Come Back to Me

*******

IV. A Christmas Promise

Ginny looked up, startled, as the small bundle of feathers bumped against her window as she readied for bed on Christmas night. As she opened the window, a blast of cold air sent Pig tumbling head-over-talon into the room. He landed with a muffled thump on her bedroom floor, twittering weakly.

"Pig!" she exclaimed quietly, shutting her window again and kneeling next to the small bird, who was staggering around a bit as he regained his bearings. Grabbing a towel from her laundry, Ginny scooped up the owl and loosely wrapped him several times in its folds. After several minutes, the little bird seemed to warm a bit, because he struggled to free his leg from his wrappings. Before he could tangle himself even worse, Ginny stuck her hand down and gathered the damp scroll. With a happy hoot, Pig ducked down into the towel and appeared to fall asleep at once.

Setting him carefully on her bed, Ginny stared at the parchment, filled with dread. She hadn't seen Harry since that day right after Halloween, and hadn't heard anything from him since. She couldn't imagine them writing unless something was wrong, as so far they'd adhered to the 'no news is good news' adage.

The note was short and to the point.

Will come for the bird at 1 a.m., tomorrow. Might also come to snog girlfriend. Will meet you in that place. You know which.

-H

Tears pooling in her eyes, Ginny crushed the ragged parchment to her chest, letting out one quiet sob of relief. Harry was safe. Harry was alive.

She spent most of Boxing Day holed up in her room, playing with Pig and Crookshanks, whose care Hermione had entrusted to Ginny. She listlessly stared out the window, fearing that she would see another owl, a snowy white one, approaching with another cryptic note calling off the meeting.

At last, the clock next to her bed read half past midnight, and Ginny glanced out the window at the snowy, dark night. She slipped on another jumper under her robes before donning her heaviest cloak. She kissed Pig's head and tucked him carefully into an inner pocket. Then, putting on a warm hat and scarf, she slipped from her room and down the steps, careful to hug the wall to avoid the parts of the stairs that creaked. Thankfully, the kitchen was empty at this time of night, and Ginny went out into the back garden, closing the door silently behind her.

She glanced at her watch as she came to the edge of the pond, which was frozen over. It was one minute until the hour. She looked around, but seeing only her own footprints in the snow, she leaned back against a tree and waited.

Despite her many layers, she began to shiver. A freezing breeze drifted across the pond, sending snow scuttling over the ice. She shifted, putting her gloved hands under her arms, hugging herself tightly. She knew several minutes had passed and she looked around again at the dark woods, wondering where Harry was.

Several more minutes passed and Ginny swore quietly to herself. She'd been certain that this was where he wanted to meet; this was where they'd come that first morning when Harry had come home to the Burrow, and where they snuck off to repeatedly in the week that followed.

"Harry, where are you?" she whispered between numb lips.

Only silence answered her. She strained her ears, listening for anything, for the sound of boots breaking snow, the rustle of a cloak, but heard only the whistle of the wind blowing through the trees, and the clack of bare tree limbs beating together.

Paranoia began to grip her. What if this was a trap, designed to get her out of the house and away from the protections of her family? After all, hadn't it been unusual for Harry to send an owl? Suddenly, she could picture a dozen Death Eaters creeping up on her slowly, closing in on all sides. Her breath quickened and she looked around again, sure she would see the flash of a black robe against the pristine, white night.

Hadn't that been why Harry had broken it off with her in the first place? Because being with him was dangerous, and made her a target? And what was she doing out here but proving him right? She closed her hand around her wand and began to back away from the pond.

And an arm went around her.

Her muffled scream echoed through the woods and she lurched forward, throwing her attacker off balance. She saw the indentation of snow where he landed with a loud "Oomph!" She whipped out her wand and was about to Stupefy her invisible attacker, when Harry's confused-looking face appeared out of thin air.

"It's me, Ginny!" Harry yelped, pulling the cloak away from his body.

Ginny gaped for a minute and then fell on top of him, kissing him wildly. Harry responded eagerly, bringing a cold hand up to touch her cheek. She sat up and punched him on the shoulder.

"Ow!" he hissed. "What was -"

"You scared me!" she yelled. "I thought you were a Death Eater!"

Harry looked perplexed. "I told you to meet me here. Why were you expecting a Death Eater?"

"You're late!" She pushed him away.

Harry fell back into the snow and, remarkably, started to laugh.

"It isn't funny!" She crossed her arms to pout, struggling to contain the smile that twitched across her lips. She squealed as Harry grabbed her wrists and pulled her down into the snow with him.

"Don't be mad at me," he whispered, his breath on her face. "I had to wait for Ron and Hermione to leave me alone. And then I had to fly all the way here."

"Are you nearby, then?"

"Not remotely," Harry sighed. "It took hours to get here. I'm frozen."

"Why on earth did you want to meet in the woods, anyway?" Ginny asked, brushing snow off his shoulder.

"Didn't want your family to catch me." He looked at her playfully. "Can I have another kiss to warm me up?"

Ginny laughed and leaned down, kissing his cold lips. "You're like ice! You prat!" She struggled to her feet and hauled him up after her. "We're going back to my room."

"Your parents?"

"Well, you've got a broom, haven't you? Nobody saw me sneak out. We'll just fly in the window," Ginny reasoned.

The short trip to the Burrow from the pond nearly froze her, and she didn't know how Harry had managed to spend hours enduring the chill. Even with Harry's arms wrapped tightly around her as she sat in front of him on the broom, Ginny was shaking by the time Harry brought the broom to a halt at her window. She fumbled a bit as she threw it open, and ducked as Harry flew directly in, landing silently right inside.

"Merlin's Balls!" she whispered. "It's bloody cold out there!" She soundlessly shut and locked her window, and turned to Harry, who was moving stiffly and slowly, his fingers working uselessly as he attempted to undo his cloak.

Ginny shook her head, stepping forward to help him remove the stiff and icy cloak. His face was pale with splotches of red on his cheeks and his nose, and when Ginny took his hands in hers, they were like ice.

"You're half-frozen!"

"Three-quarters, I think," he joked breathlessly. Ginny bent to undo his boots, but Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her up again. He stared at her a moment, his green eyes sparkling. Then he leaned in and kissed her, hard.

Ginny sighed happily and kissed him in return, remembering the feel of his lips and the taste of his mouth.

"Happy Christmas," he breathed.

"Happy Christmas, Harry," she murmured, stroking his hair, which had grown longer and even more wild in the months since she'd seen him. The scar on his cheek had faded to a faint pink, still very visible against his flushed skin.

"Are you ever a sight for sore eyes." He tugged her hair loose of its holder, and arranged it on her shoulders, running his fingers through it, even though Ginny doubted he could actually feel the softness of it at the moment. Unexpectedly, his eyes looked bright with tears and he looked away, clearing his throat.

Ginny began to unbutton his robes and led him silently to her bed. Harry looked back at her, his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline.

"What?" Ginny asked innocently, pulling back the duvet and forcing him to sit.

He grinned at her goofily. She knelt and quickly divested him of his boots, and took his feet into her hands, rubbing them roughly.

"Ouch!" he grunted, his smile rueful now.

"Honestly, Harry," Ginny chided him lightly. "Hasn't anyone ever taught you a proper Heating Charm?"

"Too risky," he hissed through clenched teeth. "I only do magic when I have to. They have ways - ouch! - ways to trace me by my magic."

Ginny sat back on her heels and looked up at him, aghast.

"It's fine," he said quickly, rubbing his shoulders briskly.

The enormity of what he had gone through to be with her, what he had put himself through just to get here, stole her breath. "Harry..." she breathed, disbelievingly.

"It's fine," he repeated firmly. "I wanted to see you."

Ginny stood quickly and kissed him, trailing her lips across his face to his ear. "You're brilliant, you know," she whispered, tugging on his jumper.

He looked at her, his eyes hot, and that goofy grin back in place. He helped her remove the rest of his clothing, save his pants, which were made of a soft fabric with a pattern of golden snitches. With a smirk, Ginny tore her eyes away. Even as cold as he was, being undressed by his girlfriend had definitely perked him up. He reached for the button of her cloak, and she lightly smacked his hand. She waggled her finger in his face.

"Not so fast, Mr. Potter. Into bed with you now."

Harry gave a shuddering laugh, and shrugged his shoulders. He burrowed under the covers and turned onto his side, leaning on his elbow and looking at her with smoldering eyes. Ginny stepped back from the bed with a cheeky grin and turned her back on him. She glanced over her shoulder at him and undid her cloak, which billowed to the floor. Harry's eyes grew wider and Ginny bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

How she managed to remove two jumpers and her robes, and still look enticing, she had no idea, but by the time she stood, her back still to Harry, in just her jeans and her bra, she could hear him breathing heavily. She shot him a smile and wiggled out of her jeans, bending over to push them off her legs. Harry groaned quietly and Ginny grinned to herself before schooling her face and shooting him another sultry glance over her shoulder.

"Come here," he croaked, holding up the covers.

Ginny crossed to the bed, swinging her hips slightly. Harry grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him, and she felt the fruition of her efforts rubbing against her stomach. She smiled as he crushed his lips to hers. With a playful growl, he rolled them over, his chilled body pressing her into the mattress. He attacked her neck, biting it and trailing his tongue lightly along her jaw line.

Feeling very warm suddenly, Ginny gripped his hair in her hands and brought his face back to hers. He smiled at her through half-lidded eyes and kissed her again, running his tongue over her lips. Panting a little, Ginny opened her mouth and felt a small shock explode through her body as he deepened the kiss passionately. Abruptly, he pulled back and gazed at her with desire-clouded eyes, breathing heavily.

"I've missed you," he sighed, burying his face in her neck. Ginny felt whole for the first time in months.

"I know," she said, closing a fist around the amulet, which was caught between them. "It got so hot sometimes I thought it might burn me."

"Sorry," Harry apologized, sounding mortified.

"Don't be. It was nice to feel."

Harry didn't say anything; he just kept his face in her neck, taking deep breaths.

"Why did you stop?" Ginny asked after a moment.

Harry laughed against her, and she smiled as she felt it rumble against her chest. "I told you it was your turn next time."

"What - ?"

With a grin, Harry planted a firm kiss on her lips, then began to trail them down her chin and neck, and along her collar bone. He paused when his face was level with her chest, and he fingered the lacy bra wistfully. Reverently, he kissed along the edge of the fabric, toying with the straps. Then he glanced up at her nervously, and continued to kiss down her stomach, stopping to pay particular attention to her navel. Ginny couldn't breathe suddenly. Harry grinned at her wickedly again, and tossed the covers over his head, disappearing from view. Moments later, Harry was doing things with his mouth that left her breathless, speechless, and mindless. Where in the bloody hell did he learn that?

After the explosion that rocked her core and made her cover her face with a pillow as she tried to be quiet, Harry emerged from beneath the sheets. He pulled the pillow off her face and grinned at her with a self-satisfied look on his face.

"You are amazing," Ginny gasped, tilting her head up to kiss Harry on his swollen lips.

"I told you it was your turn next," he told her proudly. He collapsed on her, his body much warmer. He nuzzled her neck and grew quiet.

"I don't want to leave," he whispered.

"So soon?" she asked mournfully, running her fingers through his hair.

"Soon enough," he said sadly. "If I'm not back by dawn, Ron and Hermione will miss me."

Ginny nodded wordlessly. She knew perfectly well that neither would approve of these secret rendezvous, Hermione because of the danger, and Ron because he was her older brother.

"I have something for you," she said at last, struggling to stay awake.

"Hmm?" Harry asked sleepily.

"I've got something for you."

Harry opened one eye and looked at her. "You didn't," he protested.

"I did," she countered, easing out from under him.

He groaned in disappointment and made to grab for her but she sidestepped his swipe and dug into her cloak pockets. Pig gurgled happily at her and she pulled him out, aghast. "Oh, Pig! I'm so sorry." The little bird twittered and launched himself off her palm, settling himself on top of her wardrobe.

"That's animal abuse," Harry chuckled from the bed.

She retrieved the small box and hurried back to the bed, diving under the warm sheets. "Shut it, you. Do you want this or not?"

Harry looked uncomfortable. "Ginny, I -"

"Too busy saving the world to buy your girlfriend a present, Potter?" she asked drolly.

"Yeah?" he tried weakly.

Ginny grinned and kissed him quickly. "I think you already gave me my present."

Harry smirked.

"Besides," she continued more seriously. "This isn't a Christmas present." She handed him the box, and reluctantly, he accepted it. He gave it a gentle shake.

"It's a broom," he guessed. Ginny laughed lowly and shook her head.

"A dragon?"

"I love you, Harry Potter," she blurted, remembering her birthday. She couldn't believe he'd remembered her silly little guesses.

"I love you, Ginny Weasley," he said quietly.

"Open it," she whispered. He looked at her uncertainly and slowly opened the box. His eyebrows disappeared into his hairline again and he looked at her, speechless. He pulled the compass out of the box and held it up by its leather strap. He smiled wistfully.

"It'll always point you home," she explained, directing his gaze to the arrow that instead of pointing north, was currently pointing southwest, at her. "So you'll always come back to me."

"Thank you," Harry said thickly. "I love it." He sniffled slightly and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'll make good use of this."

"You better," she replied in a choked voice.

Harry sank back onto the bed, bringing Ginny with him. She rested her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. After a few minutes, she felt her heavy eyes struggle to close.

"Sleep," Harry said gently, rubbing her shoulder.

"You'll be gone when I wake up," she whimpered.

"But I'll be back. I promise."