Fic: Almost Perfect
Title: Almost Perfect
Pairings: Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I hope by now everyone knows there's only one person who owns everything Harry Potter and that's the magnificent J.K. Rowling.
Warning: Contains Deathly Hallows Spoilers
A/N: Once again, the summary is behind the cut because it contains Deathly Hallows spoilers.
Summary: A short story detailing what goes on with Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny in the hours following the final battle. Will be told in 3 chapters.
Chapter One
Harry had never thought it possible for Hogwarts to feel eerie yet strangely comforting at the same time. Eerie, because of all the evidence of battle damage lining the corridors, including walls and staircases that had been blasted away altogether. If he looked hard enough among the strewn about suits of armor and rubble he could see blood, most of it dry and maroon coloured as the final battle had ended hours earlier.
Yet, even with all the evidence of the casualties and atrocities that had occurred that day, Hogwarts still remained very much intact. It stood as a symbol of the wizarding world’s last stand and eventual triumph over evil.
As he trudged up another set of stairs, he felt his mounting exhaustion with every step. Even as exhausted as he was, he didn’t want to sleep - he couldn’t sleep. He was still absorbing everything that had taken place in the last several hours, though it felt like several days had past. He had only told Ron and Hermione about his conversation with Dumbledore and the place he had been. He wasn’t sure what they would think, but was relieved when they had believed him. Hermione, obviously, was looking for some sort of scientific explanation for it and Harry could tell she was frustrated with her inability to come up with a proper answer.
He approached the hospital wing where those with minor injuries were being kept. The most critically wounded were being looked after in the Great Hall in order to avoid moving them too much. St. Mungo’s was not yet a safe place. There was no telling how many of Voldemort’s followers still remained having been placed there by the former Minister for Magic, Pius Thicknesse. Madam Pomfrey was doing her best to treat the wounded herself, with as much assistance as she could get from able witches and wizards around her, many of whom had no previous healing experience.
From the doorway he could see most of the beds were empty, and those that were full contained sleeping witches or wizards, some more heavily bandaged than others. The two people he was looking for were easy to spot because they were the only ones awake in the room. He took a step into the room but stopped when he heard that all-too familiar tone in their voices.
“Ron, I’m fine,” Hermione said in a patient voice from where she sat on one of the beds.
Ron stood in front of her, arms folded across his chest. “If you were fine I don’t think Madam Pomfrey would have spent so much time examining you.”
“She was just being thorough. She knows that I was under the Cruciatus curse for an extended period of time.”
Ron looked away from her, his jaw clenched and Harry knew what was going through his mind because he was thinking the same thing. Hermione had been tortured and they had been powerless to stop it until Pettigrew had shown a moment of weakness that allowed them to escape.
Hermione stood up, forcing Ron to look at her. “I’m fine, really,” she said in a soft voice.
At this point, Harry was no longer worried about walking in on another one of their ear-splitting rows. The air had changed between them and Harry was more concerned - and embarrassed - about interrupting them. They stood close together now and Hermione was lightly stroking Ron’s cheek. Harry felt like he was witnessing something very intimate that he had no right to see.
He was trying to sneak out of there without being seen but Ron caught sight of him before he could take more than a step. Hermione turned as well to see what had caught Ron’s attention.
“Harry, you look dreadful,” said Hermione, taking in the sight of his torn and blood-stained clothes.
“Sorry, mate, I think I’ve been a bad influence on her,” said Ron, grinning.
Hermione ignored him. “Has Madam Pomfrey looked at you yet?”
“She has other patients who need her. I’m not going to bother her with some bumps and bruises.” Before Hermione could continue pestering him, he said, “are you all right?”
“Of course, I’m fine.”
Harry looked passed her over to Ron, who merely shrugged his shoulders. He still wasn’t convinced that she was fine but was willing to let it go for the moment.
Harry cleared his throat nervously then, getting both of their attention. “Look, I know I’ve told you what happened with the Pensieve and everything else, but I haven’t had a chance to tell you - to say - “ Harry cut himself off. Really, what words could he say that would convey everything he felt at the sacrifices they had made for him? That without their friendship and loyalty he never would have made it through these last seven years. No matter how hard he had tried to push them away over the years they had never left his side. They were his family in every way that counted.
Hermione, as perceptive as ever, knew what he was getting at but stayed quiet so he could have a chance to speak.
“What you’ve done for me - what you’ve sacrificed - “ this time he stopped because he could hear himself choking up. He tried swallowing a few times to rid himself of the lump in this throat but it did little to help. Dammit, he swore to himself when he felt the first sting of tears on his face. He turned away from his friends and wiped at his eyes.
He felt Hermione’s hand on his face and though he did not want to look at her, he felt compelled to do so.
She smiled up at him. “Harry, you don’t have to say anything. We know.” She kissed his cheek before hugging him tightly.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut and returned the embrace just as fiercely.
When Hermione finally released her hold on him, Ron looked at him, eyebrow raised, and said, “we don’t have to do that too, do we?”
“No,” Harry replied, finding himself smiling for the first time since defeating Voldemort.
Hermione rolled her eyes at them, but was smiling all the same. “Honestly, you two are willing to die for each other but a little physical touching you’re afraid of.”
“Let’s just get it over with before she nags us to death about it,” Ron said to Harry. Hermione elbowed him affectionately in the ribs.
Though their embrace ended much more quickly than his with Hermione, it was still filled with the same raw emotion and fierceness.
“Oh, you’re in here,” came Luna’s dreamy voice as she entered the Hospital Wing. “They’ve set up tables in the classrooms nearest the Great Hall. The house elves are putting food together for everyone.”
Harry only barely heard what she said. He was focused on the other person who had come in with her. He had really only had a chance to speak to Ginny in passing and long enough to know that she was all right. There were always so many people around and Harry had been giving a respectful distance to her and the rest of the Weasley’s so they could grieve over the loss of Fred. Despite how long he had waited to be alone with her, it didn’t feel right to pull her away from her family for his own selfish reasons.
“We’ll bring you something back to the common room, Harry,” Hermione said in a knowing voice.
“Why? The poor bloke’s probably starving -“
Hermione cut Ron off with a look before leading him out of the hospital wing and taking Luna with them.
Now the prospect of being alone with Ginny for the first time since his birthday seemed extremely daunting to Harry. Despite his ending their relationship, she had made her feelings for him quite clear that day.
“How are you?” As soon as the words left his mouth he knew it was the most insensitive thing he could have said to her. Her brother just died, you daft idiot. How do you think she’s doing?
“I’m all right,” she responded, flashing him a smile. “I might actually be better than you,” she finished, taking in his appearance.
“Nothing a shower and a few quick healing spells couldn’t fix.” He brushed aside her concern, not feeling like he deserved it. “You should be with your family.”
“I was with them. Now I need to be with you.”
Harry stayed silent, not knowing how to respond. In fact, he was at a complete loss for what to say to her.
“This is really awkward, isn’t it? I didn’t think it would be.”
Harry had to agree. This wasn’t the sort of reunion he had envisioned. Perhaps he had been delusional to think they could just skip everything and get to the part where Ginny would throw her arms around him and exclaim how happy she was that he was alive.
“Will you come somewhere with me?” He asked her suddenly and Ginny nodded.
Without even thinking about it, Harry took hold of one of her hands and together they left the Hospital Wing.
* * *
With the castle so full of survivors, Harry knew there were few places where they would find privacy. He and Ginny seemed to silently agree on the Room of Requirement as their intended destination.
Once inside, the room that appeared to them greatly resembled that of the Gryffindor common room. It was then Harry realized that despite the mission Dumbledore had given him, he sorely missed not coming back to Hogwarts for his final year.
Ginny squeezed his hand, saying, “I think we made it easier on the room by thinking the same thing.”
Harry regarded her closely, no more sure of what to say now than he had been back in the Hospital Wing. It seemed rather pathetic to tell her he had been watching her with the Marauder’s Map during those months they had been apart. Or that when he had gone to the Lovegood’s over the Christmas holidays how much self-control it had taken not to wonder over to The Burrow and see her even if it meant she couldn’t see him.
Ginny released his hand, her eyes locking on his. “Harry, there’s some things I need to say and I need you to let me say them without interrupting, all right?”
Not sure what he was in for, Harry simply nodded.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think since you left last summer. For a long time I was angry that you left me behind, but at the same time I understood why it had to be Ron and Hermione that went with you. Mostly I was angry because you’re too damn noble for your own good. My family was considered blood traitors and just because you and I were no longer together didn’t mean I’d be any safer.” Ginny paused before continuing. “I just need you to know that there was no one else while you were gone. I meant that birthday gift I gave you.”
At that moment, Harry’s previous inability to act or say anything disappeared. Acting on instinct, he brought his lips against Ginny’s, feeling her momentarily stiffen in surprise before lacing her fingers behind his neck, pulling him closer. It was the same, yet different from the kiss they had shared at The Burrow. It had a measure of desperation to it after being apart for so long, but it was missing that nagging doubt that it could be their last. It was a kiss filled with hope at the possibilities that lay ahead of them. The intensity and raw emotion of it was almost too much for Harry to bear.
He broke the kiss first, hearing Ginny’s ragged breathing mirroring his own. They were still very close, so close that all he had to do was tilt his head slightly and Ginny’s lips would be on his again.
Still slightly breathless, Ginny said, “so I take it this means you didn’t meet up with some Veela or other bird while you were away?”
Harry’s penetrating gaze was all the answer Ginny needed as he tilted her chin up so he could kiss her again.