August 1, 1997 �“ The Burrow
Ginny looked on with the other wedding guests as Bill and Fleur danced for first time as husband and wife. While others were complimenting her dress, her beauty, and her gracefulness on the floor, Ginny was looking at both their faces. There was such tender adoration between the dancers; it radiated off of them and onto the other guests. Other couples soon started to flock to the dance floor hand in hand moving softly to the music.
She kept her gaze on her brother and her new sister-in-law, following them with her eyes as they glided in their own little world. Ginny couldn’t help it. The sight before her was so sweet that it felt like she was intruding on a very private moment. Bill looked so happy and relaxed dancing with his new bride. It was a relief to see her older brother so content, considering the horror he experienced a few months ago at Hogwarts.
Fleur, who was always beautiful, looked even more radiant as she smiled up at Bill. There were no doubts of Fleur’s love for her brother. One arm was draped around his neck while her free hand fingered his face with the pad of her finger. They didn’t once take their eyes off each other, taking advantage of the closeness by stealing more than a few kisses.
Ginny continued to watch as the couple danced, their foreheads touching affectionately, and their lips mouthing the words ‘I love you’ to each other. She realized that the more she watched them dance, the more her heart started to break. It didn’t seem fair; her brother didn’t have a particular destiny looming over his head marring his future with uncertainty. Fleur wasn’t constantly questioning if she would have a future with Bill. They had found their forever.
That’s not true, Ginny. She almost lost him. Don’t forget their future together was almost cut short. A small voice reminded her.
Yes, but she didn’t lose him, did she? Look at them. Nothing will ever tear them apart.
You don’t know that.
Ginny sighed at the small argument taking place in her head. She tried to picture herself in a white dress dancing with Harry, but the picture never came. She held on to the hope for their future, but some days the constant pressures of war made it difficult to hold on to that dream.
The dance floor was now a blur as tears began to obscure her vision. Ginny quickly wiped them away, refusing to let them fall.
The song ended and changed to a fast, more upbeat tune. Before she could stop him, Fred had her hand, and dragged her onto the dance floor. He was always great at taking her mind off of the sadness and seemed to have radar when it came to her moods. Whether or not he knew who she was thinking of, he always had a way of cheering her up. Ginny allowed herself to get caught up in the music, enjoying the distraction of the fast tempo and the sight of her brother doing “The Robot”.
Several more fast songs played and Ginny allowed herself some more fun dancing with Lee Jordan, George, Neville and even Luna. But just when she had totally disengaged herself from her thoughts of Harry, another slow song came and Ginny was reminded once again of how lonely she felt. She started to make her way to one of the tables when Neville grabbed her hand.
“Ginny, er do you want to dance?” Neville asked. “I promise I won’t step on your feet.”
She smiled at him before declining his offer, hoping a smile would soften the blow.
“Sorry Neville, my feet are a bit tired,” Ginny lied. “But thanks for asking.”
“Sure.”
Looking crestfallen, Neville nodded his head, let go of her hand and started to walk away.
She quickly scanned the crowd hoping to find Luna and sure enough she found her sitting at a nearby table drinking a butterbeer. Ginny gently grabbed his arm to get his attention. “I’m sure Luna would like to dance with you.”
Neville gave her a small smile before heading toward their friend.
Ginny hated lying to Neville, but he wouldn’t understand her reasons for not wanting to dance. It seemed silly, but after seeing the way Bill and Fleur looked on dance floor, she was certain she only wanted to slow dance with Harry. It was one of the many things they didn’t get the chance to do in the twenty days that they were together.
She scanned the tables to find him sitting alone struggling with the collar of his dress robes. Although he was in disguise as just another Weasley, there was no mistaking the uncomfortable expression on his face…it was all Harry.
Ginny walked slowly toward the table, not really sure why she was approaching him. They hadn’t talked or been alone since their kiss was interrupted. She could have killed Ron that day, but all the energy she had was put into that one blissful kiss with Harry.
Every time she closed her eyes, she could still taste him and feel the warmth of his hands running along her back, pulling her closer to him. The moment his lips made contact with hers nothing else mattered except the love and passion she had for him being put into that one long kiss. But it all stopped because of her stupid, over-protective brother.
She looked over at the dance floor to see if Ron was properly distracted. Sure enough he and his hands were pleasantly occupied thanks to Hermione. It was now or never.
“Come with me, Harry,” she asked, holding out her hand.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere else.”
He looked around, probably making sure they weren’t being seen before taking her hand.
“Okay.”
She led him out of the canvas walls of the marquee down to the old oak trees overlooking the pond. The soft slow music could still be heard, but faintly.
“Dance with me Harry.”
“Like this?” he asked, gesturing to himself, still polyjuiced as an unknown Weasley cousin.
“Well actually, you’re starting to turn back to yourself.”
She could see his eyes changing to their bright green, his face thinning, the short red hair changing to his messy black, and his body returning to the tall, skinny frame she loved so much.
“See that’s better.” She closed the distance between them, gently draping her arms around his neck.
“Ginny, we can’t,” he said, making to remove her arms from around his neck. Ginny almost thought she heard a hint of pain in his voice.
“Why, because Ron said so? Harry, he isn’t here, I am. Dance with me.”
Harry placed his arms around her waist resting his hands on the small of her back. His embrace was awkward at first, but the more they swayed to the music, the more relaxed he became. They danced in silence allowing their bodies to do the talking for them.
They revolved in their tiny circle not once taking their eyes off each other. Every now and again she noticed his gaze would drift to her lips and back to her eyes. Soon after she started to do the same, slowly closing the distance between them until their foreheads touched and their lips were only centimeters apart.
Ginny closed her eyes savoring the moment alone with him. She thought back to the days before everything got so complicated. Back to when their only main concern was being caught snogging in an empty classroom or in the Common Room with Harry’s hands under her shirt. It felt like a lifetime ago walking through the corridors of Hogwarts hand in hand enjoying life without the suffocating weight of a war threatening to tear them apart.
She opened her eyes to still find him staring down at her lips. She moved her head a little closer, but much to her disappointment Harry pulled back slightly.
“Ginny, I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because if I kiss you. I don’t think I will be able to stop.”
“Who says you have to stop?”
“Ginny.”
“Shh Harry. Just hold me and dance.”
Ginny tightened her embrace as if this would help the moment last longer. Harry kindly obliged with equal urgency. She thought their bodies might fuse together. They continued to move to the music. At one point she thought Harry was going to kiss her. Instead his lips lightly brushed kisses along her cheek and down her neck causing gooseflesh to erupt on her skin.
“Ginny,” he said softly, trailing the kisses back up her neck. “We really shouldn’t be doing this.”
Harry’s kisses returned to her cheek making her heart race.
“I know, because then we wouldn’t be able to stop.” She turned her head and his lips were now on hers.
There was no time for teasing as both their mouths opened to deepen the kiss, allowing the blazing passion to overtake their self restraint. Harry’s hands ran up and down her back drawing her closer to him, while she kept her hands in his hair. Ginny poured everything she had into her kiss, realizing it may be the last kiss she will get to have with him for a while.
By the time they broke for air the song was over. They stood holding each other, their foreheads touching affectionately.
“Ginny, when this war is over, when Voldemort is…” Harry swallowed thickly “…gone we will start over and have a life. We’ll go on a proper date. Just you and me anywhere you want to go. I promise we’ll have forever to ourselves.”
“Kiss on it.”
Harry kissed her one last time.
They both made their way back to the marquee, though Harry gave her a ten second head start. An hour later Death Eaters stormed the wedding and the last she saw of Harry, Ron and Hermione was of them turning on the spot and disappearing into nothingness.
Promising Forever by kalae_zoe
Story Notes:
Special thanks to Jenn for being a sounding board when I needed it, and for serving as my beta :)
Chapter Notes:
This story was written as a challenge fic for "The Pact" challenge on the LJ community PuffySubmariner. I might have side tracked a bit off the challenge, but it is still about a promise made between Harry and Ginny.
Special thanks to Jenn (jennyelf) for being a sounding board when I needed it, and for serving as my beta :). Also to Andi (hgfan1111) and Mel (lilyevans_jan30) for making sure I didn't leave anything out.
This first chapter takes place at Bill and Fleur's wedding.