Savoring Patience

[rhetoretician]

This is my first Post-DH story.  It's sort of a response to several things other people have said.

Genre:    Fluff
Rating:    PG-13.
Setting:    Post-DH.
Length:    About 1,770 words.
Warnings:    Very mild sexuality; unbeta’d; DH spoilers.
Dedication:    This story is for David, Dave, Brad and Ros, for reasons each of them can figure out.

The Summary

Comments

[rosathome]

I was wondering why you'd dedicated an H/G story to me until I came across that line! This was very sweet, and I'm glad that Harry and Ginny are in a place where they don't always hear time's winged chariot hurrying near, and they're not having to worry about their own graves being fine and private places. They can take the time that they've never been allowed before just to enjoy being with and exploring each other. I'm so glad to know that you can write happy fluff too!

[rhetoretician]

Hi, Ros. Happy fluff is a stretch, but I do love reading it, so I thought I'd try writing it. Thanks!

[chreechree]

Yes, yes, yes. I am one of those who thought that we needed even the smallest moment between the two of them for any sort of realism. A tight hug and a whispered "I miss you" would've been sufficient because, sorry, after such a separation, especially with all the death and fear, they would have done that. Yes, trust me on that one. Such reunions are indescribably special. Still, I did appreciate his acknowledgment that they would have plenty of time together and that he was taking comfort in knowing they had a future

[rhetoretician]

Hi Christine!

I won't argue the point; I do see where you are coming from. The only thing I'd note is that JKR hasn't the benefit of your experience in this area.

The funerals weren't there gratiutously -- I was trying to get across that the mood and the time weren't right for the kind of physical, joyful expression they'd otherwise want to engage in.

"Chipper?" I'm going to have it tattoo'd on my chest, next to the Horntail. The longer I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that having the luxury of being patient must seem like a tremendous gift to both of them, that it'd make them really happy.

Andromeda, unless my calculations are way off, is no more than 47 (my age) when Tonks dies, and might be several years younger. I think she's up to it. (Antoshevu just posted a beautiful little LJ story that takes place at Remus & Tonks's funeral, and includes a dialogue between Andromeda and Harry similar to the one I mention here -- but he goes into a more detail and pulls it off better. I recommend it.)

[chreechree]

Oh, I know the funerals weren't gratuitous at all. You just have a knack for reminding us of the sadder side of life in your fics. It is, of course, exactly what they will have to go through for the week or so after the battle, Fred's and the Lupins' clearly being the most difficult, but I'm sure they'd go to Colin's and possibly others'. While there is much to celebrate, there is much to mourn. You are correct that with such an atmosphere, it would be difficult for them to be - er - chipper themselves. They would, however, certainly show the kind of closeness you did here, which is why this was so well done.

[girlspell]

I was one of those that thought fluff between the two would have been gratuitous. I was happy to see JKR write that.

Having said that though...

I LOVED this story. So good for you to emphasize what friends they are. That holding hands without thinking of it is too natural for words. That holding each other up, listening to each other and not closing themselves off with the people that need them. Sometimes more then two people need each other. I could not even begin to imagin what George would be going through. One half of him gone in an instant. One face missing suddenly in a family that was so close.

What happen after the war, was Harry finding a family and finding love with a partner. One does not take presidence over the other. They found time. What I thought touching, was that you thought of it.

[rhetoretician]

Hi, Rachel. Myself, I was torn: On the one hand, I completely understood the narrative choice and I could believe, from a character standpoint, that Harry would leave Ginny with her head on her mother's shoulder. On the other hand, I've wanted to see that embrace -- the one at the end of all the troubles, the one that says, "now we've got each other!" -- for two years.

[stmargarets]

Ken! You're writing fluff! I'm so happy that epilogue rubbed off you in this way. :) You hit so *many* good points in this little ficlet. First with the funerals and Harry's relationship with his godson:

Andromeda had looked shattered and cried, “He’s all I have left!”

Of course that's why Teddy didn't live with Harry. A lot of readers forgot that when they were complaining about the epilogue.

This was a calm, warm, pleasant desire that spread through his whole body; it was friendly and full of mirth and delight. He actually started to laugh, and he knew she could feel the vibrations of it on her own mouth.

I love how you took time for this kiss. And how it wasn't so much about desire, but happiness.

“ ‘Two hundred to adore each breast,’ ” said Ginny.

“What?” asked Harry, exercising all his will to prevent his gaze from drifting where she seemed to be directing it.

LOL - The perfect response to that statement by Ginny's!

Harry and Ginny are the kind of spiritual people who are likely to want to mark the “last step”

[rhetoretician]

Hi, Mary. Thanks for the praise. Fluff is a bit of a stretch for me, as you know, but it's fun. Anyway, I'm going to find it hard to write apocalyptic angst for the canon universe anymore, since we know that H, G, R & Hr live happily ever after. And I'm not sure I want to create an AU just to make people cry.

*Groans* People complaining about the Epilogue. Honestly, I think people ought to restrict themselves from commenting on a new book until they've had a few days to think about it... ("You're one to talk, Ken...")

It's hard slippery difficult to write a teenage love scene where sexual desire isn't the main thing going on. I worried that I rewrote H & G to suit my own purposes, but in light of that quotation we both like I don't really think I did. The other tricky part was showing that they weren't exercising self-control so much as enjoying the anticipation.

I love your commentary on the last scene and the Epilogue and I agree with it entirely. I'm so glad you liked the story.

[gioiamia]

I think a lot of people miss the deep romance that was present in Harry's statement, “There would be time to talk later, hours and days and maybe years in which to talk.” There's a peaceful, deeply joyful love there.

And as old marrieds maybe we're just more familiar with that quiet, happy kind of love you're talking about here. The burning need and passion Harry muses about in your story is certainly a part of love, but this type of happiness is reflected in a love that is enduring. Very, very nice!

[rhetoretician]

Thanks, Joia. Of course I agree about the peaceful, joyful love. And yes, being married for a long time and much older than Harry, I feel familiar with it. What I wasn't sure of was whether a 17-year-old -- any 17-year-old -- is equipped to appreciate it. I think I remember savoring things like that back then, but the mind plays tricks.

[gioiamia]

I would bet that even if we didn't appreciate such things at age 17, Harry probably does now at the end of DH. So it is certainly an approach that works very well here!