Work Text:
Jump Then Fall.
The noise behind them was almost deafening. Ginny wanted to sneak a look at Ron and how he was behaving. But she chickened out. She was still in shock at what had just happened.
The Harry Potter had just kissed her. In front of fifty people - give or take. She followed him out of the common room in silence.
She had wondered - hoped - that this moment would come but she never thought it would be like what had just happened. In front of her brother. In front of her ex-boyfriend. In front of everyone . It could not be a secret even if she wanted it to be. Everyone will be talking about it by tomorrow morning. The thought made her smile and giggle softly.
‘Something funny, Miss Weasley?’ Harry turned to her and held his hand. She exhaled deeply and ran a hand through her long red hair. She had had it tied up for the match but she was thankful she had taken it out for the celebrations - just in case Colin Creevey had got his camera out in time. Only just in case, of course. She had to look her best.
‘You just kissed me’ she took his hand.
‘I was there and you kissed me back’
She smiled and they carried on walking, hand in hand.
They had walked down a few flights when she could not take it anymore. She was sure she was dreaming - and little did she know he felt the same. She pushed him behind a statue and kissed him.
He was ready for her, even with his limited experience. He had to. One hand found her hair and the other was on her waist.
She wrapped her hands around his neck. She tried to control herself. He had only kissed a girl once under the mistletoe and Cho Chang had been crying. That doesn’t count was what she had thought to herself at the time. Still, she did not want to put him off with more experience. She could handle the whole school slut shaming her but Harry. The person she had been in love with since she was eleven - even if she did fully understand what it was until she was older.
She pulled away, a little of breath and her brown eyes met his green ‘Sorry, I just wanted to check I wasn’t dreaming.
‘Yes, we have come a long way since elbows in the butter dish and games of exploding snap’
‘I knew you saw me do that and you never said anything’ she said with her hands either side of his face.
'I figured you were embarrassed enough and after careful reflection, I found it utterly adorable’ he replied. Feeling brave, he leaned forward and kissed her softly. She smiled and they stepped around the statue - straight where Professor McGonagall was walking who was happily singing then stopped and looked from Harry to Ginny in shock.
‘Potter! Miss Weasley!’ she said and the young couple could have sworn they saw a slight smile forming on the teacher's lips.
‘We were - talking about the game’ Ginny quickly said, giggling then took Harry’s hand and they ran down the corridor and down the stairs.
‘She will never let me live this down’ he said as they waited for the stairs to move so they could go down.
‘Chill out. Won’t be the first time she’s caught a Potter with a redhead’ she replied with a smirk.
‘That is very true’ he said and leaned forward to kiss her again. There was a squeal from behind them. They broke apart and saw Luna who was literally beaming at them.
‘Hey Luna, we’ll talk later, yeah?’ Ginny rather quickly and headed down the stairs with Harry.
‘You better do, Ginny Weasley or I am coming to find you’ Luna called after her. Ginny laughed and they kept walking until they reached the entrance hall.
‘The lake?’ he said. She nodded and they headed outside towards the lake. They found a tree with the perfect amount of shade and was away from prying eyes.
‘So, what is happening? Why did you kiss me randomly?’ she asked and leaned against the tree.
‘Randomly? Maybe I was being discreet than I thought’ he moved closer to her.
‘Ha, not really! I had a feeling that something had changed but I did not want to believe it. I didn’t want to get my hopes up in case’ she replied quietly. She was fiddling with the bottom of his school tie and was looking at the ground.
He tilted her chin and his eyes bored into hers ‘and why is that?’
‘You know why. I still…’
‘Gin, it is me. You can tell me’ He moved his hand to her cheek and caressed it with the back of his hand. He did not know if he was doing it right, he cursed himself not knowing fully how to comfort the girl of his dreams but his heart leaped a little when she clasped his hand and moved forward to kiss him.
‘I don’t want anything - or anyone - to ruin this moment’ she whispered. He nodded and kissed her again.
‘But seriously, if we are going to keep kissing like this, you gotta ask me already?’ she added with a laugh and pushed him away slightly.
‘I thought kissing you in full view in our common room automatically did that’ he replied with a smile.
‘Uh-uh, Harry Potter, that does nothing. You have to do it properly’
‘Why me? That feels a bit sexist’
‘Because I’m the one who has been waiting five years for you to say the words. So I’m waiting’ she told him and crossed her arms. As she did that, he took her hands in his and pulled her closer to him. She stumbled but he caught her; their arms around each other.
'You know this is life threatening. Your brother is probably already plotting my murder as we speak’
‘Oh yeah - scary big brother beats an evil Dark Lord anyday’ she replied with a smile.
‘So if I ask this, then you gotta be prepared, Ron may kill me in my sleep’
‘Then I’ll sort him out. He’s a puppy really’
‘Ginny Weasley?’
‘Yes?’
'Will you be my girlfriend?’
‘I would be honoured’ she said and kissed him ‘You gotta tell me though. When did it change? For you?’
‘I can’t be giving away all my secrets’ Harry shrugged and she laughed. He guided her down so they could sit on the grass.
Some time later, it was getting dark and after speaking in detail about the game, they decided to go inside. They were walking hand in hand back into the castle. A group of second year Hufflepuffs saw them, sniggered and ran upstairs.
‘That is our life now, you know?’ Ginny said with a sigh.
Harry shrugged and leaned in to kiss her again when there was a loud thud from behind them then a voice booming ‘What ter ruddin’ hell? When?’
They turned and saw Hagrid. Like Luna, he was beaming. He was smiling widely down at them.
‘It’s late, we should -’ Ginny said and tried to walk away.
‘Expect you early on Monday mornin’ before lesson’ Hagrid looked at her then turned to Harry ‘And I’ll be writin’ to you, we gotta chat’
Then Hagrid turned and left the castle, chuckling to herself.
‘President of our fan club?’ she asked and shook her head.
‘Nah, I’ll think he’ll have to fight Hermione for that position’ Harry replied with a content sigh.
‘Now you mention it, she has been dropping hints for weeks. Months in fact’ and they headed back up the stairs. They stopped at the portrait hole where the Fat Lady looked rather pleased to see them.
‘Here they are. Romeo and Juliet’ she said happily.
‘We are not. That is tragic. You know…’ he turned to her.
‘Yes. I do muggle studies, remember and Harry is right. We are not Romeo and Juilet. Too tragic’
‘Unless your brother kills me’ he turned to the Fat Lady and muttered the password.
‘He isn’t going to kill you’ they climbed through the portrait hole. There was still a party going on in full Gryffindor spirit. They spotted Ron in a corner, pacing and Hermione sat down, looking rather amused. They walked towards him.
‘Clear off!’ Ron called to some first years who scrapped off quickly and looked scared. Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘You there’ He said to Harry and pointed to a space next to Hermione ‘You there’ He then said to Ginny pointing to the space opposite him. It was her turn to roll her eyes.
‘So, Harry, is there something you want to ask me?’ Ron asked, after a moment. He was enjoying himself far too much.
‘Erm, yes, I guess. Can… I date Ginny please?’
‘Ginny who is my…’
‘Sister’
‘My what sister?’
‘Honestly Ron!’ Hermione hissed but then laughed.
‘Your little sister’ Harry said, quietly. Ron paused for a moment, probably for dramatic effect.
‘So you would like to date my little sister?’
‘Hey! Less of the little, I’m only seventeen months younger than you!’ Ginny exclaimed and crossed her arms. Harry thought at that moment how utterly cute she looked.
‘Yes, I would like to date your lit-’ She scowled at Harry ‘I would like to date your sister’
‘And why would you like to date my little sister?’
‘Ron, come on. Calm down now’ Hermione laughed. Ron ignored her.
‘Answer the question, Harry,’ Ron continued.
‘Because she is funny and pretty and she’s good at Quidditch’ Harry replied. She beamed at him and smiled.
‘She’s good at Quidditch…. Well I guess I’m gonna have to let you go out with her because your last girlfriend is so bad at it’ Ron replied with a shrug.
Ginny sniggered then ran across to Harry and sat on the arm of his chair ‘You can give it up now, Ron. You had your fun’
‘I’m absolutely fine with you dating as long as you don’t kis-’ he sighed as before he could even finish his sentence Ginny was kissing Harry who was kissing her back.
‘Butterbeer, Ron?’ Hermione said with a smirk and guided him over to the drinks table.
‘So you think I’m pretty and funny?’ Ginny pulled away for a moment.
‘Beyond pretty and funny’ Harry replied with a smile and kissed her again.