Forbidden Love

She loved him, and the rest of her family hated him.

It was the most frustrating thing in the world - or so it felt.

Often, he'd owl her to say he was ready - but the owl would be late, and she'd end up missing him because he had to be back at the Ministry.

When they did manage to meet, they had to make sure that nobody knew who they were - there would be raised eyebrows about that.

She was quite sure he was worth it all though - when they kissed, their lips slowly meeting, she always felt like she was in heaven.

The only thing better than the kisses was the cuddles, and then the eventual sex that followed. She couldn't believe that she loved him so much.

And he was her brother.

When Ginny was growing up, she hadn't felt anything for her elder brother. But then, in the summer that the great falling out occurred, Percy had made his move - a gentle, soft kiss on her lips.

Ginny had been so stunned that she had almost slapped him. But, instead, she'd found herself returning the kiss.

When they broke apart, Percy looked down at the floor.

"Please, don't tell anybody. I don't know what the fuck that was."

His voice was pained, and scared. He did, indeed, look white and frightened.

"You think I'm planning to? You mong," replied Ginny.

The next time, it was more than just a kiss.

Merely two weeks later, Molly had to go to Diagon Alley with Ron, Fred and George. Ginny, not wanting to come, had stayed behind. While making her lunch, she heard a soft "POP" behind her.

Percy had Apparated home to get his lunch.

At the sight of Ginny alone in the kitchen, he blanched. But then, as if making up his mind, he strolled over and asked her for two slices of white bread.

She passed them, and their hands touched. It was their first physical contact since the kiss - even in the house he had managed to avoid her.

Ginny didn't know what to do - they just stood there, their fingers gently touching, floury bread in the palms of their hands.

Percy dropped the bread suddenly, and rushed towards her. Ginny simply opened her arms and embraced him. He pressed his lips to hers and they kissed - not slowly like the first time, but passionately and hungrily.

His hands found the hem of her shirt, and he pushed them up her back, his hands cold on her warm skin.

Ginny gasped; Percy pulled her closer and then pressed her against the kitchen table. Ginny leaned back as Percy leaned forwards; he was almost squashing her but she liked the feeling. Her spine hurt as he pushed her further down so that she could feel his weight on her body.

"Let's take this upstairs," murmured Ginny, to avoid her back breaking against the table.

"Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't be saying it if I wasn't, would I?"

"Where are the others?" Percy looked around fearfully.

"Diagon Alley. They won't be back for another hour."

This seemed to settle the matter - Percy grabbed her hand and tugged her up the stairs. Ginny laughed. Inside her head, thoughts were careening madly about her brain. The main ones yelled at her like a foghorn - "This is illegal! This is madness! What if you get caught?"

Frankly, Ginny didn't care. She liked the idea of forbidden love.

They got to the landing, and Percy shoved open the door to his room. Ginny raced in, and Percy slammed the door behind her, leaning on it for a minute as if afraid that somebody else would try and enter.

Then, calmly, he unbuttoned his shirt.

Ginny pulled off her top - Percy tackled her and pushed her down onto the bed. They kissed and got used to the feeling of bare chests and stomachs touching.

It would have lasted longer, had Molly and the others not returned.

That escape was a close one - almost too close, but neither Ginny nor Percy cared very much - they made excuses, and there were no narrowed eyes or suspicious looks. Satisfied with their intelligence, the pair became closer and closer.

That was when the falling out happened, and Percy left.

As he packed his suitcase angrily, Ginny streamed into his room in tears.

"Don't go! Please!"

"I can't stay here any more! It's been doing my head in, Ginny!"

"What, us has been doing your head in?"

"No. Never us. Never."

He looked at her and kissed her. Ginny wished that he would do something more - they both needed it to get over the fight, but Percy just left it at that - he needed time to cool down, she realized.

"I'll come find you."

"I'll owl you with my new address. There isn't a person on the planet that could keep us apart. I love you, and I'll be with you again soon."

He apparated, leaving Ginny with fresh tears on her face.

Those days without his presence were some of the hardest that Ginny had ever been through.

At last, a letter with news for her arrived with Herms.

Ginny lay on her bed, reading the words of love over and over again. He told her that he'd found a small flat in London, located near the Ministry. Work was going well, and he had overheard plans for his promotion.

Ginny was happy for him, but inside her brain, she pined and pleaded for his touch.

Molly noticed after a while that Ginny was looking very down. She asked what the matter was, but Ginny didn't say - instead, she asked if she could go shopping with Luna in Diagon Alley.

Bemused by the slightly strange request, Molly let her go.

Never in a million years would they have guessed where she was really going.

Ginny travelled to Percy's flat by Floo Powder.

When she got there, Percy was sitting on a sagging sofa, looking anxious. Ginny dusted herself off, and looked at Percy's home. The walls, although tall, were cracked in places, with damp stains under the windows.

Percy stood, and walked over the fireplace. Sighing with relief, he embraced Ginny.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come."

"You shouldn't have been."

Ginny tilted her face upwards, and looked Percy in the eyes. Percy leaned down, and kissed her gently. Ginny kissed him back, their movements very slow and languid.

Holding hands, they went upstairs and lay on Percy's bed, just making out slowly, knowing that they might not see each other again at any time soon.

After an hour, Percy got to his feet.

"Do you want anything to eat before you go? Mum might be suspicious if you're away too long."

"No, just a glass of water will be fine," replied Ginny.

After he left the room, Ginny retrieved her shirt from the floor, and put it on again, making sure that all the buttons were done up.

She went downstairs, and into the kitchen.

Percy was sitting at the table, his eyes wet with tears. Ginny was started - what had happened?

"What's the matter?"

"We can't keep doing this, Ginny. We just can't." His voice was thick with emotion.

"Nobody's going to catch us!"

"But they might. We can't take that risk!"

"Don't you dare think about it," said Ginny fiercely.

"I still love you."

"I love you too, but not just as a brother. What we have here is so much better than that! I love you as a lover, as a partner, and I'm not about to end it, not here, not now. We can get through this! If you don't love me, what was the last hour about?"

Percy looked up.

"That was the last time, as far as I'm concerned. We just can't do this!" His voice was hard, and made Ginny shake with fear of losing their relationship.

"Why this sudden change? Tell me, Percy!"

"Because."

"There's a real reason, I can see it in your eyes."

Percy sighed, and lowered his head. Ginny watched him, and knew that she'd won. She would get her answer soon enough.

"I'm scared of us having a relationship... because I love you so much and I don't want to hurt you!"

"How would you hurt me any more than you are now?"

"Because, I want to go all the way with you, and I'm scared that I'll hurt you, that something might happen, that you'll get pregnant... all these things that are beyond your world!" His tone was worried.

"It's not beyond me. I'm not a virgin."

Percy gasped, and looked hard at her. She felt a flash of pride - he believed her lie.

"Who have you slept with?"

"As if it matters. You slept with Penelope, didn't you!"

"We were adults!" Percy had flushed a deep red.

"You were only a year or two older than I am now."

"Yes, but still! We're brother and sister."

"If that's what is bothering you, I'm leaving now." Ginny strode over to the fireplace and took a handful of Floo Powder.

Percy grabbed her wrist and twisted her around to face him.

She loosened her hold on the powder, and it fell to the floor.

"Stay."

Ginny felt tears welling in eyes. Percy wiped the tears away as they rolled down her cheeks.

"I love you, Ginny. More than any other."

Ginny looked at him, and he suddenly put his hands around her wrists and forced her backwards so that her back was on the whitewashed walls. Percy kissed her fiercely, pressing himself into her body. Ginny let out a small moan, kissing him back just as hard.

Percy was the one who broke the kiss.

"You'd better be getting back."

"You'd better be saying sorry pretty soon!"

"I'm sorry. I do love you, with all my heart."

"Love you too."

Ginny leaned in and kissed him again, before taking a handful of Floo Powder and disappearing amongst the flames.

It was almost four months before they saw each other again.

There was a Hogsmeade visit just before the end of term, and Percy had managed to get some time off.

As Ginny walked in to the village, she felt a rush of joy when she saw him, standing alone by a tree at the edge of the forest. There were snowflakes in his vivid red hair, and when he saw Ginny he left his post and ran towards her.

The embraced in an open field of snow, with the tiny frozen crystals melting on their noses as they kissed.

"I've missed you," murmured Ginny.

"Me too. I couldn't stop thinking about you for a second."

Ginny laughed at that, and held Percy's hand as they walked towards the Three Broomsticks Pub.

"I got us a room upstairs," said Percy as they walked in through the door. Both of them were extra careful when they walked near Ron's table.

Still holding hands, their fingers intertwined, Percy and Ginny made their way up two flights of stairs, resisting until they got to the door of their room.

The wooden door creaked as they opened it and slipped inside. Ginny let go of Percy's hand and ran to draw the curtains. She blocked out the visions of Hogsmeade looking like a post card in the snow.

Percy shut the door, breathing heavily. Then, he took off his shoes and socks.

Ginny unzipped her winter coat as Percy unbuttoned his woollen one.

She looked at him, and he raced towards her, tackling her and pushing her backwards, pressing her down onto the soft bed.

They kissed then, passionate kisses on lips, noses, eyelids and necks.

Percy propped himself up on his elbows and took off Ginny's tee - shirt. His hands were cold on the pale skin of her stomach.

That day, the day they slept together for the first time, Ginny was filled with foreboding, but she had never seen Percy so happy.

As she walked back up to the castle later, Hermione caught her up.

"Ginny, tell me what the matter is," she said.

"I couldn't, you wouldn't understand it!"

"I could try to understand," replied Hermione evenly.

Ginny turned to face her, halfway up a small, snow covered hill. Hagrid's hut was in sight, but other than that, there was nobody else in earshot.

"You won't tell anybody?"

"I promise I won't. It's been bothering you for months, I've seen it. Just tell me, get it off your chest."

Ginny took a deep, icy cold breath.

"I'm in love with my brother."

"Which one?"

Ginny laughed at the way she said it.

"Is it Ron?"

"No! Don't be silly."

"Fred?"

Ginny leaned in closer to Hermione. "It's Percy," she said, admittance in her voice.

"Percy?"

"That would be the one, yes."

Hermione looked at her searchingly for a few minutes.

"How long has this been going on?"

"Since June. Before the big fall out."

"How far have you gone with him?"

Ginny looked at Hermione sharply. How much did she know?

"All the way."

"You've slept with him?"

"I love him," replied Ginny fiercely.

"I can't believe you're such a slut!"

Ginny spun around to face none other than Ron. He had apparently been hiding under the invisibility cloak while she had been speaking. Harry stood beside him, but it was obvious that Ron had been the one who shouted.

"He's your brother, Ginny! Your flesh and blood! He's the same as me! Do you go around saying you're in love with me too?"

"No! I don't love you! Not in that way, at least. But Percy, I do love him, he's more than just a brother to me! I do love him, I swear it!"

"Ginny, that's just sick," said Ron.

Ginny took out her wand.

"I will kill you if you tell Mum. Or anybody. Any of you, if my parents find out, you will die. I swear it, you will."

There was a flaming fierceness in her eyes.

"Do you really think I'd be that stupid, telling Mum?"

"You'd do anything to get revenge on me!"

"I wouldn't do that. Otherwise you would be the one that ended up dead," replied Ron.

"I still don't trust you. Obliviate!"

After that, Ginny was more careful, even around Percy himself.

It was almost a year after they had first started their affair when Ginny knew that she had to break it off.

She spoke to him when they were lying in bed one day, their legs touching slightly beneath the covers.

"Percy, we've got to break this off."

He looked at her, surprise evident in his face.

"Why?"

The question was whispered, the tone gentle and fearful. Ginny's will almost failed.

"We can't go on keeping it a secret."

"Then we'll come out, tell everybody that we're in love!"

"No!"

"Ginny... Please, don't do this!"

"I've got to! You'll never break it off, I know you too well!"

"Please!" There were tears welling in his eyes now; one rolled down his cheek.

"Percy, we can't."

Ginny got out from under the covers. She bent down and started pulling on her panties, then her jeans, eventually a shirt to cover her bra.

Percy leapt from the bed and dressed in double quick time.

"Don't go, Ginny!"

Ginny was already standing by the fireplace, tears in her eyes.

Percy came and stood behind her, watching her shoulders shake with sobs.

Ginny wiped her eyes and turned around.

Percy started to speak, but Ginny was faster.

"Percy, it never would have worked. What we had was always Forbidden Love."

~Finis~