A Moment Like This by Wise Owl
What if I told you it was all meant to be
Would you believe me
Would you agree
Ginny Weasley watched the scenes flicker outside her window. Pastures turned into cities and cites into small villages. The dying embers burned on the sun-kissed horizon giving off a strange hue of deep wine-red. It seemed apocalyptic in her eyes. The driver went over another bump but she managed to get a firm hold on the railings. She subconsciously rubbed an aching spot on her forehead and silently cursed the psycho driver Ernie, or whatever his name was. As the bus continued to careen at top speed, Ginny closed her eyes tightly and fought for the blissful escape of sleep.
To her chagrin, the Christmas lights outside the bus shone vibrantly making sleep almost impossible to attain. As Ernie made a sudden jerk to the left, a rather ostentatious wreath hanging above her compartment fell onto her head. Annoyed, she flung it to the ground. Again, she laid her head back, this time determined to have a lie-down. As they did whenever she dozed off, the memories that threatened to overpower her ran like a Muggle screen-picture through her mind.
It's almost that feelin'
We've met before
So tell me that you don't think I'm crazy
When I tell you love has come here now
Ginny sat silently in the hideous lime monstrosity that Fleur had forced her into for the wedding. The other girls did not look as bad as she did; of course, they were not cursed with repulsive red hair that clashed horribly with the dress. As she was edging her way to the arched doorways to make her escape, her brother Ron walked in, flanked by his best friend Harry Potter. She relinquished all thoughts of fleeing.
Lethargy set in and she concentrated all her efforts on breathing. He looked so handsome in his black dress robes that her knees began to wobble. Her first instinct was to run into his arms, but she squelched it. She refused to show any weakness in front of him, lest he pity her. As far as everyone was concerned, she was a rock. Harry breaking her heart had not affected her whatsoever.
That is, as far as everyone was concerned. In truth, she was not nearly as tough as she pretended to be. Her vulnerability, especially when it came to Harry, terrified her. He had the capability to hurt her beyond anything she had ever known. In spite of everything, there was no denying the truth…she had always known he would someday leave her, but had thrown all caution to the wind at the prospect of being his girlfriend.
When that piercing green eyes locked on hers in the Gryffindor common room, as the rest of the house was celebrating their win of the Quidditch Cup, her knees did not fail her then. She ran at top speed, hurtled herself unabashedly into his arms, yearning for the promise in his eyes. Her heart melted at the thought of his kiss.
Now, he stood before her, scanning the room…searching. Finally, his eyes rested on her. She couldn’t help but to smirk. It never took too long for him to locate her. As always, his eyes held that same promise, that same intensity he reserved for her. Despite the great distance that they stood apart, she could see the passion that flashed across his face.
When the band began to play the first few chords of a slow song her heart convulsed painfully. She recognized the warm melody as it washed over her. Would he recognize it? Did he know what song the band was about to play? He should. It was theirs. His face was impossible to decipher. Her soul wept in protest…he’d forgotten!
With the last of her strength she turned away from him. Looking around, she saw only her loneliness…she was lost. Nothing had meaning anymore.
Harry Potter had turned her world upside down.
Harry Potter had left her broken and tormented.
Harry Potter…took her elbow and turned her gently but firmly towards him.
He put his arms around her while staring absorbedly into the depths of her eyes. The little girl within shrieked her approval as she went limp in his arms and permitted him lead her onto the dance floor. As though in a fairytale, they danced ever so slowly, bodies melded together, gazing into each others eyes. Ginny took in his handsome features, his strong chin, messy mop of hair, and passionate green eyes.
As the song came to a close, she instinctively knew that Harry would be leaving once more. Her eyes seared with pain, the tears that had been steadily wielding up streamed stormily down her cheeks. Harry moved his hands to her face to brush the tears away, but stopped. The same pain she felt was reflected in his eyes. He released her…turned…and walked out the arched doorways and out of her life.
A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Some people search forever
For that one special kiss
Ginny woke with a start as Stan Shunpike leaned much too close for comfort.
“Sorry, guess I scared you,” Stan said as he turned to look over his shoulder. “You were right, Ern! This one’s been cryin’ in her sleep.”
“Ar,” Ernie grunted by way of reply.
Ginny wiped her tear spotted face with the sleeve of her shirt.
“I’ve never seen anyone cryin’ in their sleep,” he said by way of explanation. “’Course I reckon I mighta done so while I was in Azkaban.” He looked suspiciously around as though there were spies lurking in the shadowy corners of the bus.
“Glad you’re out,” Ginny replied as she vigorously rubbed her eyes in the dim light.
“There are a few more stops before yours,” Stan told her before bounding his way back up to Ernie.
“Great,” she muttered as she readjusted herself and laid her head back down.
Her drowsy eyes fluttered for a moment, then closed once more.
Ohh, I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Dean Thomas remembered all too well the pain Ginny Weasley had caused him. After she won the Quidditch Cup, he hoped to speak with her about getting back together. The silly argument that caused their break up was just plain stupid. His mother had always taught him that the gentlemanly thing to do was open doors, pull out chairs, and yes, help girls through portrait holes.
He didn’t understand why Ginny had gotten all worked up when he was just trying to act chivalrous. Than again, he didn’t really understand how that girls mind worked. No matter what he did, it seemed to be the wrong thing to do and the wrong time to do it. The day before their breakup, he had neglected to open the door for Ginny; the loathing look she shot him had him withering on the floor.
Oh yes, he remembered everything. He remembered running, like a stupid git, to fetch punch for her parched throat. As he was pouring her glass, he felt an eerie silence descend upon the Gryffindor students. Everyone was watching something taking place in front of the portrait hole. Not wanting Ginny’s drink to spill over he turned around ever so slowly.
But when he had seen what everyone was staring at…he had heard, rather than felt, the glass shatter in his hand. The blood drained away from his face. Loud gongs went off in his ears. Something deep within him shriveled. Harry Potter was kissing Ginny. It was the final nail in the coffin that encompassed their relationship. When Harry and Ginny left the common room and took off on their own, Dean could not contain his bitterness.
She didn’t even remember her promise to talk to him. She just took off. So he took off. He ran to his dorm room, splashing a group of first years with the forgotten punch and determinedly ignoring the pitying stares that followed him. Naturally, he had known about Ginny’s past feelings for Harry…everyone had. When they first started dating, she had sworn she was over him. Idiot that he was, he had believed her. He knew Harry Potter though…Harry Potter was as selfish as could be. He would leave her heartbroken. Of that, he was sure. A knock on the door signaled Seamus’ arrival.
“Go away!” Dean shouted.
Everything changes
But beauty remains
Something so tender
I can't explain
Well I maybe dreamin'
But 'till I awake
Can we make this dream last forever
And I'll cherish all the love we share
As they came to a particularly rocky road Ginny sat up, resigning herself to the fact that she would be getting no more sleep. A glimpse outside the window confirmed that it was now too dark to see anything along the countryside. Even the festive lights that shone before were no longer visible. She racked her mind for a peaceful thought that might make time flow by.
Her mind's eye on Fleur’s beaming face. In their sheer excitement, Bill and Fleur had traveled all the way to Hogsmeade one week ago to tell her their wonderful news…Fleur was expecting. Ginny had been thrilled to hear that she would soon be an aunt. All three of them danced around the Hog's Head, knocking barstools over in their jubilation.
A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Some people search forever
For that one special kiss
Ohh, I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Then there was that time when Tonks and Lupin announced their plans to wed. Inspired by Bill’s willingness to commit despite the werewolf attack, Lupin said yes when Tonks proposed to him. Well, to be fair, she had held him down and sat on his chest until he agreed. At least, that was the way that Tonks told it.
Since Lupin had not cut in with a different story, they all assumed it to be a correct synopsis of the proposal. Ginny smiled at thought. It was rare for her to smile now. Those were the only two times she felt any cheeriness at all. She spent the rest of her days living in abject terror, waiting for news about Harry. News did come.
Could this be the greatest love of all
I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall
So let me tell you this
The news that came was not about Harry though. It was about his companion. Unshed tears stung Ginny’s eyes as images of a happy Hermione flashed in her head. From the few messages that Ron could get to her, Ginny knew Hermione was not happy anymore. Perhaps she’d never be happy again. Her dear friends anguish weighed heavily on her as she sat in the Knight Bus bouncing to and fro.
Three weeks earlier as she sat next to the lake with the giant squid Ron’s last missive reached her. She recognized Hedwig from a distance and felt trepidation, wondering what news she was bringing. Hedwig landed only long enough for Ginny to take the letter attached to her leg. As soon as Ginny had done so, Hedwig was back in flight.
Ginny took Hedwig’s urgency to be a bad omen. Scared, she opened the letter slowly and recognized Ron’s hurried scrawl:
Ginny,
Hermione’s family’s been killed. We’re getting married right away.
Ron
Aghast, she opened up the letter to look for more; a news clipping slipped out. She read:
Mass Muggle Attack Leaves Countless Dead
Giants raided Muggle communities today, overturning homes, cars and killing all that got in their way. Muggles were left defenseless as Ministry forces were diverted by a simultaneous Dementor attack in London. Both attacks were perfectly timed so as to inflict the severest number of casualties…
Ginny stopped reading. She’d gotten the gist. Poor Hermione, she needed them all right now, but they were all separated thanks to Voldemort. Thank God that Ron was there for her. If anyone could see her through this agonizing time, it was Ron. Ginny was grateful that he had enough sense to marry Hermione. Now, more than ever, she needed to feel loved. To feel that she still had a family to turn to. The bleakest, saddest grin crossed her face. Hermione was her sister now.
Some people wait a lifetime…
Ginny shook all the negative thoughts from her mind. She was on a mission now, she would not fail. Not after everything that had happened tonight.
For a moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
Ginny Weasley stood on a ladder attempting to affix the Christmas decorations to the bare walls of the Great Hall. It was one week before Christmas yet no one was in the mood to celebrate. Still, she felt that life had to go on. After all, they had returned to Hogwarts to continue their education. They were all here, together…well, almost all of them.
So she continued to struggle to hang the decorations, disregarding the gloomy mood of the depressed students. A long streamer refused to go up, so she took it in both hands and gave it a good tug. What she didn’t realize was that she had been standing on part of the streamer. Her hard tug sent her hurtling backwards into the air. Thankfully, her guardian angel Dean was there, watching out for her. He effortlessly caught her and set her down.
“Thanks, Dean, I owe you one.”
He just smiled, in a sad sort of way. “Need a helping hand?”
“That would be great,” she told him before bounding back up the step-ladder.
They hung up the rest of the decorations in no time, it seemed. When they reached the door of the Great Hall, Dean handed her the last remaining decoration, the mistletoe. Ginny couldn’t help but grin, she rather thought that Dean had left that to the end on purpose, so that those who walked into the Great Hall for meals would be forced to kiss. He was such a funny, kind, gentle person. He infuriated her from time to time, but he had never hurt her…and never would. Of that she was certain. But she had hurt him. She had seen the pain in his eyes, when he saw her with Harry.
Some people search forever
For that one special kiss
Ginny hung the mistletoe and stepped off the ladder. She laughed in merriment as she scanned the decorations they hung in the Great Hall. It was nowhere near as lavish as it would normally have been, had the house-elves not been so disheartened by the loss of Dumbledore, but it was theirs. Now was his chance, the moment he had been waiting for. If Ginny would ever be his again, he had to make his move. It was time to find the answers to the questions that had raked his mind since school started.
“Ginny…”
“Yes, Dean?”
He pointed up to the mistletoe. She smiled. As he had done countless times before, he pushed her hair out of her face and leaned down to kiss her warm lips. It was a kiss that changed both their lives…forevermore. A kiss for all ages. He pulled away slowly, not needing to open his eyes to know what he was going to see. He looked to the floor seeking composure. Finally, he looked placidly at Ginny. Since they had returned to school she looked so pale, so fragile, and so utterly helpless.
Now he knew why. The answers he sought were in her kiss. Ginny Weasley was a fish out of water. There was nothing left for her at Hogwarts. She was there only momentarily. Waiting for the day when her beloved would come to save her from a life of solitude. Dean chuckled as a calm peace matured within him. She pleadingly searched his face with her eyes. He sensed that she was looking for a sign…a confirmation of where she belonged.
“Why are you here?” Dean asked, serenely.
“I’m…” Ginny trailed off, finally realizing the enormity of her mistake. What was she doing here? She was allowing happiness to escape her, she was willingly left behind.
“Go find what you’re looking for.”
Ginny felt faint with fear, “It’s too late…”
“It’s never too late,” Dean rejoined.
“I’ve been waiting for…” she faltered, unable to identify her rationale.
“…a moment like this?” Dean finished off her thought.
Hope surged through her as she finally understood what she had been waiting for...the courage to put her heart on the line for true love. She nodded her approval and whispered softly, “A moment like this.”
Ohh, I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime
For a moment like this
The time was upon her. She was free…she was free! It was time to seize the day. No fear, no hesitation and no turning back. She ran towards the gates that enclosed Hogwarts. They swung open to allow her departure, and she ran gleefully though them. She was finally, finally free!
Freedom was an empty street that led to Hogsmeade. She placed her thumb out and waited. They have to come…she thought to herself…I’m a stranded witch. As the moments crept by fear gripped her, they have to come she thought resolutely, willing them to appear. With a loud POP the Knight Bus appeared in the air directly in front of her, causing her to fall backwards. The conductor opened the door and jumped down while looking around. Finally, he spotted her.
“’Choo doin’ down there?”
“Fell,” Ginny replied somewhat tersely.
“’Choo fall over for?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose!” she snapped back.
“Hey, Ern this one reminds me of Neville!”
Ginny rolled her eyes and hopped aboard the bus.
Ohh! Like this! Ohh!
I can't believe it's happening to me!
Some people wait a lifetime…
The bus came to an abrupt halt. Ginny knew whose stop it was now; for there was only one person left on the bus. She made her way to the front before being asked. Ernie opened the doors to reveal a view of The Burrow. She walked down the steps…home at last. Stan noticed the cloaked figure standing off in the dark before she did and stumbled down the stairs in an effort to protect her. However, the person made no move to attack. Ginny took a hard look at the stranger; she noticed the owl on his shoulder. Dean’s owl…
“It’s alright, Stan.”
“You sure ‘bout that?”
“Yes.”
Stan backtracked into the bus and, with a POP, the whole thing disappeared. Ginny knew that now was the moment of truth. He had been waiting for her. Precious Dean had helped her find what she was looking for; the rest was up to her. The stranger dropped the cloak from this head to reveal his piercing green eyes.
For a moment like this
Ohh
Like this