"Goodbyes"
Title: Goodbyes
Author: Tosca (tosca1390)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 575
Notes: Being invited to this has been such an honor! Thanks to Becca for the invite. I hope you enjoy!
Truth be told, Harry was a little surprised that Ginny had let him go off with the Order after Dumbledore’s death. There was little protest, hardly any arguing, and barely even a tear. In a way, he had been grateful for her calm; the torture of leaving her with the idea of never seeing her again was killing him inside, and it would have been painful to see her own suffering.
No, there had been no goodbye the morning after Bill’s early July wedding. The night of the wedding, Ginny had taken him up to her room amid the hustle and bustle, locked the door, and proceeded to show him just what he was going to miss, in no uncertain terms. He would always remember the way the moonlight had rested against her bare skin, the fall of her long hair over the pale, soft sheets, the feel of her fingertips on his bare back. It hadn’t been perfect, no, not by a long shot; he had fumbled and blushed and she had giggled and struggled not to tease, but the whole night had been something to keep in his memory banks for the bleak days ahead.
He had slipped out of her room early in the morning and later, when it was time for him and Ron and Hermione to leave, she hadn’t even come down from her room. He had nothing but that last night to survive with, and as they had Apparated away to meet Remus and Tonks, he wasn’t sure that was enough for him.
The first night away from her, Harry didn’t sleep. He was secure in Grimmauld Place, cloistered away with the curtains drawn, the darkness absolutely suffocating. He laid in bed and shivered even in the heat of the room, shutting his eyes and remembering Ginny’s warm body next to his, her lips on his pulse, her hands… her hands everywhere.
In his ear, in the silence of the room, he heard a small fluttering, something familiar and muted. He sat up in bed, ears attuned to the small noise, and he slipped out of bed, searching for the source with apprehension. Had someone already found a way to get to him? It didn’t seem possible...
Finally, he opened his bag and reached inside, startled to feel a fluttering of wings against his fingertips, soft and ticklish on his skin. Wrapping his hand around it, he stared in complete astonishment as he pulled out a tiny Golden Snitch, beating gently against his palm. His heart clenched slightly in his chest as he saw the note wrapped around it, and he couldn’t help but smile as he tugged it off, whispering a quiet Lumos as he opened it with one hand.
This belongs to you, Harry. I hope when you see it, it reminds you of everything you have waiting for you after it all. You’ll see me again when it counts; I’m not letting you fight alone, even if I can’t be there with you. I love you. Ginny
His hand tightened around the Snitch and he sat on the edge of his bed, bowing his head and smiling softly, unable to help the slight burn behind his eyes. He held the Snitch to his heart and shut his eyes, picturing Ginny, her gaze hard and blazing as he kissed her for the first time.
When he fell asleep that night, the Snitch was still in his hand, resting right next to his heart.
Author: Tosca (tosca1390)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 575
Notes: Being invited to this has been such an honor! Thanks to Becca for the invite. I hope you enjoy!
Truth be told, Harry was a little surprised that Ginny had let him go off with the Order after Dumbledore’s death. There was little protest, hardly any arguing, and barely even a tear. In a way, he had been grateful for her calm; the torture of leaving her with the idea of never seeing her again was killing him inside, and it would have been painful to see her own suffering.
No, there had been no goodbye the morning after Bill’s early July wedding. The night of the wedding, Ginny had taken him up to her room amid the hustle and bustle, locked the door, and proceeded to show him just what he was going to miss, in no uncertain terms. He would always remember the way the moonlight had rested against her bare skin, the fall of her long hair over the pale, soft sheets, the feel of her fingertips on his bare back. It hadn’t been perfect, no, not by a long shot; he had fumbled and blushed and she had giggled and struggled not to tease, but the whole night had been something to keep in his memory banks for the bleak days ahead.
He had slipped out of her room early in the morning and later, when it was time for him and Ron and Hermione to leave, she hadn’t even come down from her room. He had nothing but that last night to survive with, and as they had Apparated away to meet Remus and Tonks, he wasn’t sure that was enough for him.
The first night away from her, Harry didn’t sleep. He was secure in Grimmauld Place, cloistered away with the curtains drawn, the darkness absolutely suffocating. He laid in bed and shivered even in the heat of the room, shutting his eyes and remembering Ginny’s warm body next to his, her lips on his pulse, her hands… her hands everywhere.
In his ear, in the silence of the room, he heard a small fluttering, something familiar and muted. He sat up in bed, ears attuned to the small noise, and he slipped out of bed, searching for the source with apprehension. Had someone already found a way to get to him? It didn’t seem possible...
Finally, he opened his bag and reached inside, startled to feel a fluttering of wings against his fingertips, soft and ticklish on his skin. Wrapping his hand around it, he stared in complete astonishment as he pulled out a tiny Golden Snitch, beating gently against his palm. His heart clenched slightly in his chest as he saw the note wrapped around it, and he couldn’t help but smile as he tugged it off, whispering a quiet Lumos as he opened it with one hand.
This belongs to you, Harry. I hope when you see it, it reminds you of everything you have waiting for you after it all. You’ll see me again when it counts; I’m not letting you fight alone, even if I can’t be there with you. I love you. Ginny
His hand tightened around the Snitch and he sat on the edge of his bed, bowing his head and smiling softly, unable to help the slight burn behind his eyes. He held the Snitch to his heart and shut his eyes, picturing Ginny, her gaze hard and blazing as he kissed her for the first time.
When he fell asleep that night, the Snitch was still in his hand, resting right next to his heart.