The Letter

Chapter 2

Ginny pulled out the parchment inside with trembling fingers. She had finally told Harry Potter, the guy she had loved since she was ten years old, how she felt. Ginny was pretty sure this letter would be a major turning point in her life. For a few moments, she just held the folded letter between her fingers, and stared at it. She wasn't sure that she wanted to open it. But how would she ever know how Harry felt if she didn't open it? She slowly unfolded the parchment, holding her breath, her ears almost as red as her hair (the Weasley sign of stress). She scanned over it quickly and let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be. It read:

Dear Ginny,

It's no surprise that you feel that way about me. Even though you do a good job of hiding it, I could always tell. We really need to talk when I get back from holiday with Sirius. There are some things that I need to tell you, too. Right now isn't exactly the right time, and I don't want to tell you in a letter. Happy Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Talk to you soon,

Harry

Ginny read and re-read it at least a hundred times. I could always tell. Well, if that wasn't embarrassing, she didn't know what else was! Ginny thought she'd hidden her feelings rather well. Perhaps she wasn't careful enough when she gazed at him and daydreamed. There are some things that I need to tell you, too. Could this mean what she thought, and dearly hoped, it meant? Was Harry going to confess his feelings for her, too?

"Don't get your hopes up, Ginny," she muttered to herself, taking a bite of cold toast. It was then that she noticed Ron and Hermione heading her way, and she deftly tucked the letter and envelope into her robes, and smiled politely as they stopped next to her.

"Saw you got a letter," said Ron, his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, so?" Ginny said, shrugging and nibbling on her toast again.

"Who was it from?" inquired Hermione.

"Will you two mind your business and stop pestering me for once?" Ginny said smartly. She scowled at them for a second before getting up and walking swiftly back up to Gryffindor tower. But as she was on her way out, she couldn't help but let a small smile reach her lips.

"That letter was definitely from Harry," said Hermione, as she noticed Ginny smiling as she left the Great Hall. Ron shook his head, and they smiled at each other as they watched Ginny retreat.

***

Up in her dormitory, Ginny re-read the letter another 100 times. She could have died of happiness. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but tell herself not to get too excited, or to expect too much. After all, what if these things that Harry needed to tell Ginny were that he liked her very much as a friend, but he just couldn't possibly bring their relationship to another level? Ginny's face fell at this thought, but contented herself by smelling the letter. It smelled like him. She flipped over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. He would be back tomorrow. Ginny's stomach felt as though a hundred butterflies had taken up residence there. She was so nervous to face Harry tomorrow...she didn't even know how to greet him. Should she throw her arms around him and envelop him in a deep, passionate kiss? She wanted to do that very badly but had to remind herself that Harry had not proclaimed his love for her - yet. Should she shake his hand? Hug him? Smile awkwardly, and wait for him to say something? Or should she just let him come up to her? Confused, she changed into her pajamas and decided to go to bed early. She found that she couldn't get to sleep because the face of a certain someone kept floating past her minds eye. She sighed deeply and happily, and couldn't help smiling into her pillow.

***

The next morning, Ginny had almost completely forgotten that Harry was due to return that day. She realized as she was walking to breakfast that he would be arriving any minute. Her hands trembled slightly and she couldn't help fidgeting with them. She walked into the Great Hall to find that the students had already returned, and the Great Hall was packed once more. To Ginny's delight and also to her complete horror, there was Harry, sitting next to Ron and Hermione, devouring his scrambled eggs. He looked up as Ginny entered, and as if he sensed her nervousness, he beckoned her to join them. She nervously made her way to Gryffindor table and sat down across from Harry. Ron shot her an amused look, but Ginny sent one back that said, "Shut up if you enjoy being alive."

Harry finished chewing his eggs, took a sip of orange juice from his goblet, and said, "Hey Ginny, how was your holiday?" Ginny marveled at his complete lack of emotion and the completely nonchalant way he addressed her. Is he messing with my head? Thought Ginny, giving him an incredulous look. He certainly doesn't look like he's about to profess his love for me...Ginny thought, nodding her head slightly.

"It was...great," she said, wringing her hands, and looking down at the empty plate in front of her. She wasn't the least big hungry. Hermione and Ron were keeping dejectedly quiet. How much had Harry told them? Ginny could feel her face beginning to flush with anger and embarrassment.

"Well, I'm done with my breakfast," said Harry pushing his plate away, taking one more sip of orange juice from the sparkling gold goblet. While he was occupied drinking, Ginny stole a glance at him. He looked magnificent. His eyes seemed to sparkle like emeralds... "Ginny, want to take a stroll?" Harry said, snapping Ginny out of her momentary stupor. Her anger melted at the completely innocent, slightly nervous look on his face.

"What, in this?" Ron said, raising his eyes to the enchanted ceiling, which showed the incredible snowstorm that was raging outside.

"No, I mean...to the...to the common room or something..." said Harry, fidgeting with a button on his robes. What was this? Was Harry nervous? All the more reason for me to be nervous thought Ginny. She realized that she was staring into space and hadn't answered and that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all staring at her.

"What? Oh...yes of course...let's go," she said, the flush in her cheeks becoming more apparent.

"Without breakfast?" Hermione's eyebrows lifted as she grinned slightly. Ginny kicked her lightly under the table. Harry saw Ginny's exasperated look and snatched up a few pieces of toast and shoved them into her hand.

"There we are now. Let's go Ginny; this is really important..." he said, guiding her away from the table by her elbow. Just the slightest touch from Harry was enough to make Ginny melt, and presently she began to shiver slightly. Harry looked at her, surprised.

"You're acting as if I'm taking you away to your death or something!" he said, trying to make light of the uncomfortable situation and giving her a small smile. She returned the smile weakly. She opened her mouth to try and say something, but nothing seemed to come out but a small squeak. They were walking down an empty corridor now, near the also empty Charms classroom. Harry steered her inside and closed the door behind them. He let go of Ginny and sighed, and then took a deep breath. Ginny rubbed her sweaty palms on her robes to try and dry them. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Ginny beat him to it.

"If you're planning to turn me down, Harry, you could have just done it in the letter..." she said, hoping she sounded determined and confident. She began to wring her hands, and she looked down at her feet. Harry sighed again.

"No, Ginny, that's not what I'm here to tell you," he said, moving closer to her. Instinctively, Ginny stepped backwards. He reached his hand out and lifted her chin so she was looking up at him. "Look at me, will you?" he said, moving closer still, and reaching an arm around Ginny's back so she couldn't move away. "What I wanted to tell you is..." and he pulled her close to him and met her lips in the softest of kisses. Surprised, Ginny pushed him away slightly.

"Harry!" she said, her eyes wide. She couldn't control a smile from breaking out on her face.

"What?" he asked innocently, a smile breaking out on his face, too. "I thought this was what you wanted?" he asked, scuffing his shoe on the ground, and shoving his hands in the pockets of his robes. He slightly reminded Ginny of a begging puppy. This was what she wanted. It was what she wanted most of all. The only thing she wanted was for Harry to kiss her again, just like that...

"Well, of course it's what I want, you prat," she said jokingly, smiling. "But...I mean...is it what you want?" she asked, being serious again. He looked up at her, and his emerald eyes seemed to pierce her. They glimmered like precious stones in the flickering torchlight of Flitwick's classroom. Ginny gasped at the sight of his eyes...the emotion they showed, the passion, and the seriousness.

"Ginny..." he mumbled moving closer to her again. This time, she stayed put, wanting to feel his lips on hers again. He was so close to her now, that she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. "If this wasn't what I wanted, and have wanted for a while now..." he moved closer still and brushed his lips against hers. Ginny's heart fluttered. "...I wouldn't be here, about to kiss you..." he said the last part in a barely audible whisper as he pressed his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he laced his arms around her waist. His tongue parted her lips, and she graciously let it in. She moved her tongue into his mouth too, wanting to memorize every crevice, every nook and cranny, as if this was only happening in her dream and she would wake shortly and forget it all...

Ginny's heart was absolutely racing as she retreated from the kiss, and Harry uttered a small cry of protest as he tried desperately to pull her back into his embrace. There were still a few things that Ginny wanted to know.

"Wait..." she said, rubbing her hand up and down his chest. "How come, if you've felt this way about me so long, you haven't tried anything before? And why didn't I ever notice?" Harry stared at her impatiently, before snorting a little.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" he said serenely. Ginny looked bewildered. "I was scared. And for another thing...I guess I'm just a better actor than you, aren't I?" he said, trying to pull Ginny into a kiss again. She stopped him abruptly.

"You mean...you knew? You knew all this time, how I...how I felt for you?" said Ginny, shocked.

"Of course! Didn't you read the letter, at all?" He looked slightly annoyed now. "How could I help but notice the way you stared at me when you thought no one else was looking? Long after everyone thought that your feelings for me had passed, I knew that they were still there. I didn't want to try anything...because I didn't want to let you down. I didn't want you to have all these ideas and hopes about me and then have them not be true once we got together," he said looking away for the first time since they stopped kissing. Ginny didn't answer, but called her memory back to the letter, still in the pocket of her robes. Right she thought and laid her head on Harry's shoulder. He stroked her hair silently, rubbing his other hand up and down her back. Ginny closed her eyes.

"Hold me, Harry..." she murmured. He pulled her into a tight embrace. Ginny raised her head and looked into his eyes. His green eyes on her brown eyes; locked in a stare of passion and deepest trust.