Through the Rain

When you get caught in the rain, with nowhere to run. When you're distraught and in pain, without anyone. When you keep crying out to be saved, but nobody comes. And you feel so faraway that you just can't find your way home. You can get there alone, it's okay. And if you keep falling down, don't you dare give in. You will arise, safe and sound. So, keep pressing on steadfastly, and you'll find what you need to prevail. And when the wind blows, as shadows grow close, don't be afraid, there's nothing you can't face! And should they tell you, you'll never pull through, don't hesitate. Stand tall and say: I can make it through the rain. I can stand up once again, on my own, and I know that I'm strong enough to mend. And every time I feel afraid, I hold tighter to my faith, and I live one more day, and I make it through the rain.

*

"When has it ever been this hot?"

Ginny Weasley tucked a long fiery red curl behind her ear and then fanned herself with her hand.

"Erg," moaned Ron, not moving an inch from where his long body was splayed across the floor.

"Ottery St. Catchpole has had much higher temperatures. This isn't bad at all!" said Hermione cheerfully, though even she looked somewhat fed up as sweat dripped into her eyes.

It was the middle of August and things at the Burrow were slow and sluggish. Harry and Hermione had arrived to stay the week before. Harry's elation at being away from the Dursley's was short lived when Hermione and various members of the Weasley family had tried to talk to him about Sirius' death. The warmth had only increased his (and everyone else's) irritability and he was prone to screaming matches with Ron and Hermione. After the fights, Harry would feel guilty and lock himself in Ron's room.

That was assumedly where he was on that particular hot afternoon. About an hour before Hermione had offered to make them all lunch and Harry got offended. He had yelled that he wasn't helpless or delicate and he didn't need people to wait on him all the time. He had gone on in that vein for a few minutes before he had noticed Hermione looking at him with a raised eyebrow and he'd stomped out of the room.

"Oh," said Ginny breathlessly, "I'm going to get in the pond!"

"Doubtful," mumbled Ron, opening his eyes to look at her. "Probably not water in there."

"Stupid bloody drought!" exclaimed Ginny.

"He could be wrong," said Hermione, grinning at Ron.

"I could be," said Ron, sitting up and smiling back at her, "but I'm not."

"Quit flirting," said Ginny, looking back and forth between them. They both blushed and looked away and Ginny disguised a giggle as a cough.

*

"You're sure you don't want to come?" Ginny asked Hermione.

Ginny was now outfitted in her old, too small, emerald green bikini. It had been bought when they'd gone to Egypt two summers before and was quite a bit too small. Ginny, of course, wore it with the utmost ease.

"I didn't bring a suit," replied Hermione, "besides, there's probably no water out there anyway."

"Oh well," said Ginny. "It feels good just to be out of those clothes."

"What are you wearing anyway? You look like...like some sort of-" Ron sputtered.

Ginny waved a hand at him. "There's nobody here to see me in it anyway, Ron. Well, I guess I'll see you two later."

Ginny was annoyed to find that Ron was right about the pond. A couple of inches of water were all that remained of the once 6 foot deep pond. She stood in the middle of the deepest part of the pond, where the remaining water tease at her ankles. She dipped her hand in and splashed some of the lukewarm water on her face.

"Hey."

Ginny jumped at the voice from behind her. It was Harry. The look on his face plainly asked, 'Why are you standing next to a puddle in the middle of the yard in your under things?'

"There's no water," said Ginny mournfully.

Harry laughed.

"What are you doing?" asked Ginny.

"Walking," said Harry. "Thinking."

"Impressive, doing two things at once," mocked Ginny.

"I'm a regular genius," said Harry superciliously.

Ginny sighed and a tragic look overcame her face. Harry went on the defensive, thinking she was going to say something about Sirius. "What?"

Ginny grinned at him. "I came out here expecting to cool down. Instead I'm hotter than ever and I have no energy to walk home." She placed a dramatic hand on her forehead, as if fainting.

"Right then," said Harry, smiling again, "jump up." He offered his back to her and she climbed on wrapping her long limbs around him. He easily carried her light weight back to the house, where they both fell in a heap onto the couch.

"Thank you, gallant Prince, for rescuing this fair maiden," said Ginny, batting her eyelashes.

"'Tis only my noble duty to save a damsel in distress," said Harry. Neither Harry nor Ginny noticed the looks Ron and Hermione were giving each other across the room.

"Right," said Ron, fighting a laugh.

"Yeah," said Hermione, "okay."

*

Hours later the Weasley family was sitting around the dinner table, eating pumpkin pie. Ginny, much to the dismay of her mother and brothers was still wearing her bikini.

"Are you finished, Ginny?" asked Mrs. Weasley. "I'd like you to change your clothes now, you look ridiculous."

"More pie!" chorused Ginny happily. She smiled innocently around the table and Harry choked back a laugh.

Mrs. Weasley. Fred, George, and Ron stared angrily at Ginny and then at Harry, who was now ducking under the table to hide his laughter.

Ginny was now singing to herself as if she didn't notice the silence and angry glares around the table. "Pie, pie, you're so good! Pumpkin pie, yummy, yum!" Her curls bounced as her head moved in time to her song.

"I think it's-" Mr. Weasley was also oblivious to the hostility at the table.

"Rain!" shouted Ginny, dropping her fork and running out the back door. Fred, George, Ron, Harry, and Hermione followed, all anxious for relief from the heat.

The rain was pouring down in torrents and was cool. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

"Isn't this great?" Ginny exclaimed, romping around the yard.

Fred and George were wrestling in the mud and had pulled Hermione down with them. Ron had turned red and was spluttering indignantly at them, making an effort to save her, until he was pulled in himself. Harry dodged Ron's attempts to grab his ankle, and pull him down with them. Instead, he followed Ginny, who was doing an exuberant rain dance around the yard. He laughed. Her happiness seemed infectious to him.

"It's like there's new life for everything, Harry! It all gets to come back to life!" Ginny grabbed his hands and danced him around in a circle. Suddenly her foot slid in the sodden grass and they both fell to the ground beside each other.

"I wish it was that easy for everything that died. Rain would bring it back," said Harry, relishing the feeling of the cool rain falling down on him.

"Sirius is probably happy now. He doesn't have to worry. I'll bet he's up there having fun with your father right now. He didn't want to leave you, Harry, but I bet he's in a better place now." Ginny looked earnestly into Harry's eyes.

"Thank you," said Harry.

Then, as they sprawled side by side on the rapidly muddying ground in the pouring rain, enjoying the coolness. He suddenly pushed up on his elbow and leaned over her. He gazed down into her questioning face for a moment, his fingers stretching out to brush back a damp curl from her cheek before he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, dipped his head and softly pressed their lips together. Ginny gasped in surprise and his tongue slipped into her mouth. She instantly responded and pulled him down so he was half on top of her. Ginny's arms were around his neck and his hands were entwined in her wet tangle of hair.

Ginny's thoughts seemed to leave her brain. The kiss was like none she'd ever experienced before. Harry was kissing her with overwhelming emotion. All his fear and sadness seemed to pour into her and she kissed back, with just as much emotion, giving him the love he requested.

Hermione, very muddy, but none the worse for wear, looked up and saw Harry and Ginny, a mess of limbs on the mud-covered ground. "Somebody's cheered Harry up."

"Oh, that is gross. That is just...ew. She's not proper...Oh, that is foul," said Ron, following her eyes. He made to go and separate them but Hermione grabbed his arm

"Don't, Ron." She pulled him back. "It's rather...nice."

As Harry and Ginny kissed sweetly, the rain poured down on them, giving everything a new beginning.

The End.