Better Late Than Never

Ginny stood on the porch overlooking the garden behind Ron and Hermione’s house. She was furious at her brother, but not exactly sure why. Why does Ron always have to get in the middle of everything? He always thinks he knows it all. What does he know? What did he mean ‘…we both feel the same about each other?’ If Harry did go over there today, what did he say? Could he feel the same way? Hell, what is the ‘same way?’ I’m not certain of my own feelings. Is Harry? I know that I don’t want him to go away again. Would he stay? For me? Where did that come from? Do I want him to stay for me…with me? I think I might. Why am I doing this? Why am I analyzing my feelings? I love him. This is so stupid. What if Hermione was right, that the dream was really a message from Colin? Am I r to to move on with my life? Oh, bloody hell, I have never felt like this. Why am I so damned scared? It’s only Harry, my best friend… Harry.


A strong pair of hands softly kneaded her shoulders, bringing her out of her reverie. Ginny closed her eyes focusing on the energy that was flowing from his touch. Hmmmmm…


“Gin?”


“Hmmm?”


Harry leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Knut for your thoughts.” His breath in her ear made her shiver.


“Oh, its nothing,” she grinned as she covered his hand with her own. “How did lunch go?” she asked as she turned around to face him.


“It went very well. It wasn’t like anything I expected,” he said smiling from ear to ear. His arms slipped around her waist and he pulled her toward him.


“Harry…” she whispered as her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes caught his. There was something in them that made her want to melt. The green orbs sparkled as they bore into her very soul. She opened her mouth to speak… I love you. Why is that so hard to say? “Oh, nevermind,” she blurted out, shaking her head. She looked down at her feet as she felt the inexplicable blush that flooded her cheeks.


Harry pulled her closer to him. He could feel his heart pounding through his chest. She makes me weak all over. I wonder if she knows what she does to me. How could she? C’mon Potter, tell her! It’s just three simple words. Say it!


Harry lifted his hand and placed a finger underneath her chin. Lifting her face to look at him, he felt his heart yearn for her. He wanted to pour every ounce of love he could possess into her. He leaned down and softly pressed his lips to hers. She relaxed in to the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck.


After a few moments, Harry softly ended the kiss. He rested his forehead against hers and whispered, “I love you, Ginny.”


Ginny cupped his face in her hands and pulled back so she could look into his eyes. “I love you too, Harry.” She felt his arms pull her harder to him, hugging her tightly. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.


They stood there for what seemed like hours when Harry broke the silence, “Gin?” She looked up at him. “I would love to hold you like this all day, but we had better go get the girls. We have to be at your Mum’s soon. I know she would be very disappointed if she didn’t get to see us.” He ran his fingers softly through her hair.


“I know. This just feels so good. Why didn’t we figure all this out earlier?” she asked as she squeezed him tighter.


Harry sniggered, “I guess we were a bit slow on the uptake.”


“No, I think stubbornness and fear stopped us,” she said teasingly.


Harry pulled her to sit on the bench in the garden. “Ginny, when we kissed the other night…” Harry sighed at the memory before he continued, “something just felt… I don’t know… right.” Ginny nodded as the blush once again flooded her cheeks. “Then when you had the nightmare and I lay…” Harry stopped himself, realizing what he was about to divulge. He looked away abruptly.


Ginny looked at him quizzically. Her voice hardened slightly, “When I had my nightmare and you what, Harry?”


Harry looked down at his lap. “I’m sorry, Gin. When I looked in on you, you were thrashing around. My heart ached to watch it. I had to make it stop.” Harry looked up at Ginny’s expectant face. “Do you remember how you used to help me when I would have nightmares at the Burrow during the summers?” Ginny nodded, her eyes shone with a new understanding.


“Harry, you laid next to me? Why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice was so calm that Harry didn’t know what she was feeling about this.


“I was afraid of how you would react. I didn’t do anything, I promise. I just couldn’t watch you or listen to you have to deal with such a horrible dream,” Harry said, dropping his head down once more. He braced himself for the inevitable sting of Ginny’s hand slapping his face. He was shocked at the feel of her soft hand placed on his cheek. He looked up see her brown eyes shining with unshed tears.


“Thank you, Harry,” she whispered as she softly kissed his cheek.


“You’re not angry?” Harry shook his head in disbelief.


“Harry, I know why you did it, because that’s why I used to do it for you.” She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him close. She whispered, half to herself, “I think Colin may have been right.”


“What do you mean? Gin, you don’t believe in dreams.”


“This one I do. I don’t think it was a dream, per se. I think Colin may have been trying to talk to me.” She shook her head, before Harry could protest. “I know it sounds nutters but what he said is coming true.” Harry looked at her confused. “Do you want to know the rest of my ‘dream’?


“Gin, you told me about it this morning. You couldn’t remember what Colin said,” Harry said even more perplexed.


“I remembered it, Harry. I just didn’t tell you,\" she said, looking down. “Colin said that everything would be all right now that I have…” she looked up into his bright green eyes, “…you,” she said softly; a small smile spread across her lips.


Harry smiled. His own tears were threatening to fall as he brought her into his arms again. He held her, never wanting to let go. “Well, Colin knows what he’s talking about. Everythingis going to be all right, now that we have each other,” he whispered softly before he leaned in for another head-spinning kiss.


When they finally broke apart, Ginny looked at her watch, which was now frantically flashingGoing to be Late! “We’re going to have to apparate to the school, or else we’ll be late. We’llfinish this discussion later,” she said, winking at Harry as she got up and offered him her hand.


Harry took her outstretched hand and rose up from the bench. “I thought this was going to be one of the worst days of my life…” He kissed the top of Ginny’s head. “Now I think it’s one of the best.” With two little pops the couple disapparated.