Better Late Than Never

Harry and Ginny stood in front of a large brick building. Ginny’s eyes were still pink from crying, but were slowly going back to their normal color. They stood in silence… waiting. A bell sounded and hordes of children flowed out of the doors. Two strawberry-blond girls caught Harry’s eye. “There they are,” Ginny said smiling proudly.


The girls didn’t see them at first, but suddenly the older one yelled, “Uncle Harry!” and ran as fast as she could toward him, the younger one followed suit. They didn’t stop when they reached him, but rather hit him full force, causing him to fall backward with them on top of him, hugging him.


“Madeline, Annabelle, please, let him breathe,” Ginny said as she lifted her daughters off Harry’s chest.


“Uncle Harry, when did you get here? Did you bring me anything from New Yock?” Maddy said as fast as an eight-year-old could.


“That’s New York, dear,” her mother corrected her, “and Harry does not need to bring you presents.”


“Presents, Presents,” was all that Annie could say between giggles.


Harry smiled at the girls, winked and mouthed the words, “Yes, I did.”


Harry picked up Annie and held her in one arm and held Maddy’s hand with his other as they walked back to the house. Their walk was filled with jokes and laughter. Harry looked over at Ginny and saw the first real smile he had seen on her all day. He smiled inwardly at himself, as they walked up the stone path to the house.


When they entered, Harry sat the girls down on the couch and went to his trunk. “Why would I come to see my favorite girls and not bring them presents?” Harry asked as he grabbed two boxes out of his trunk and handed one to each of the girls. Ginny glared at him.


“What? I’m not allowed to give them presents? They are my goddaughters after all.”


“No Harry, that’s Ron’s kids. You just like to spoil mine.” Ginny laughed at the hurt expression on Harry’s face.


“I’ll get you for that Miss Ginny,” Harry teased as he started chasing her around the living room. He caught her and pinned her down in a chair. Her face was flushed and a huge smile was spread across her face. “I love to see you smile,” Harry said as he felt a twinge in his belly that turned into a warm energy that flowed through his body as he looked in her eyes. Her eyes were sparkling, only slightly, but they were sparkling, nonetheless.


Harry stood up to break the awkward silence between he and Ginny. “So, girls, do you like them?” Harry asked as he watched Maddy open up a Muggle jewelry box with a dancing ballerina, and Annie was playing with a muggle drawing device called a Magnadoodle. “The kids love these back in the States.”


“Is that what they call it there, The States?” Maddy asked.


“Yes, it’s not just America, it’s the United States of America. You’ll learn more about it later in World History.”


Maddy nodded and then looked curiously at her jewelry box, “How does the ballerina move if it’s not by magic?”


“That, Maddy dear, is a conversation I must save for when your grandfather is around. He has always been fascinated my muggle inventions.” Harry said as he sat on the couch and showed the girls how there presents worked.


Ginny stood in the doorway watching Harry and the two girls. He is so wonderful with them. I’m still going to kill him, but he is wonderful. I am so glad he’s here. Today has been great. I smiled, hell, I laughed. I haven’t done that in a long time. I guess Harry just brings it out in me. Ginny smiled as her thoughts played pleasantly around in her head. She walked over and sat next to Annie to see what the Magnadoodle thing is all about.


They four of them played for a while before Ginny got up to make dinner. Once she was in the kitchen, the girls climbed up in Harry’s lap. “Uncle Harry?” Maddy asked. “How long are you staying?”


“Only for a few days, Boo,” calling her by his special nickname for her.


“I’ve missed you, Uncle Harry.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him as tight as she could.


“Uncle Harry?” Annie said softly. “You make Mummy happy.”


Harry smiled, “She makes me happy, too” Harry squeezed both girls tightly before getting up to help Ginny in the kitchen.


He slowly opened the door and crept up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, startling her and causing her to jump. “Harry!?”


“I just wanted to thank you for today. The talk, the stroll… the chase.” Harry said softly in her ear, sending chills down her spine.


“I had fun, too.”


“I’ve missed laughing like that.” He let go of her waist and sat at the table. “I thought I had forgotten how to do it.”


“Me too,” said Ginny. Her heart felt like it was pounding through her chest. Why am I feeling this way? It’s Harry, for Merlin’s sake. We’ve been best friends for 13 years. I’ve known him for 17. This is ridiculous. I’m not ready to feel like this, I still love Colin. This is Harry. This is nutters. She shook her head to clear her mind and she continued chopping the vegetables.


Harry sat and watched her delicately chop the vegetables and place them in the skillet. Her long hair was pulled up in a clip, exposing her smooth neck. He had forgotten how beautiful Ginny was. What am I doing? This is Ginny that I’m thinking of doing unspeakable things to. We’ve been friends forever and best friends almost as long. Her smile is amazing. Her hair… mmmm… I just want to take that clip out and… NO! I have to stop this. I cannot keep thinking like this, or this will be the hardest 5 days of my life.


Ginny turned around to set the table and saw Harry staring at her. She could feel her cheeks blush a deep crimson. She could see a slight blush flow through Harry’s cheeks too as he caught her gaze with his emerald eyes. His eyes… mmmm…What? Am I ten years old again? This is stupid. What is going on? When did my feelings for Harry change? Have they changed? I’m not ready for this yet. Well, maybe I am. NO! I can’t do this. He’s getting divorced this week. Hmmm… he’s getting divorced this week. Oh, bloody hell!


Harry didn’t mean to be staring at her. He didn’t even notice he was until she was staring back at him. Her brown eyes seemed to sparkle more with every passing moment. There goes the ever-famous Ginny Weasley blush. No, it’s Creevey, now. I can’t be doing this. She’s a widow. She’s Colin’s widow. I can’t be thinking these things. Her eyes are beautiful, I could just melt into them; I think I am. She’s not moving. Is that good or bad? I have missed her so much. I didn’t realize I felt this way. When did I ever feel this way before? NEVER! I loved Melissa, but she never made me queasy. Oh, God, I’m queasy. Melissa… I’m getting divorced this week. YES! I’m getting divorced this week!


Harry felt himself stand up and take the bowls from Ginny’s hands and set them on the table. They were both staring at each other. The two moved closer as by some magnetic force, never breaking eye contact. He raised his hand and softly touched her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into his hand.


Suddenly, her hair fell over her shoulders as Harry released the clip holding it up. Her small hands moved between them and lightly rubbed over his chest, feeling the muscles ripple through his shirt. Tangling his fingers into the hair at the back of her neck, he gently pulled her closer. Her eyes slowly closed as his lips softly touched hers. He felt her relax into the kiss as he let his own eyes flutter closed. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck and she twirled his hair through her fingers.


His lips parted slightly as he teased her mouth with his tongue and she fell into the kiss more deeply, reciprocating his actions. Gently releasing her hair from his grasp and softly caressed her cheek with his thumb, he softened the kiss, reveling in the immense power that flowed through their lips. He kissed her gently again and pulled back leaning his forehead against hers.


“I’m sorry, Gin. I shouldn’t have done that,” Harry tried to convince himself more than to convince her.


“Harry, that was…”


“I know, it was unexpected, I shouldn’t have done it. I’ll go stay at the Burrow, I don’t want it to be too awkward…” Harry took a step back and started to turn away.


Ginny placed her hands on his face and pulled him in for another soft kiss. “Will you just shut up?! I was going to say that it was… amazing.”


Harry locked his eyes on hers once more and saw that she was smiling and her brown eyes were sparkling like he had never seen before.