InsaneJournal

Who: Harry and Ginny
When: After classes, 21 June
Where: Starting in the common room, then taking a walk to the lake
Rating: PG-13
Status: Complete log


Harry tossed down his quill and stretched, twisting a little to crack his back. He'd been hunched over his books for what felt like hours now, trying to study for his exams, and it was time for a break already. He looked over to where Ginny was sitting on the other end of the couch, reaching over to give her a little poke in the side.

"Oi. I can't stand to look at my books any more. Come for a walk with me?" he asked, giving her his best puppy-dog eyes.

Ginny was growing ever frustrated with her notes. When had they even learned this stuff? She certainly didn't remember copying these notes. And what did that bit say? It was smudged and the writing was all squished and bugger all. How was she supposed to study for exams when she could hardly even bloody read it let alone relearn it.

She felt a prod at her side and jumped, startled out of the zombie sort of trance that she'd settled into sometime about a half-hour ago.

"Oh, gods yes. I can't even read these." She said batting her papers and shaking her head. She pulled out her wand and charmed all of her things into her bag. "There. I need sunshine." She pushed herself to her feet and gave him an exhausted look.

Harry stuffed his own things into his bag and shoved it toward the corner of the room. It'd be safe there until they got back. He couldn't think of anyone in the world that would want to steal a bag of studying materials, especially when the notes were written in his handwriting.

"We could walk down to the lake?" he suggested, taking Ginny's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. Some fresh air would do them both some good. And down by the lake might be the perfect spot.

"That sounds fantastic." She said, leaning her head against his shoulder as they made their way towards the portrait hole. "If I have to read one more bloody chapter on Charms tonight I'm going to lose my mind." Normally she liked Charms. Or at least she convinced herself she liked charms. Every time it came time for exams, she found herself cursing the subject with every fiber of her being. It was still better than Transfiguration though.

"Y'know, I envy the Giant Squid. No exams for him. Just gets to sit in the lake all day and talk to Merpeople." She was mostly just rambling as they made their way from Gryffindor tower.

Harry chuckled a little as he led the way through the castle and finally out the door onto the grounds. "It'd be a nice life to lead," he said, giving Ginny's hand a squeeze. "Just lazing about in the water all day? It'd be brilliant. ...I wonder what he does in the winter, though. D'you think there's a secret tunnel to the ocean or something, so he can go south for the winter?"

"Hmm, hadn't thought about winter months." Ginny said, pondering that. She took a deep breath of fresh air and smiled. "I'd imagine he'd have to do something to keep warm. That lake freezes over. He might like the cold though." She shrugged, feeling much more alert already with the sun shining and the gentle breeze. Oh the summer hols would be heaven after these exams. She gave their hands a gentle swing as they made their way across the grounds.

"Could always hibernate too," Harry suggested. "Maybe he burrows into the mud at the bottom of the lake, like a frog or something, and just sleeps through the winter." It was great to be outside again and talking about random silly things that had nothing to do with their exams. They could pretend for a little while that they were over and school was finished.

Of course, thinking about school finishing only got Harry thinking about the dozens of other things that needed doing. "I've signed for my flat in Hogsmeade. I'll be moving in the first of July."

"That is a valid possibility." Ginny said with a nod. "Though, I wonder what the merpeople do as well? During the winter, I mean." She grinned over at Harry realizing how ridiculous this conversation had gotten. She was possibly brain-fried from studying too much.

"Yeah?" The redhead asked excitedly. "Will you need help moving in and all?" She'd love to have an excuse to spend a day over there that didn't result in her mother giving her disapproving looks. Or approving looks. She couldn't decide which would be worse.

"Yeah, 'course," Harry replied, returning Ginny's grin. "Then again, the place comes furnished and it's not like I have a lot of things. But you can still come and help. We could rearrange the furniture or something. Spend the day together being ridiculous and domestic." And that thought had Harry's heart beating a little faster and a blush climbing his cheeks.

Ginny's grin widened at that. "Oh that'd be brill. Though, I'm still bollocks at cooking, so you're going to have to be in charge of that sort." She gave a sort of sheepish laugh. Maybe one day she'd learn to cook. Maybe. "I can help you move things around. And decorate." She said with a nod. "Oh and you'll have to get all sorts of things like plates and cups and a tea kettle and the like."

Right, dishes and things. He'd need those. "We can go shopping too. And yeah, I can cook for us. 'Course, by the end of the summer, you'll be sick of me cooking. I'm going to be making you try everything I want to put on the restaurant menu. You won't want to look at another plate of food for the rest of your life."

"It'll be brill. We can go into Muggle London and you can explain all their strange contraptions to me." Ginny was growing more and more excited about this plan. "I doubt I'll get sick of it. It's better than me making you try things that I make. And besides, you've seen the way Mum feeds us. If I was ever going to get sick of food, I think it would've happened by now." She laughed.

Harry grinned and squeezed Ginny's hand. She had a good point. Mrs. Weasley did love to feed people. "Yeah, we can do that. Don't know if the flat has electricity, though, so we might have to hold off on getting any Muggle things until we get our own place."

"Bugger." She said, scrunching her nose. "Fine, but when we get our own place, we're definitely getting a blender." She gave a decisive nod. Her father had picked up a blender one time when she was younger and then had charmed it to do some wild things, but it was still among her favorite Muggle contraptions. It was getting easier for her to picture their place. They'd discussed it and all and sometimes it still felt like a far off dream, but more and more it was feeling like a regular part of her life.

"I promise that we can get a blender," Harry told her with a smile. Why a blender was at the top of her list, he had no idea, but it'd be useful to have around at least. In their own place. Their home together.

"...Hey," Harry said after a moment, when they reached the edge of the lake. "I've got something for you."

"Brilliant then." She said, obviously placated. It really didn't take much to make Ginny happy. The promise of a blender added to the thought of two months free from school was enough to have her grinning widely.

"What?" She asked, giving him a confused smile. "What sort of something?"

"A surprise something," Harry replied with a cheeky grin. "Close your eyes and give me your hands."

She eyed him suspiciously before slowly doing what she was told. She could feel her curiosity tugging at her as she placed both hands in his and closed her eyes. Okay, so she was peeking a little, but that was besides the point.

"Keep them closed," Harry warned, watching Ginny for a moment before digging into his pocket. He was feeling strangely calm about this whole thing. Calmer than he imagined he would be. Then again, this was Ginny. Ginny who'd already said their own place, who loved him, who wanted to be with him.

Quietly, he took her hands and placed the ring in the palm of her right hand. "Okay," he whispered. "You can open them now."

At his chiding the redhead shut her eyes tighter and let out a sigh. "Fine." She said huffily. "But this had better be good, Potter." She was teasing of course, but only because he was making a big show out of it.

She felt something small being placed in her hand and tried to figure out what it was before she opened her eyes to look. When she finally saw the ring, her breath caught in her throat and she had to blink a few times to be sure that it was actually there. She glanced up at Harry, then back down at the ring, and then again back up at Harry.

"H-Harry..." Was all she could manage at first as the smile grew over her face.

Oh good, a smile. That was a very good sign. "It's not a proposal yet," Harry told her. "I mean, you still have a year left here and we're still really bloody young, but it's... It's a promise, yeah? That when you're finished with school and we find a place together, you'll get a real proposal. Me on my knee and everything. Because I love you and I want us to be together forever."

Ginny didn't have words. Her mouth was refusing to form anything that could possibly be considered coherent. She tightened her grip on the ring and pressed her hand close to her heart before leaning up and kissing him fiercely. "It's beautiful" She murmured against his lips. "I love you too and gods, I want longer than forever." Oh she was turning into a sappy git, but she didn't even care. She was entitled, considering. "Harry it's absolutely wonderful."

Harry smiled into the kiss, returning it with as much passion and feeling as he possibly could. "I love you, I love you, I love you," he mumbled against her lips, again and again. His hand found hers and he gently coaxed her fingers open, taking the ring and sliding it onto the ring finger of her right hand. They had to save the left hand for a proper engagement, after all.

Ginny pulled herself away from the kiss a bit reluctantly to admire the ring on her finger for a moment. It was so beautiful and probably more expensive than anything she owned, but gods it was perfect and she loved it, but moreso she loved what it meant. That she was his and he was hers and that they had the rest of their lives to revel in that fact.

She leaned in for another heated kiss, her newly adorned hand reaching up to cup the back of his neck, her thumb brushing against his cheek. "You are absolutely brilliant and wonderful and any other synonym that I can't seem to think of at the moment." She mumbled quietly.

"It looks even better on you than I imagined," Harry said when they'd separated again, brushing his nose against Ginny's. His face almost hurt from smiling so much, but he couldn't help it. She liked the ring. She wanted this for longer than forever. He'd never been happier in his life.

"When did you even have time for ring shopping?" She asked him after a moment, still amazed by it all. He wanted her. He wanted all of her for always and she still could hardly believe it. "Harry, this is beyond incredible."

Harry shrugged a little, rubbing the back of his neck. "I sent away for a catalog. Lavender helped me narrow down my choices, but I picked this one. Thought it suited you the best."

"It's perfect." She said softly looking back down at the ring and smiling. "I love it. And you." She leaned up and stole one more quick kiss. Gods, she didn't think she could smile any wider.

"I'm glad," Harry murmured, gently tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm really, really glad. ...I've had it for a few days. I've been waiting for the right moment. Don't know why, but I was scared to death you'd say no."

"No?" Ginny laughed. "What on earth would I say no about?" She shook her head and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Of course I wouldn't say no, git. I kind of love you. A lot. In case I forgot to mention that part."

Harry smiled and squeezed back on Ginny's hand, leaning in for a soft kiss. "You did mention that, yeah, but it's nice to hear it again. I love you too. A whole bloody lot."

"Are you sure you can't stay at school for another year? Or I could just not take my NEWTs. I mean, the twins didn't finish...I could just move into your flat and..." She was teasing of course, but only a little. She knew he'd be close and she knew she'd see him as often as she could, but somehow it didn't feel like enough.

"I'll only be in Hogsmeade," Harry murmured. "We can spend every Hogsmeade weekend together and I'll come up for matches. Maybe even some practices, if you want me."

"I always want you." She said a bit more suggestively than she initially intended.

A bit of pink climbed up into Harry's cheeks at the tone of her voice. "Yeah, well," he murmured. "I always want you too."

"Well good then." Ginny grinned. "How peeved would McGonagall be if I used a secret passage to sneak into Hogsmeade?" she asked, trying to maintain an innocent tone.

Harry smiled back and shrugged. "She never caught me when I snuck out my third year. Maybe I'll have to leave you the map, so you don't get into trouble."

"You'd better leave me the map!" Ginny laughed. "What are you planning on doing with it next year? I promise I'll take good care of it and only use it to sneak down to see you...and possibly get to the kitchens after hours."

"You better only be sneaking out to see me," Harry teased. "I'll be very put out if you sneak out to buy sweets from Honeydukes and you don't stop to see me."

Ginny laughed at that. "So no stopping off to see my other boyfriend instead?" She teased.

Harry cocked an eyebrow and gave Ginny's side a little pinch. "Other boyfriend?" he asked lightly, fingers poised to tickle.

Ginny giggled, anticipating the tickling was almost as bad as actually being tickled. She took a step back, trying to grab his hands to keep them from attacking her sides.

"You aren't denying it," Harry told her, slipping his hands free to give her side a quick tickle before letting up to give her the chance to talk.

Ginny squealed in laughter, squirming to get away from his fingers that were wrecking havoc on her sides. "Ahh! Stop! Stop!" She protested, trying to catch her breath. "Stop!" She squealed again just before he let up. She was still grinning madly and trying to feebly protect her sides. "No. other. bloke." She managed between breaths.

"Too bloody right," Harry agreed, leaving her sides alone to tug her into a kiss. One hand slid around to the small of her back while the other tangled into her hair, and he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.

Ginny smiled against his lips, leaning into him as he pulled her close. "That." She mumbled into the kiss. "Is not bloody fair." She nipped at his bottom lip for good measure.

Harry chuckled a little and drew back to give her a smug smile. "Is too. It's strategy."

"You're going to be in big trouble when I find a way for revenge." She pointed out, raising a careful eyebrow. For now though, all she could do was lean in and give him a sound kiss.

Harry hummed into the kiss and smiled. "I think I can deal with that," he murmured. He caught her hand and kissed her ring, then draped his arms around her shoulders. "For now, though... we should probably get back to studying. I still have Potions to look through." He'd been putting it off for ages.

"UGH! I'd forgotten about that." Ginny moaned, leaning her weight against him as though her legs had given up at the thought of having to return to the castle. "Do we have to?" she asked, well, whined really, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

Harry supported Ginny's weight as she leaned, giving her a squeeze. "Yes we haaave to," he replied. "But why don't we make a deal, yeah? If we can study for a couple more hours in the common room... we could maybe spend some time together in the Room of Requirement. How about that?"

Ginny pretended to consider the terms of the deal. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes a little bit and made little "hmmm" noises. "I guess that sounds alright." She said with a sigh. She didn't last long however before she was smiling again. "You're so lucky I have absolutely no willpower against you."

"That goes both ways, you know," Harry said, giving Ginny a little squeeze as they started slowly toward the castle. "You could probably have me trying to fly without a broom if you wanted to."

Ginny gave a laugh at that, finding her legs again so she wasn't leaning her weight against him as much. "I rather enjoy you not pancake-shaped so I don't think I'll be asking you to try that anytime soon." Ginny said leaning up to peck his cheek as they continued walking. "But that is good to know." She raised a suggestive eyebrow before giggling again.

Harry snorted a little at that eyebrow raise. "What, so if I ever do something stupid, you'll be able to flatten me for it?" he asked teasingly.

"Maaaaybe." She replied with a grin. She looked up at him, bright brown eyes sparkling with mischief. "Better not do anything stupid then, yeah?"

"I'll try my best," Harry said. "Can't make any promises, though. I am a bloke, after all. I'm sure I'll bugger something up eventually. Probably your birthday or our anniversary or something."

"Hmm, I'll just have to learn to be more forgiving then, is it?" She asked with a laugh. "Understanding of your preexisting condition and all?"

Harry grinned. "Cheers, Gin. You're brilliant." He gave her a squeeze and pressed a kiss into her hair before releasing her to open the castle door. "After you."

"So you keep telling me." She pointed out with a laugh, closing her eyes for a moment as he kissed the top of her head. "Why thank you kind sir." She teased as she skipped through the door, waiting for him to catch up once she was inside. "Right, so short study bit and then a nice long break, yeah?" She asked as she reached for his hand again.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, lacing their fingers together and bringing her hand up to kiss the back. "Sounds like a brilliant plan."