Moments of "Time"

Eleventh (and last) story. Hold on tight (to your dream).

It's a long time to be gone,

Time just rolls on and on,

When you need a shoulder to cry on,

When you get so sick of trying,

Just hold on tight to your dream...

- Electric Light Orchestra,"Hold on tight".

The train was ready to leave Hogsmeade station, taking the students away from the school to begin their well-earned (well, in most cases at least) summer vacation. People were hurrying back and forth along the carriages of the train, settling down in compartments, alone or in groups, arranged by House, friendship or some other relationship...

Everyone seemed to be trying to avoid the compartment that had two girls - one in Ravenclaw robes, the other in Slytherin ones - within it, who were kissing each other (rather) passionately, and looked as if they would not notice even if a dragon decided to share the compartment with them, as they were a bit occupied with each other.

The next compartment was not to be even considered as one to be entered, as it was also occupied by a strange group of people - namely, a boy and a girl in Ravenclaw robes and a boy in Hufflepuff ones, and the fact that the Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw girl were both kissing the same Ravenclaw boy scared off all from entering.

Several compartments further, an interesting scene was seen, as a black-skinned boy was holding hands with a red-haired girl about a year or so younger than him, both in Gryffindor robes, and unlike the previous ones, these were not kissing or anything as intimate, just sitting together and holding hands, staring into each other's eyes as if their lives depended on it.

*****

"So... You and Harry are history now?" Dean asked quietly. Ginny nodded in reply.

"We went on as if nothing happened after that... incident, but something felt wrong... as if we were doing it against our own wills..." she said slowly, as if thinking over each word's meaning for a moment or two.

"Ginny..." Dean started.

"Yes?" she asked.

"The reason why I helped you with getting back together with him... I just wanted you to be happy, Gin, but it hurt me because I..." he said, but could not finish, because she cut him off.

"That means..." she exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, Ginny Weasley..." he started, but did not finish, for he suddenly reached forwards, "...I think I love you..." he whispered, kissing her lips quickly, "No... I know I love you..." he added timidly when their lips broke.

She looked as if she wanted to say something, but the fact that Harry Potter himself, in the flesh, passed their compartment without even looking into it made them both look at him for a moment. Harry did not seem to notice this though, for he was a bit occupied talking to a girl neither of them seemed to know. She was, however, wearing Ravenclaw robes, but definitely was not in their year; otherwise they would've known her. She threw a passing glance at Ginny and Dean, but quickly turned back to Harry. All they managed to notice about her were the facts that her hair was brown and so were her eyes. And she had some strange resemblance with Cho, although it might've been caused by her being Asian in appearance as well.

"Who's that?" Dean asked quietly when Harry and his mystery girl passed.

"I don't think I care..." Ginny replied as she turned his face towards hers with her hand and locked her lips into Dean's, "Wait... I know I don't care..." she added when their lips parted for a moment only to join again.

*****

It all started about three weeks ago. After he split up with that Weasley girl, I've felt as if it was some sort of sign for me. I mean, I've never felt that he was the kind of guy to be toyed around with, as Cho did. On the other hand, I suppose I was always torn between two extremities - on one side, the will to get the famous Harry Potter all for myself, but on the other hand - forcing him or even myself into this just to be that girl Harry Potter is dating did not sound very honest to me.

So, I had to wait. See if things changed, and how I would feel. The problem was that he was throwing fleeting glances at Cho every now and then. I've felt as if I was committing the sin of envy by thinking that I could make him mine. Apparently, I did not even think of the minor fact that I would also have to be his, and that surely shows how selfish I was. But then...

A week or so ago, I accidentally ran into him in the hallway, and... Well, he looked at me! And not as one would look at a stranger, his eyes stopped on my face! I felt as if my heart would jump out of my chest then. And the next day, I saw him looking at me, not Cho, during breakfast! I caught his eyes then, and looked straight back at him. He turned away at first... But then looked at me again!

I had no idea that this meant something back then, or maybe my head was too preoccupied with my being the girl that Harry Potter stares at whenever he can... One way or the other, during the exam result announcements he came up to me and... Well, we talked a bit. Then a bit more. Then we were late for our further results because of that talking, had a laugh and decided to repeat that one fine day. And we did. Several times. And yesterday... Well, we were sitting on a bench on the grounds, talking about how we will spend the summer, and then... then... he kissed me. And I... kissed back...

And now here, on the train... I think those were that Weasley girl and a Gryffindor boy from Harry's year... Well, looks like she didn't waste her time. But then again... Neither did Harry.