L-O-V-E

Bend and Break

Ginny squinted into the sun. It was about an hour and a half until they would depart. Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Percy and Harry.
Fred, George and Percy (who had finally turned over a new leaf), were the trio's guard. Bill had wanted to go, but he was still too weak to make such a trip, Charlie wanted to go as well, but his mother needed him here. Remus had to go back to living with Greyback, and McGonagall needed all the help she could get to regroup the Order.

~When you, when you forget your name~
~When old faces all look the same~

Ginny tried her hardest not to cry when she heard the news that Harry wasn't going to return with her to Hogwarts. Same with her closest brother and one of her best friends -- but they all knew this was the best. They would try to return when they found those Horcruxes -- but it might take weeks -- even months. It took Dumbledore years, didn't it?

~Meet me in the morning when you wake up~
~Meet me in the morning then you'll wake up~

Harry had been avoiding her since he arrived on his birthday. The only words he said to her were a mumbled "Hello," and a "Thanks, Gin," when he'd received his present. Otherwise he'd hidden.
There had been more attacks as well. More mysterious Muggle deaths, students' families killed, even more workers at the Ministry.
"Ginny, dear, come inside!" her father called.
"I will in a minute, Dad!" Ginny called back, standing up and retreating farther into the garden.

~If only I don't bend and break~
~I'll meet you on the other side~
~I'll meet you in the light~

She rubbed her forehead as she leaned against the nearest tree. What if she lost one of her brother's? What if she lost Hermione, or for that matter Harry?
"Ginny."
She whirled about to see the very boy that haunted her thoughts and dreams more than anyone. The very boy she had loved since she was a little girl.
"Hi," she said, putting on a grin. "What're you doing?"
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I--I needed to talk."
"'Bout what?" Ginny asked, fiddling with the hem of her old T-shirt. "I thought you would be inside enjoying lunch before you had to go."

~If only I don't suffocate~
~I'll meet you in the morning when you wake~

He shook his head. "Why aren't you inside?"
"I don't feel good," she lied, picking a dandelion from the grass.
"Ginny, I know you're upset after the --"
"Upset?" she asked, sitting on the grass. "Why would I be upset?"
"I mean, I can understand," Harry went on brokenly, "but it just isn't safe. You might not

understand now --"
"What makes you think I don't understand?" Ginny asked, throwing the dandelion. "I understand perfectly. . . Perhaps it's just better. . ."

~Lovesick, bitter and hardened heart~
~Aching, waiting for life to start~

He sank down next to her. "I . . . I hate it."
"Of course you do," Ginny said. "Nothing'll ever be the same -- and you won't be able to return to Hogwarts, and --"
"I don't care about that," he quietly countered her. "I hate that I have to leave here, and that
I . . . I have to leave you."
He wouldn't look at her.
"I just want to stay here and everything to be back to normal, or at least like it was when we were going out last year. . . You -- you kept me sane, pretty much."
Ginny smiled slightly.

~Meet me in the morning when you wake up~
~Meet me in the morning then you'll wake up~

"Were you mad?"
He was looking at her now.
"Mad at what?"
"When I left that night that Dumbledore died and I didn't say goodbye or anything?"
"Yes," she answered truthfully. "I was scared out of my mind, Harry." She reached over and took his hand.
"I know," he said, squeezing her fingers.

~If only I don't bend and break~

"Why do you do this, Harry? Why not let me --"
"Because it's unsafe."
"And did you happen to forget that my while family is involved with the Order -- and that the Weasley's are targets anyway because of our 'disgracefulness?'"

"But your Dad and the Order will protect you while your here," Harry said. "You'll be safer here than out there."
"And what about my brother? What about Hermione? What makes them any different? You
don't think I can hold my own?"
"I don't doubt that for a second," Harry said calmly. "But if anything happened to you while you were out there I don't know what I'd --"
"Anything can happen to me while I'm here as well!" Ginny said, colour rising on her cheeks. "The Death Eater's are hunting us down, they got into Hogwarts -- but I can hold my own -- I knocked out four of them when they got into the castle --"
"Please, Gin," he pleaded as she yanked her hand from his. "It's safer here -- it's really dangerous out there --"
"You don't get it, do you?" she said. "I've been head over heels in love with you for six years. I'd follow you anywhere and do anything for you. . . What I told you at the funeral wasn't a lie. . . I've waited forever for you, and I'm not leaving your side. . . I don't care how stupid you are or how much you deny it or how much you push me away, it will never change."

~I'll meet you on the other side~
~I'll meet you in the light~

His breathing was quick and shallow, his face pale and shocked.
"Never," she said before she leaned in and kissed him.
He gasped against her mouth, but did not pull away. Indeed he clutched her closer, deepening the kiss. His fingers were buried in her hair, making her moan slightly. They drew away when the need for air became too insistent, and he buried his face in her red locks.
"I don't mean to scare you," she whispered. "That's the last thing you need. . ."
He shook his head. "Don't take it back, ever . . ." he said. "Promise me you'll tell me in every letter, and think it every morning when you wake up and every night when you go to sleep. . ."
"And I'll say it a hundred times when you come back," Ginny said, drawing away with her hands on his neck.

~If only I don't suffocate~

Harry nodded.

"I love you," she whispered before kissing him again.

~I'll meet you in the morning when you wake~

~Fin~