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See you when I see you, Gin.
Harry
Ginny sighed as she stared at the letter Harry sent her a month ago. She folded the letter and returned it to it's place - which was on her bedside table in the Head Girl's dormitory. Yes, Ginny was now the Head Girl of Hogwarts for 1998/1999 session. She rolled onto her four-poster and stared at the tapestry on her ceiling. A thought kept spinning her head - tomorrow will be Valentine. Tomorrow will be Valentine. Tomorrow will be Valentine - and Harry hadn't sent her any letters.
She was frustrated, obviously. Everytime she entered the class, she can see other students linking their arms together - no matter what houses they belonged in. Rare couples like Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff - as if there was no bad history from the past seven years. Everytime she was doing her round - most of the time by herself, she would catch students snogging in the corridors, abandoned classrooms and broomstick cupboards. It was the biggest lie if Ginny said she wasn't jealous - she missed kissing and hugging Harry. And, her jealousy wasn't helping her when her friends started dating. Hermione with Malfoy, Neville with Hannah and Luna with Rolf Scamander.
Speaking of rounds, Ginny realized it was her turn tonight - supposedly to be with Neville as he was the Head Boy, but she wasn't going to disturb him and Hannah snogging. She sighed as she slipped into her school robes and hid the cotton pyjama she was wearing. She tied her hair into a lose bun and tucked her wand into her robe's side pocket. She descended the staircase and began her rounds on the South Wing - most students didn't want to come here at night to snog, they preferred the West Wing - also known as the Orgy Wing. Ginny remembered her and Neville panicking trying to catch students having a sex party there only few weeks at the beginning of the school term.
She watched the tip of her wand lit up as she cast Lumos - disturbing the portraits trying to sleep. One of them mumbled something like oh, great. If she's a prefect, then might as well get rid of that blonde git and his noisy girlfriend from snogging and shagging in this wing. Ginny's eyebrows furrowed at the incoherent mumble as she strolled down the corridor. She didn't hear anything - or, was she really deaf? Some students must be brilliant enough to get some privacy to use the wing. She tried to think of the brilliant students being couple in this school. They've explored the school castle thoroughly to know a place to snog without bumping into some innocent first years - especially Hufflepuffs.
Ginny walked further but her steps halted abruptly as she saw the couple snogging at the hallway.
Of course, the brilliant ones.
Malfoy and Hermione again.
"Ehem. Excuse me, may I ask what are two of the best McGonagall's prefects doing up here? Malfoy, your duty is supposed to be on Tuesday and Hermione, yours is on Sunday"
The couple quickly tore apart from each other, smoothing the wrinkles on their uniforms. Hermione averted her eyes away while Malfoy stared back at her boldly - his arms crossed around his chest. Ginny burst out laughing as she observed the couple - Malfoy was too brave and Hermione was too embarrassed. It wasn't the first time they were caught snogging like mad by her but Hermione was not the one to make her personal relationship with the so-called Slytherin sex god who happened to be her enemies for the past school years. Ginny sighed and dismissed them quickly - she didn't want to be the one to cock block and make Malfoy's balls turn blue for not being able to shag Hermione.
"Get a room! The portraits want to sleep!"
"Suck Potter's dick, Ginevra!" Malfoy laughed.
"Oh, shut up" she rolled her eyes and heard the roaring of laughter from Malfoy and Hermione.
Ginny made her way to leave the wing after making sure there was no other couples spotted there. Apparently, they've all known about how strict she was during her rounds - well, maybe she might be less stricter if Harry was also continuing his Eighth Year. Speaking of Harry, she missed him. She hasn't seen him since Christmas - if catching a glimpse of him thanking her mom for the treacle tart before departing to the Ministry was counted. She hasn't spoken to him since October last year - they met for a date at Hogsmeade, but of course, Harry needed to leave for what he called urgent Auror matters. Ginny leaned her side against the wall and let out a deep sigh - she wasn't going to let her emotions for Harry destroy her school years.
A fleeting feeling of doubt ached her heart.
Did Harry still love her?
Why hadn't he greeted her during Christmas? She knew he was busy, but a greeting wouldn't hurt, right?
Why hadn't he sent her more letters?
Were the letters just an obligation for him to write to her?
Ginny shook her head and ignored the fleeting doubt in her head. No, Harry wouldn't do such thing - he was not a person to do something if he didn't like it. Ginny knew this very well - but she couldn't help the doubt in her. Harry was not with her and he was exposed to the real world - something bigger than the school. He was exposed to more people than she's ever known in her whole life.
Ginny woke up to the sounds of people strolling down the corridors nearby the Head Girl's dormitory. She grunted in irritation as she summoned her watch to check the time - it was only 7 and everyone was already hyped up for today's Hogsmeade outing. Or, for certain people, Hogsmeade date. And, that group included her - if Harry ever decided to meet her instead of focusing on his Auror training.
Ginny dragged herself out of her four-poster and headed to her personal lavatory. She was in no mood to go out if it wasn't for Harry's promises in the previous letters - not the one she read last night - to celebrate Valentine's Day together with her. She brushed her teeth with her eyes half-closed and she stifled a yawn. She took a quick bath and moved on to busy herself with her outerwear. She let out a scream of annoyance.
She hated choosing clothes for her day.
Ginny took her red jumper that her mom knitted for Christmas and put on a pair of comfortable black trousers and her wool beanie as she left her dormitory. She headed straight for McGonagall's office to send her the reports of last night's rounds - after making sure she excluded the pair she caught snogging in the South Wing. She chuckled to herself - she had no idea since when did she start rooting for her best friend and Malfoy. She bid McGonagall a quick goodbye and departed from the Headmistress's office.
She reached the snowy ground of Hogwarts and saw few people still making their way around the school's grounds - most of them were the couples of the Seventh and Eighth Years. She spotted Luna speaking to Rolf - probably explaining to him how nargles in winter is a bad thing or explaining how to see Wrackspurt around someone's head. She chuckled - how did Rolf even get such compassion to hear about such a thing? Ginny formed a small smile.
She tilted her head to the left and saw Malfoy and Hermione snogging fiercely. Ah, of course - the shameless couple of all time. How did those two become a couple, Ginny had no idea. All she remembered from her long conversations with Hermione was they kept bumping into each other and Malfoy kept sitting next to her in all Slytherin-Gryffindor classes because he felt comfortable around her. How did the two got themselves stuck in a complicated Pureblood-Muggleborn relationship - it was best to let it as a secret until they were both ready for it.
Ginny left the school and headed straight for Hogsmeade. She felt like this year belonged to her - no wars, no dark wizard possessing her body for a year, no complicated breakups, no one to fight for - just her and her responsibilities as a student and the Head Girl. Ginny walked alone into Honeydukes and paid for some sweets to spend some time alone. She cast another warming charm around her body as she made her way towards Three Broomsticks.
Most students went to Madam Puddifoot's during Valentine's Day but Ginny just couldn't stand seeing so many students snogging without privacy there - she grimaced at the thought. Honest thought, how did Madam Puddifoot keep a friendly look while watching the underage students - although some are already 17 - snogging in her cafe. Ginny made her way to The Three Broomsticks as she stole a glance at the direction of Madam Puddifoot's - she smiled at Neville and Hannah who were waving at her. She could see their hands intertwined together under the table.
Ginny waited patiently in front of the door of Three Broomsticks. She was biting down her nails nervously in the early February winter and her toenails in her boots curled as the winter breeze hit her small figure. Her vision was blurry because of the thick snow raining the earth but she was certain she saw a bespectacled git with glasses flying on a broom.
"He promised. Valentine's is going to the day he pays me visit. Where are you, Harry?"
And, as she mumbled under her breath, Ginny felt strong arms encircled themselves around her tiny waist. She remembered the cologne - the same cologne she smelled in her Amortentia last year. The familiar smell of sweet vanilla cologne she loves a lot. A tiny smiled managed to slip away from Ginny's lips - she turned and met the green pair of green eyes of the man towering over her. Harry gave her a boyish grin, looking good in his Auror uniform.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Gin"
"You're late" she huffed.
Harry tightened his hug around her waist and Ginny bit back a smile as she looked up at him. Beautiful green eyes bore into her blue pair - Ginny looked away as she felt the heat creeping into her freezing cheeks. Harry laughed and opened the door of The Three Broomsticks and invited her to walk in first as he followed her. Ginny innocently flipped her long hair and pretended like nothing happened as they hit Harry's face. They took their seats facing each other at the furthest table in the shop - there weren't any students here - most of them spending time in either Zonko's, Honeydukes or Madam Puddifoot's. Harry smiled at her.
"I'm sorry I haven't write to you, Gin"
"Right. I was about to ask you about that. What kept you so busy?"
"Trainings and all. Look, I'm not saying this because my trainings are more important than you, it's just -" Harry scratched his neck awkwardly - "Kingsley expected the best from me. You know, being the war hero and all"
"So, are you explaining or apologizing?" Ginny raised an eyebrow as she leaned back against the wooden chair.
"I'm sorry. I should've written to you weekly. Gods, Ginny! Please tell me you're not asking for a breakup! It's Valentine's and- and- " Harry looked at her frantically - "we haven't talked for so long. I don't think I can break up with you"
Ginny laughed out loud, gaining attention from the customers. She apologized quickly and watched Harry who was frowning in confusion. Baffled Harry was a sight to behold. She fixed her posture and smiled at him. Why on earth would he think she would want a breakup with him? They restarted everything after the war and it hasn't even been a year yet and he was panicking as if she was going to leave him alone for the rest of his life. Ginny brought Harry's big hands to hold.
"Harry, I'm not breaking up with you. I've liked you since we were children"
"Really?" Harry let out a relief sigh. "Ginny, what do you even see in me? I mean, what makes you think I'm attractive?"
"Obviously, it's not your brain - you obviously had none" she chuckled before returning her gaze at the wizard. "Your eyes. Green eyes" she said sheepishly.
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad" Harry offered a teasing smile.
"Oh my God, Harry, stop it! That's too embarrassing!" Ginny made a disgusted face as if she was trying to throw the chair at Harry. He laughed happily.
"I want to hear it. The poem. I got to read it, but I want to hear it"
"Harry, I was 11!"
"Please" he smiled convincingly.
Ginny huffed in annoyance. Oh, she always hated it whenever her friends mentioned the poem she made for Harry years ago. She was 11 - it was hilarious to read it with a straight face without cringing. Ginny took her bag and started looking for a piece of parchment she always brought with her no matter where she went to - even during the war, the parchment was kept securely in her trousers' pocket. She took it out and skimmed the letters written before sighing heavily - she needed someone to Obliviate her from this memory as soon as she returned to the castle after this.
"His eyes are green as a fresh pickled toad. His hair is as dark as a blackboard. I wish he was mine, he's really divine. The hero who conquered the Dark Lord" she looked up at Harry and felt her cheeks blushed after reading the last sentence. The hero who conquered the Dark Lord - Harry James Potter - her boyfriend - he was finally hers.
Harry stood up and took the seat beside her and pulled her closer. He placed a soft kiss on Ginny's forehead and she instantly felt like she was melting like liquid in his arms - it was warm and familiar. She leaned closer into his touch and wrapped her arms around his torso. She observed his Auror uniform - it was the first time she had seen him in his full black uniform - she didn't miss the gold cufflinks fastening the cuffs on his shirt. Rich prat.
Harry threw enough money to the counter as he took her out by placing one hand protectively around her waist. He summoned his Firebolt real quick as he kissed her forehead for a few seconds again. Harry sat comfortably on his broomstick, looking at her - his eyes were filled in adoration. Ginny took his hands and hopped onto the broomstick in front of him - she screamed as Harry kicked the Firebolt of the snowy grounds. She watched as they went higher from the grounds - she smiled at him.
"Harry?"
"Yes?"
"You know, I've always wanted to fly on such an expensive broomstick like this. I just -" she looked down - "I wanted to have one, but I know Mom will not allow me to have one. I would have been in the team earlier with such a broom"
Harry placed one arm securely around her as the other one holding the broomstick. "Gin, your skills don't depend on what broom you're using. It's your determination - no such brooms have brain to know determination. It was not the broom, it was you. I thought you wanted to be in the Harpies one day?"
Ginny smiled. It was indeed her dream - she has been dreaming of becoming one since she was a young child. She leaned back on Harry's chest as the winter breeze hit them in the air. Harry mounted his broom further and Ginny closed her eyes, relishing the happiness of being back with him. She might have went through few complicated and good relationships, but, none of them was like with Harry. Being with Harry felt like being at home - just like her Amortentia - the sweet vanilla cologne of him.
She turned to face him and their eyes locked immediately - his green eyes, resembling his deceased mother - bore into hers. The coldness in the air around them dissipated rather quickly as the warmth spread around them. Not from the warming charm - just the heat from their bodies and unspoken affections. Harry leaned closer and kissed her lips softly, sending butterflies rolling in Ginny's stomach. The kiss was sweet and passionate at the same time. By the time they ended their kissing, they have reached the grounds of Hogwarts. Harry smiled as he leaned closer to kiss her properly this time. Ginny gladly melted to the touch and returned the kiss back with the same energy - Harry broke the kiss and looked at her.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Ginny"