to a chair. "Hello everyone," he said wearily, looking around at all of them individually. He then looked at his son. "Percy, did I interrupt your saying something?"
"Kingsley gave me a job!" Percy shouted over another round of laughter.
"Oh Percy, that's wonderful!" Molly crowed, glaring at the rest of her children.
"Thank you, mother," he said. "though you should know I'm... well I'm the Minister's assistant again."
There was a moment of silence in which everyone was remembering what happened the last time Percy was the Minister's assistant. Ginny broke it.
"Well," she said, "at least this time we like the Minister."
"Yeah, Perce," Charlie piped up, "no one is better at assisting the Minister than you. Just be sure this one doesn't somehow turn out to be a git too, alright?" This earned him chuckles from the rest of the table and another reprimand from the Weasley matriarch.
"Thank you," Percy said somberly, looking around at his family. His eyes settled last on Harry, an unspoken question in the air. Ginny nudged him, and he realised the family was waiting for his response.
Harry swallowed and said at last, "I can't think of anyone better for the job."
The tension in the air decreased, and Ginny let out a small breath. Harry gave her hand a squeeze and thought, Even if I didn't mean it, I would have done it for you. She returned his gesture in kind.
Percy gave Harry a genuinely relieved smile. "Thanks, Harry," he said. He then brightened considerably and continued, "Anyway, you should all hear about Father's new promotion."
"Promotion? What promotion?" Molly squeaked from the stove. "Arthur, what is he talking about?"
"Molly," Arthur said, his tired face resolute, "Kingsley made me Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and..." he took a breath, "and I accepted."
There was a stunned silence. Everyone was very aware of the responsibilities Arthur's new position entailed, namely tracking down the remaining Death Eaters. All of the sudden Ginny jumped up and hugged her father.
"Dad, that's great!" Bill burst out.
"Bloody brilliant!" Ron and Charlie chorused.
"That's excellent news, Mr. Weasley!" Hermione said. Harry and Fleur were nodding.
"Oh, Arthur!" Molly cried, tears forming in her eyes as she embraced her husband. Ginny left them together and came back to the table. Molly and Arthur stood there a minute, and through the excited chatter of the Weasley siblings, Harry could have sworn he heard Mr. Weasley quietly speaking to his wife.
"We're going to get them, Molly. I'm going to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. For Fred."
Author's Note: Thank you for waiting for my next chapter. This chapter is the product of my two week fight with writer's block. I reviewed and re-reviewed it, though I'm sure I missed something along the line. I hope you enjoyed it.
I hope I properly expressed that Harry and Ginny are still facing problems. They are intent on being together again, but there's a lot of healing yet to be done. Also I don't mean to characterize Ginny as fickle, or a tease. I think she really would need some time to trust him not to run off again, and you really can't blame her for wanting to ease back into the relationship. But, come on, she just faced her own death and thought Harry was dead, I'm sure she's having quite a bit of trouble restraining herself from snogging him senseless, and for good reason.
Also a lot of people gloss over Percy and Harry's dynamic after the war, or just assume Arthur goes back to his previous job. I will be trying my best not to ignore any one character.