I Will Wait For You

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): August Event (Hogwarts Arts Festival): Week 1 (Jack Vettriano): The Secret Of My Success (Pinterest: 317433473707932762)

Word Count: 712

Analysis: I think, in the picture, they look sad. They look like they're on a dock or somewhere and they're saying goodbye. He holds his umbrella over both of them, even though the sky is clear, and this just made me want to write Hinny, and how after the war Harry didn't need to protect Ginny anymore but neither could he just flip back into ordinary life like she deserved to.

I don't write in the present tense very often and this is a slightly weird style for me so sorry if it doesn't really work, and any comments about that specifically would be much appreciated x

The platform is less crowded than usual.

Hogwarts was rebuilt over the summer but many parents are still reluctant to send their children back to the former battleground. The atmosphere on Platform 9 3/4 feels different, somewhat subdued and restrained despite all of the usual noises and sights. Children still run across the station to greet one another, but now their greetings seem less excited and more relieved. Parents with young children who are boarding the train for the first time clutch at their children's hands, unwilling to let go. Older students who have made the decision to return stand around awkwardly, trying to ignore the spaces in their groups which belonged to those who did not survived last year.

Everywhere it is obvious that no one has escaped unscathed from the war. Everyone has lost someone, everyone still has that momentary glimmer of hope when they spot someone who looks like one who was lost. Children stand like loose ends, biting back tears as they look for a parent to help them lift their luggage only to remember once again that they are alone. Parents hover around only children, forcing themselves not to cry out for others as they remember that they no longer have that responsibility, that never again will they have to chastise their dead children for being late.

Aside from the hustle and bustle stands a couple, hands entwined as they lean against the railings. Her red hair falls in his face as she brushes it out of the way and he chuckles, a low sound that makes her want to pull him close and kiss him. He will not return to Hogwarts this year. No matter how much she cajoles him, no matter how sad a face she pulls he is adamant that now is his time to finish the task that he started. He has had the summer to relax, to be with her at the Burrow and think of nothing but dreams and hopes for the future, but now he must go back to the real world and remove any last dangers to the world.

He is also determined that she cannot help. Everything he does, he does for her. He does it so that they can bring up a family in a better world than the one that they grew up in. He has to protect her, and he needs to know that she is safe.

This is her last year as a child, and she wants to finally have a chance to breath. When she leaves, when they are properly together she will never get peace from the papers and so this is her chance to be an ordinary person, to go to school and mess around with her friends and grow up. She has insisted on this separation and he cannot deny her, no matter how empty he knows he will feel without her.

When the whistle goes she kisses him softly and turns to leave. She doesn't make it more than a few steps before spinning around and running back to bury her face in his chest. He wraps his arms around her as she sobs, steeling himself before pushing her away. When their eyes meet, she can see the seriousness and intent in his, and he leans in to whisper to her. It does not matter that he loves her, that he does not know whether he can live without her. All that matters is that this is what she needs, and that he can give it to her.

Her resolve strengthened, she straightens up, giving him one last brush of her lips. Then slowly, she climbs aboard, ignoring the stares and questions to stand quietly at a window, her hand pressed up against the window. He watches her as she waves desperately to him and the train slowly pulls out of the station. As it disappears out of sight he sighs to himself and turns away.

He has things to do, things that he must do before he can allow himself to be with her. But he knows that he will spend this whole year hoping and dreaming of nothing but the flash of red hair as she jumps down from the train into his arms.