WHO: Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter WHEN: Wednesday, May 3rd, late afternoon. WHERE: The Burrow SUMMARY: Harry and Ginny have a moment alone. WARNINGS: Mentions of deceased.
Ginny knew that staying in bed was the smart thing to do, but that didn't mean that it was easy for her to stay under the sheets. She was sitting up, flipping through a Quidditch magazine from last year. She'd read it back then, but there was something about seeing the moving pictures of players darting around on their brooms that helped her feel an even greater sense of normalcy.
She knew that, really, it would never all return. Fred was gone and he'd taken so much of the Weasleys normal. They'd never be the same, especially George. Ginny winced whenever she thought of George. How could one stand to lose a twin? And so young? So quickly?
And Remus. And Tonks.
Countless others. She'd told Harry that she would try to read the list later, but she hadn't. Her journal was tucked in a drawer in her bedside table, waiting to be poured over later. It could wait. It would have to.
There was so much else happening. Her father had been appointed head of the DMLE. It was quite astounding, really--something that the family had never anticipated. But Ginny was proud of her father and knew that he'd do a good, fair job. He'd reminded the family that it was a temporary position, but that didn't change her pride in him.
She could hear noise downstairs. Her hands gripped the magazine hard enough for it to wrinkle slightly. Harry. It was Harry. Downstairs.
A year ago she'd loved him. She'd never told him, of course, but she'd known it. It hadn't been that silly, soppy sort of adoration that she'd had for him when she was young. She'd seen him differently then, understood him in a way that she hadn't known she could understand someone. And he'd seemed to finally truly see her.
He'd pushed her away, but she'd expected that. He wouldn't risk her being a pawn in Voldemort's game. It seemed to have mostly worked, since her punishments at Hogwarts were earned by her own merit.
The battle was over now. And Harry had said that he couldn't do anything now. He hadn't needed to say exactly what it was. This wasn't the time for sneaking off to the lake on the grounds, this wasn't the time to let kisses linger and hands to wander. In some ways she wished it was. Maybe things would be easier if it was, easier to forget their losses and easier to put the past year behind them.
But if that was to come back again with Harry, it wouldn't be today.
She didn't even know if he loved her. She didn't even know if she still loved him. The year hadn't been just any year. It'd been full, like a blister threatening to pop for months. Now it had ruptured. There would be relief, and healing, but the wound would leave a scar and she wasn't sure exactly how Harry had changed as he'd been on the run. Ginny wanted to think that Harry would never change too much from the Harry she loved, but the phantom of Voldemort was gone and Harry's life had changed beyond recognition now.
She arranged her blankets carefully before taking the magazine up again, pretending to read so that she'd look occupied when he walked in, even though she couldn't have repeated a word of the article she stared at.
Harry paced back and forth in front of Ginny's room a few times before he'd built up enough courage to knock on her door. He didn't want to impose, but he didn't think he could handle seeing Mrs. Weasley's and George's reactions again, not today. He'd escaped from the Burrow's living room on the premise of looking for something in Ron's room, but he knew he'd be seeing Ginny.
He waited for her to say 'come in' before he opened the door and went in. And because he wasn't entirely sure he trusted himself in that moment, he left the door open.
"Hey Gin," he greeted her, as he approached her bed. He pulled a chair next to her bed and sat down. "How are you?"
"Hey," she said. "I'm doing better." She searched his face carefully with her brown eyes. "It doesn't hurt quite as much." It took her a moment before she smiled weakly. "Did you hear about my dad? Head of the DMLE." She set the Quidditch magazine to the side.
For the first time, Harry genuinely grinned before he nodded and leaned back in his seat. "I can't think of anyone more deserving honestly."
It was so good to see him smile. It had been far too long. The edges of her mouth twitched as she came closer to a bright smile herself. "He'll do a wonderful job." She wondered what it would like for her father to have to deal with the people who had killed Fred, but… No, she didn't want to think about that.
There were a lot of things Ginny wanted to say, but now that he was here she didn't know how to voice them. "It seems you're managing to keep a low profile. I'm glad, for your sake. Let me know if that awful Skeeter woman starts coming around, or anyone else. I'd be happy to take care of her for you." She gave him a small smile. It was sort of a joke, but she would still be more than willing to get in anyone's way if it would help him.
"Trying, but —," Harry shrugged, uncomfortably shifting in his chair. He hadn't even gotten around to thinking about Skeeter, but now that she was brought up, Harry figured it would only be a little while longer until she found him. He grimaced at the thought. "It'll be alright, though I'll be happy to divert her attention to you, instead."
"Feel free," she said, noting the grimace. "After all, I'd be more than happy to tell more people about that dragon tattoo you have."
A brief chuckle followed, and Harry nodded, as he looked away from Ginny and looked around the room, instead. There was an uncomfortable silence now, but Harry didn't know what else to say, so he sat there, quietly and stupidly. And finally, he got up to his feet, and cleared his throat. "I should probably get going," he stated, finally turning back to Ginny. "You should get some rest."
She watched him, a fond look on her face. She didn't know what to say either. Neither of them were over the shock of the battle, and she didn't know how long it was going to take.
Still, Ginny leaned toward him and took his hand for a second. "I'm always here, alright? I'm not… No expectations. But just don't wall yourself off, okay? You're important to me." She let go. "So, let me be there for you."
Harry squeezed her hand quickly and nodded, and when she let go, he promptly stuck his hands in the pockets of his trousers. "I know. I just need to be alone for a bit, is all. But thanks, Ginny."
Another small smile later, he turned around and left her room, intending to go back to Grimmauld Place right away. There was a lot to think about, going forward.