Fic for: ladywhizbee - Making Time
Title: Making Time
Gift for: ladywhizbee
Author: nessismore
Pairing: Harry/Ginny; with brief appearances by the Weasleys, McGonagall, Hagrid, Kingsley and Aberforth
Rating: G
Word Count: 2,311
Summary:
They’d never really discussed what they were now, now that the danger had lessened and the war was over. It hadn’t felt right to talk about it in the days after the war; it had been too tense, too raw, and there were still too many other emotions coursing through them. They’d just…been. Perhaps a New Year's party at the Weasleys is the time to bring it out into the open.
Author's Notes: Just something small and fluffy (with the tiniest bit of angst). I hope you enjoy!
It was the first New Year’s Eve after the war and the house was crowded, even by Weasley standards. It felt like every little space was occupied. Ron and Hermione were sitting in a quiet little corner of the kitchen, heads bent together, talking quietly. Fleur was with Andromeda and baby Teddy on the couch, while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley chatted with Percy, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, and Aberforth Dumbledore near the fireplace. Near the front door, Bill and Charlie were standing on either side of George, whispering conspiratorially to their younger brother, managing to draw a rare smile or two out of him, while Neville shifted uncomfortably as the Lovegoods regaled him with a story of their search for the…well, Harry wasn’t quite sure what it was they’d been searching for, and from the look on his face, neither did Neville.
There was one person he could not find, however, and she happened to be the only one he wanted to see. Ginny. He’d hoped, rather foolishly he realized, that he’d be able to spend the evening by Ginny’s side, but he’d been pulled into conversation after conversation and she’d managed to disappear. He’d searched the ground floor twice and was debating checking in her room when someone finally pointed him in the right direction.
“Oh for Merlin’s sake, she’s in the garden,” a male voice said. Harry turned and found Ron and Hermione watching him in amusement.
“I-uh-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harry stammered as Hermione hid a giggle behind her hand.
His bushy haired friend smiled benignly. “Please, Harry. In the last ten minutes, we’ve seen you circle the kitchen and the sitting room like a lost puppy looking for her. It was getting a bit sad.”
“I-uh-thanks,” Harry said, blushing slightly. He hadn’t realized he’d been as obvious as all that, but his heart raced in anticipation. He turned to go.
“Oy!” Ron called, and Harry stopped. “She’s an absolute nutter, but she’s still my sister. So just…mind your hands.”
Harry grinned, saluted and hurried away, Hermione’s scolding of Ron fading in his wake. “Honestly, Ronald, what are they going to get up to out there, especially when it’s freezing outside?”
Ron likely didn’t have much to be worried about. After Harry and Ginny were…well they weren’t exactly boyfriend and girlfriend again, but they weren’t exactly not. They’d never really discussed what they were now, now that the danger had lessened and the war was over. It hadn’t felt right to talk about it in the days after the war; it had been too tense, too raw, and there were still too many other emotions coursing through them. They’d just…been. They’d comforted one another, talked quietly deep into the night, Harry telling her about his journey, Ginny telling him about hers. At dinner, she’d take his hand under the table and squeeze it tightly, as if to remind herself that he was still there and he would stop sometimes in the middle of a conversation just to drink in the sight of her and reassure himself that she was real. But they hadn’t talked about it. Even now, during the holidays where they both had a break, there’d been no time. There’d been time to hold Ginny on Christmas Eve as she cried about Fred, and there’d been time for her to hold Harry’s hand as he’d held little Teddy in his lap, telling the baby all about the parents he’d never know. In light of everything that had been going on around them, since the end of the end of the war, talking about it seemed inconsequential. There’d been times where he’d wanted to talk about it, but he was in Auror training and she was at school and he kept wondering if it would be better to…wait. That didn’t stop him from seeking her out now, however.
He couldn’t see Ginny when he stepped outside, but he followed the path she’d left in the thick layer of snow that sparkled in the moonlight. More snow was falling softly around him, He found Ginny sitting, legs stretched in front of her, by the fence at the far end of the garden. She’d foregone a coat; the sleeveless party dress Mrs. Weasley had insisted she wear was her only protection from the cold, but she didn’t seem to mind. Her eyes were closed and face turned up to the moonlight. The softly falling snow glittered on the long, red, hair streaming down her back. She looked every bit a snow princess, and a rush of affection coursed through him as he walked towards her.
“Harry,” Ginny said in greeting, not bothering to open her eyes. “Have I missed the New Year?”
Harry shook his head, even though she couldn’t see him. “Not yet. There's still time yet. I came out to find you.”
“It took you long enough.” She opened her eyes and grinned up at him.
Harry smiled and sat down beside her, not minding at all the cold wetness of the snow “Yes, well, when the Minister of Magic requires your attention, one tends to give it to him.”
Ginny scoffed. “Nonsense. You’re Harry Potter, savior of the Wizarding world. You could tell the Minister to piss off if you wanted to, and no one would bat an eyelash.”
“Apparently you needn’t be Harry Potter to tell the Minister to piss off,” Harry said with a grin, nudging Ginny playfully. “Kingsley still talks about that, by the way. One of his favorite stories.”
It had been soon after the final battle, after the funerals and the services, when people were starting to piece their lives back together again. Hermione had gone to go find her parents and Ron had insisted on going with her. Harry stayed behind, partially because he rather thought they’d like the time alone together and partially because he was so tired. He slept for two weeks straight. During that time it was Ginny who’d taken care of him. From all accounts, she’d guarded him fiercely from being disturbed by any well wishers, including the Minister himself.
“Miss Weasley,” the Kingsley had said, “I need to see Mr. Potter.”
“I’m sorry, Minister, but Harry’s asleep. Perhaps if you stop by in a few days, he’ll be up to seeing you.”
“Yes, well I’m certain Harry wouldn’t mind being woken up -“
“But I mind,” Ginny interrupted. “Harry’s very tired and he needs his rest. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, or the stability of the Wizarding World is at stake, you can’t see him.”
“How are you planning on stopping me?” the Minister had asked.
“By any means necessary.”
Mrs. Weasley had walked into the house a few minutes later to find her daughter pointing her want at the Minister of Magic, instructing him once again to leave and come back once Harry woke up.
Ginny buried her face in her hands, biting back a choked laugh at the mention of it. “Oh God, Mum was absolutely mortified.”
“Yes, but Kingsley was quite impressed.”
“Don’t tell me he told the story again tonight.”
Harry grinned. “Twice. Once to Hagrid and Professor McGonagall, who’d raised her eyebrows and said, ‘Well of course, she’s a Gryffindor,’ and once to Charlie who looked very pleased about the whole thing.”
“Mum must have been horrified,” Ginny said with a laugh. “I know how much she hates that story. But you know she would have done the same thing.”
Harry chuckled. “Absolutely. Speaking of which, your mum is going to pitch a fit if she sees you out here without a coat. Here, take my sweater. It’s freezing,” Harry pulled off the traditional Weasley Christmas sweater he’d been wearing and handed it to her.
“Thank you Harry, but I don’t need it.” Harry shrugged, but draped it over her exposed legs anyway. She smiled at him in thanks and looked up at the stars. “So are you enjoying the party?”
“I am now,” he said honestly, a blush rising to his cheeks that had nothing to do with the sting of the cold. “So what were you doing out here, anyway?”
“It’s silly, really. Promise you won’t laugh at me?”
“I promise.”
“I was saying thank you,” she said softly, looking up at the stars and the falling snow. “This time last year, all I could think of was you, and Ron and Hermione, where you were, how you were doing, if you were safe. Before I left Hogwarts for the holidays, Colin Creevey gave me a picture of you. Said it was to remember you by, and to remind me to not give up hope. Then back here, Tonks and Lupin would tell me stories, to distract me from worrying. And Fred…” Her voice wavered, and broke off, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I wanted to thank them, to let them know that I missed them and that I still remembered, that I’d always remember. It’s silly. I know they can’t hear me.”
“That’s not silly at all,” Harry said, reaching for her hand. “It’s lovely.”
“Thank you.” Ginny leaned her head against Harry’s shoulder. Harry wasn’t sure how long they sat there in comfortable silence, enjoying the feeling of just being together. He took in the flowery scent of her hair, the warmth of her cheek on his shoulder and her hand in his, how right it felt to be together again. But it felt over far too quickly when Ginny lifted her head from his shoulder and stood up.
“We should go in. They’ll be counting down soon.” She helped Harry to his feet and slipped on his sweater, hugging herself tightly against the cold. “This is really quite warm,” she said, grinning up at him. It looked ridiculous on her. Harry wasn’t a large man by any stretch of the imagination, but she was so small that the sweater looked humungous on her. “I think I’ll keep it.”
Harry laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist, puling her close to him as they walked back to the house. “You already have at least three of my sweaters. Besides, I doubt the ones your mum makes for you are any less warm than mine.”
“Yes, but it’s not at all the same thing,” Ginny insisted, leaning into his side, and he knew that he’d end up giving it to her anyway.
It was comfortable, falling back into these patterns. They hadn’t been together all that long during his sixth year, but being with Ginny was an easy habit to get into and a difficult one to break, even a year and a half later. And suddenly it seemed silly to put off talking about their relationship until later. Being together, being like this felt right now. Abruptly, Harry stopped before they reached the door and Ginny looked up at him questioningly.
He released her shoulders, turning so that he was facing her and he took her hand. “I’m not quite ready to go inside yet. You’ll be back at school soon, and I’ll be back at Auror training and…let’s stay out here a little longer.”
Ginny smiled up at him. “Okay.”
He looked down at her beautiful, smiling face and his heart swelled with emotion. There were words and feelings welling up inside of him, all fighting to get out, and he wasn’t sure which words to say first. “I’ve missed you,” he blurted out. It was a start. “I miss being with you. Like this.”
She reached up and cradled his face in her hands. “I’ve missed you..”
An errant snowflake fell, landing on Ginny’s eyelashes. Ginny’s eyes fluttered closed as Harry reached up to brush it away. His heart was practically bursting with the love he felt for her and he wanted to tell her, to shout it from the rooftops, to kiss her senseless.
“I want to be with you,” Harry whispered, his lips brushing over her eyelids, and her cheeks. It wasn’t the big romantic declaration that he’d wanted to give her, but he couldn’t quite put into words just how much he loved her. Ginny’s breath quickened and her hand tightened in his as she lowered her eyes.
“I want to be with you, too,” she whispered, and that was all he needed to hear.
In the background, he heard Mrs. Weasley trying to hush everybody for the New Year’s countdown but he paid no attention to that, bringing his lips down to meet hers for their first kiss since his seventeenth birthday. It was everything he remembered it being as his fingers tangled in her now-damp hair and her mouth chased away the cold. All he could feel was her, her lips, her fingers on his back, her body pressed close against his. It felt like warmth and Christmas and home and he never wanted it to end. They broke apart just as they heard the party goers yelling, “TWO! ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Ginny giggled, leaning her head against Harry’s chest. “Getting a bit ahead of yourself, yeah?”
Harry’s face fell and he pulled away. “I’m sorry. Did you not want me to kiss you? I should have-“
She refused to let him go and tangled her fingers in his. “No. It’s not that. I thought it was traditional to kiss at the stroke of midnight.”
He stared down at her in all seriousness and brushed back an errant lock of her hair that had fallen in her face. “We’ve waited long enough, don’t you think?”
“I think you’re right. It was a good way to end the old year.” Ginny smiled and stood on tip toe. “A good way to start the new one, too,” she whispered before kissing him fiercely.
Gift for: ladywhizbee
Author: nessismore
Pairing: Harry/Ginny; with brief appearances by the Weasleys, McGonagall, Hagrid, Kingsley and Aberforth
Rating: G
Word Count: 2,311
Summary:
They’d never really discussed what they were now, now that the danger had lessened and the war was over. It hadn’t felt right to talk about it in the days after the war; it had been too tense, too raw, and there were still too many other emotions coursing through them. They’d just…been. Perhaps a New Year's party at the Weasleys is the time to bring it out into the open.
Author's Notes: Just something small and fluffy (with the tiniest bit of angst). I hope you enjoy!
It was the first New Year’s Eve after the war and the house was crowded, even by Weasley standards. It felt like every little space was occupied. Ron and Hermione were sitting in a quiet little corner of the kitchen, heads bent together, talking quietly. Fleur was with Andromeda and baby Teddy on the couch, while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley chatted with Percy, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, and Aberforth Dumbledore near the fireplace. Near the front door, Bill and Charlie were standing on either side of George, whispering conspiratorially to their younger brother, managing to draw a rare smile or two out of him, while Neville shifted uncomfortably as the Lovegoods regaled him with a story of their search for the…well, Harry wasn’t quite sure what it was they’d been searching for, and from the look on his face, neither did Neville.
There was one person he could not find, however, and she happened to be the only one he wanted to see. Ginny. He’d hoped, rather foolishly he realized, that he’d be able to spend the evening by Ginny’s side, but he’d been pulled into conversation after conversation and she’d managed to disappear. He’d searched the ground floor twice and was debating checking in her room when someone finally pointed him in the right direction.
“Oh for Merlin’s sake, she’s in the garden,” a male voice said. Harry turned and found Ron and Hermione watching him in amusement.
“I-uh-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harry stammered as Hermione hid a giggle behind her hand.
His bushy haired friend smiled benignly. “Please, Harry. In the last ten minutes, we’ve seen you circle the kitchen and the sitting room like a lost puppy looking for her. It was getting a bit sad.”
“I-uh-thanks,” Harry said, blushing slightly. He hadn’t realized he’d been as obvious as all that, but his heart raced in anticipation. He turned to go.
“Oy!” Ron called, and Harry stopped. “She’s an absolute nutter, but she’s still my sister. So just…mind your hands.”
Harry grinned, saluted and hurried away, Hermione’s scolding of Ron fading in his wake. “Honestly, Ronald, what are they going to get up to out there, especially when it’s freezing outside?”
Ron likely didn’t have much to be worried about. After Harry and Ginny were…well they weren’t exactly boyfriend and girlfriend again, but they weren’t exactly not. They’d never really discussed what they were now, now that the danger had lessened and the war was over. It hadn’t felt right to talk about it in the days after the war; it had been too tense, too raw, and there were still too many other emotions coursing through them. They’d just…been. They’d comforted one another, talked quietly deep into the night, Harry telling her about his journey, Ginny telling him about hers. At dinner, she’d take his hand under the table and squeeze it tightly, as if to remind herself that he was still there and he would stop sometimes in the middle of a conversation just to drink in the sight of her and reassure himself that she was real. But they hadn’t talked about it. Even now, during the holidays where they both had a break, there’d been no time. There’d been time to hold Ginny on Christmas Eve as she cried about Fred, and there’d been time for her to hold Harry’s hand as he’d held little Teddy in his lap, telling the baby all about the parents he’d never know. In light of everything that had been going on around them, since the end of the end of the war, talking about it seemed inconsequential. There’d been times where he’d wanted to talk about it, but he was in Auror training and she was at school and he kept wondering if it would be better to…wait. That didn’t stop him from seeking her out now, however.
He couldn’t see Ginny when he stepped outside, but he followed the path she’d left in the thick layer of snow that sparkled in the moonlight. More snow was falling softly around him, He found Ginny sitting, legs stretched in front of her, by the fence at the far end of the garden. She’d foregone a coat; the sleeveless party dress Mrs. Weasley had insisted she wear was her only protection from the cold, but she didn’t seem to mind. Her eyes were closed and face turned up to the moonlight. The softly falling snow glittered on the long, red, hair streaming down her back. She looked every bit a snow princess, and a rush of affection coursed through him as he walked towards her.
“Harry,” Ginny said in greeting, not bothering to open her eyes. “Have I missed the New Year?”
Harry shook his head, even though she couldn’t see him. “Not yet. There's still time yet. I came out to find you.”
“It took you long enough.” She opened her eyes and grinned up at him.
Harry smiled and sat down beside her, not minding at all the cold wetness of the snow “Yes, well, when the Minister of Magic requires your attention, one tends to give it to him.”
Ginny scoffed. “Nonsense. You’re Harry Potter, savior of the Wizarding world. You could tell the Minister to piss off if you wanted to, and no one would bat an eyelash.”
“Apparently you needn’t be Harry Potter to tell the Minister to piss off,” Harry said with a grin, nudging Ginny playfully. “Kingsley still talks about that, by the way. One of his favorite stories.”
It had been soon after the final battle, after the funerals and the services, when people were starting to piece their lives back together again. Hermione had gone to go find her parents and Ron had insisted on going with her. Harry stayed behind, partially because he rather thought they’d like the time alone together and partially because he was so tired. He slept for two weeks straight. During that time it was Ginny who’d taken care of him. From all accounts, she’d guarded him fiercely from being disturbed by any well wishers, including the Minister himself.
“Miss Weasley,” the Kingsley had said, “I need to see Mr. Potter.”
“I’m sorry, Minister, but Harry’s asleep. Perhaps if you stop by in a few days, he’ll be up to seeing you.”
“Yes, well I’m certain Harry wouldn’t mind being woken up -“
“But I mind,” Ginny interrupted. “Harry’s very tired and he needs his rest. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, or the stability of the Wizarding World is at stake, you can’t see him.”
“How are you planning on stopping me?” the Minister had asked.
“By any means necessary.”
Mrs. Weasley had walked into the house a few minutes later to find her daughter pointing her want at the Minister of Magic, instructing him once again to leave and come back once Harry woke up.
Ginny buried her face in her hands, biting back a choked laugh at the mention of it. “Oh God, Mum was absolutely mortified.”
“Yes, but Kingsley was quite impressed.”
“Don’t tell me he told the story again tonight.”
Harry grinned. “Twice. Once to Hagrid and Professor McGonagall, who’d raised her eyebrows and said, ‘Well of course, she’s a Gryffindor,’ and once to Charlie who looked very pleased about the whole thing.”
“Mum must have been horrified,” Ginny said with a laugh. “I know how much she hates that story. But you know she would have done the same thing.”
Harry chuckled. “Absolutely. Speaking of which, your mum is going to pitch a fit if she sees you out here without a coat. Here, take my sweater. It’s freezing,” Harry pulled off the traditional Weasley Christmas sweater he’d been wearing and handed it to her.
“Thank you Harry, but I don’t need it.” Harry shrugged, but draped it over her exposed legs anyway. She smiled at him in thanks and looked up at the stars. “So are you enjoying the party?”
“I am now,” he said honestly, a blush rising to his cheeks that had nothing to do with the sting of the cold. “So what were you doing out here, anyway?”
“It’s silly, really. Promise you won’t laugh at me?”
“I promise.”
“I was saying thank you,” she said softly, looking up at the stars and the falling snow. “This time last year, all I could think of was you, and Ron and Hermione, where you were, how you were doing, if you were safe. Before I left Hogwarts for the holidays, Colin Creevey gave me a picture of you. Said it was to remember you by, and to remind me to not give up hope. Then back here, Tonks and Lupin would tell me stories, to distract me from worrying. And Fred…” Her voice wavered, and broke off, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I wanted to thank them, to let them know that I missed them and that I still remembered, that I’d always remember. It’s silly. I know they can’t hear me.”
“That’s not silly at all,” Harry said, reaching for her hand. “It’s lovely.”
“Thank you.” Ginny leaned her head against Harry’s shoulder. Harry wasn’t sure how long they sat there in comfortable silence, enjoying the feeling of just being together. He took in the flowery scent of her hair, the warmth of her cheek on his shoulder and her hand in his, how right it felt to be together again. But it felt over far too quickly when Ginny lifted her head from his shoulder and stood up.
“We should go in. They’ll be counting down soon.” She helped Harry to his feet and slipped on his sweater, hugging herself tightly against the cold. “This is really quite warm,” she said, grinning up at him. It looked ridiculous on her. Harry wasn’t a large man by any stretch of the imagination, but she was so small that the sweater looked humungous on her. “I think I’ll keep it.”
Harry laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist, puling her close to him as they walked back to the house. “You already have at least three of my sweaters. Besides, I doubt the ones your mum makes for you are any less warm than mine.”
“Yes, but it’s not at all the same thing,” Ginny insisted, leaning into his side, and he knew that he’d end up giving it to her anyway.
It was comfortable, falling back into these patterns. They hadn’t been together all that long during his sixth year, but being with Ginny was an easy habit to get into and a difficult one to break, even a year and a half later. And suddenly it seemed silly to put off talking about their relationship until later. Being together, being like this felt right now. Abruptly, Harry stopped before they reached the door and Ginny looked up at him questioningly.
He released her shoulders, turning so that he was facing her and he took her hand. “I’m not quite ready to go inside yet. You’ll be back at school soon, and I’ll be back at Auror training and…let’s stay out here a little longer.”
Ginny smiled up at him. “Okay.”
He looked down at her beautiful, smiling face and his heart swelled with emotion. There were words and feelings welling up inside of him, all fighting to get out, and he wasn’t sure which words to say first. “I’ve missed you,” he blurted out. It was a start. “I miss being with you. Like this.”
She reached up and cradled his face in her hands. “I’ve missed you..”
An errant snowflake fell, landing on Ginny’s eyelashes. Ginny’s eyes fluttered closed as Harry reached up to brush it away. His heart was practically bursting with the love he felt for her and he wanted to tell her, to shout it from the rooftops, to kiss her senseless.
“I want to be with you,” Harry whispered, his lips brushing over her eyelids, and her cheeks. It wasn’t the big romantic declaration that he’d wanted to give her, but he couldn’t quite put into words just how much he loved her. Ginny’s breath quickened and her hand tightened in his as she lowered her eyes.
“I want to be with you, too,” she whispered, and that was all he needed to hear.
In the background, he heard Mrs. Weasley trying to hush everybody for the New Year’s countdown but he paid no attention to that, bringing his lips down to meet hers for their first kiss since his seventeenth birthday. It was everything he remembered it being as his fingers tangled in her now-damp hair and her mouth chased away the cold. All he could feel was her, her lips, her fingers on his back, her body pressed close against his. It felt like warmth and Christmas and home and he never wanted it to end. They broke apart just as they heard the party goers yelling, “TWO! ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Ginny giggled, leaning her head against Harry’s chest. “Getting a bit ahead of yourself, yeah?”
Harry’s face fell and he pulled away. “I’m sorry. Did you not want me to kiss you? I should have-“
She refused to let him go and tangled her fingers in his. “No. It’s not that. I thought it was traditional to kiss at the stroke of midnight.”
He stared down at her in all seriousness and brushed back an errant lock of her hair that had fallen in her face. “We’ve waited long enough, don’t you think?”
“I think you’re right. It was a good way to end the old year.” Ginny smiled and stood on tip toe. “A good way to start the new one, too,” she whispered before kissing him fiercely.