It Looks Like Glass

A cold wind blew across her face, biting her nose and chilling her right down to her bones. The lake lay still, covered in ice.

It looks like glass.

Ginny tucked a piece of dark red hair behind her ear and sighed, a cloud of icy breath forming in front of her. Why did things have to be so difficult? Time dragged on so long it was like her life was one long day, everything blending together in a blur of black and white. The war had been over for over 3 months, but sometimes it seemed like it had been just yesterday. The pictures were still so vivid in her mind, her family and friends dead, the screams and the empty silences, all haunted her.

"I thought you'd be out here." His familiar voice behind her, a warm hand on her shoulder, just his nearness, made the frantic beating of her heart slow a little. But how could she be so selfish, to draw such comfort from him, when he needed it so much for himself. He sat down next to her on the cold bench and stared out at the frozen water.

"It looks like glass." Her head turned quickly so she could look at him, her brain blanking out completely. How was it that he could say what she was thinking? How was it that he even knew what she was thinking?

"What?" His bright green eyes searched her pale face, and she shook her head, giving him a weak smile.

"It's nothing." He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest for warmth. They sat in silence for a while, taking in the beauty of the night.

"Have you ever tried counting the stars?" he asked suddenly. She shook her head and looked up at the dark expanse over her head. The stars dotted the midnight sky like tiny jewels, shimmering and shining just for them.

"It's impossible to count all of them. There's just so many." She felt his arm around her shoulder, and she sunk into his embrace, feeling safer than she had in ages.

"Why try then?" she questioned, dropping her head on his shoulder.

"Because I'm one of those people who likes to believe that nothing is impossible." She felt a smile creep across her face. It felt foreign on her features. She hadn't really smiled in a long time it seemed.

"I wish I could be like that." He shifted, and she lifted her head up to look at him. A line creases his forehead and she saw a faint frown flicker on his lips.

"Why can't you? You can believe whatever you want, Gin." She twisted out of his grasp and stood up, walking slowly down to the edge of the lake. She hadn't expected him to follow, but he did.

"You're right. It does look like glass," she said, staring down at the smooth ice. His hand slowly closed around hers, their fingers tangled together. She wanted it to feel like this forever, beautiful and simple.

"You can believe whatever you want," he repeated. She turned and locked her brown eyes with his green ones.

"I heard you the first time, Harry."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What do you believe in?" The question threw her off guard. She'd never thought about it before. She'd never really had too. When she was younger she had believed in herself, believed that she could do anything she set her mind to. Well, she had set her mind to saving her family, and what had happened? They were gone. Ron, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Molly, Arthur, and Fred were all gone. The only one she had left was George, but he would never be the same. He was missing his second half.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Harry stared at her incredulously, as if he didn't dare to believe she didn't believe.

"That's what I said." It was starting to annoy her. Why did he care so much? It wasn't life or death. She'd been through that once already, she'd know life and death when she saw it.

"So, you don't believe in anything?"

"Of course I believe in things. I just can't think of any off the top of my head."

"Well, it's something you should just know Ginny."

"Fine, Harry, why don't you tell me what you believe in, if you're so perfect," she snapped. He flinched. So did she. He hated the word "perfect". To him it meant that something was flawless, without any faults, and Harry was someone who cherished people's flaws. He loved them for their imperfections. He built the fault into something wonderful.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. He looked out at the lake and sighed.

"I believe in life. I believe that you should wake up loving the day you're in, no matter what's going on around you. There's not enough of life to go around, so I think you need to hold onto it and make the most of what you're given. I believe in magic. God knows I've seen enough to believe in it, but that's not really the kind of magic I'm talking about. I'm talking about miracles. I believe in those magical moments that make you feel so alive, so absolutely free, that you can't help wanting more." He threw her a sideways glance, only to find her staring at him.

"I believe in nights like these, the nights that seem to last forever. They give you time to think about everything, and even if you've had the worst day ever, when night comes, you know the day is passing, and tomorrow is something brand new. But most of all, I believe in love. I believe in being head over heels, madly in love; wanting to give yourself completely over to someone, wanting to make them happy no matter what it costs you. A love that makes your heart skip a beat everytime you see the person who has taken you over. A love that gives you something that no other love has."

"Harry..." She couldn't find anything to say. His words, the passion in his voice, has overwhelmed her, and thrown her mind into a whirlwind of thoughts. The love he had described, that's the way she felt about him. She always had.

"I'm only 17, Gin, and I've been through a hell of a lot. I'm not bragging, because seeing death is nothing to brag about. All I'm saying is that there are things I want to know, want to experience, and believing in those things is the only way I know how to get where to where I want to be." He sat down in the grass, oblivious to the dampness of it. Not thinking, she sat down beside him and wrapped her arm through his. "You," she said. He turned his head so that he could see her. His green eyes peered at her through the darkness. He suddenly noticed the tears that had collected in her eyes, and were silently spilling down her ivory colored cheeks.

"Ginny, I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm so sorry." She held up her free hand and shook her head.

"That's not what I mean. You're what I believe in, Harry. I believe in your ambitions, and I know that no matter what happens, you'll experience those things you want to experience, and do those things you want to do. I believe in your heart, and the goodness in it. I could never be the wonderful person that you are, not after all you've been through. You give me so much comfort, when you need it for yourself. And I can't help but love you for it. Head over heels, madly in love; wanting to give yourself completely over to someone, wanting to make them happy no matter what it costs you love." She felt the flush rise in her cheeks, and tore her eyes away from his.

"Whoa..."

"Oh God, I can't believe I just said that," she groaned, standing up quickly. Brushing the tears from her cheeks, she began to run back towards the castle, bitter cold air slapping against her face. She heard him call her name, but she ignored him. She couldn't turn around and face him now, not after she spilled everything. She felt a strong arm grab hers, and pull her back. He was all of a sudden in front of her, his dark hair falling in his eyes. She was so close, she could feel his hot breath on her skin, hear his breathing, deep and even. Her heart was beating in her chest, as he opened his mouth to speak.

"I love you too."