Hinny! My first OTP before I knew what a ship even was!! Hmm, maybe reunion, or Ginny's final Hogwarts Express trip for a prompt?
it took me a lot of time to get to this, but tonight felt right!
The September sun is warm on his back, almost as warm as the hand that holds fast to his.
Down the way, families are hugging their children, their siblings, goodbye. Harry turns his head to watch one mother lean down to hug her child once again, brushing tears from her cheeks with a swipe of her thumb. The little girl clings to her mother one last time before she turns and boards the train, where she bumps into another girl already in her robes, who smiles nervously at her before she invites her into the compartment she was about to enter. Harry can't help but to remember his first day on this platform, on this train.
It's Ginny's soft voice that tugs him from the memory of that day and he turns back to her, the sight of her smile filling him with warmth. "You could come, you know." She says, her brown eyes lifting to meet his emerald ones as she reaches up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. "I'm worried to leave you," she goes on, admitting the words she's longed to say to him all these weeks. Her hand raises to press against his cheek and she closes her eyes when she feels him slip his arms around her waist. "Ron won't know how to help you." She's pressing her face into his shoulder and Harry buries his face into the top of her head, inhaling her familiar floral scent.
"I'll be alright," he says, drawing back so he might look her in the eyes. "I have to do this on my own," he continues, softly, leaning his forehead down to meet hers. It had been four long months of healing and growth, of moving on past what had happened. For all of them, really, not only him. Harry knows what she's lost, what her whole family has lost, and he thinks then of Fred, who's booming laugh he wishes he could hear. Ginny's face is twinged with sorrow and he knows she thinks about him, too. "Hogwarts won't help me." There were too many memories, too many things there at the castle that would only hold him back. She nods, because she understands, she understands him better than anyone else. "I'll miss you." He speaks for only her and she smiles.
"Write me. I mean it." She goes to pull back but he pulls her closer, capturing her mouth with a kiss he hopes says everything his words cannot. When they break apart, he knows it has for her eyes are damp and her cheeks are red. "I love you, Harry." She speaks softly, hand lingering against his cheek as she fights to control the emotions rushing through her. She's the tough one, so why was it so hard to let him go? It's only for a few months, until Christmas, so why did it feel like she was never going to see him again?
Behind them, Hermione is calling her name and the train gives it's final warning whistle; it was time to board. Ginny turns back to him and sucks in her breath, catching her lower lip between her teeth. "I love you, Gin." He loves this girl with his entire being, she is his heart and his soul, his meaning in life. Her eyes are shimmering when she finally pries herself from his arms and steps back.
He watches as she climbs onto the train, the door slamming closed behind her as the train begins to move. From where he stands, he can see her make her way down to the compartment that Hermione has chosen and the two of them wave wildly as the train begins to pick up speed. It's Ron who steps up beside him then, his arm raised in a silent gesture of goodbye as the train speeds away from the platform. They stand there until the train is out of their sight and together, they turn to face the family he's found in the Weasley's. Mrs. Weasley is tearfully dabbing at her eyes while Arthur pats her on the back.
Without Ginny, he feels a little empty, but he smiles when Mrs. Weasley crushes him in a hug. He's going to be alright because he's not alone anymore.
