Chapter Fourteen: Acceptance

Ginny stood in the moonlight, silver beams reflecting off her long red hair, breathless with surprise.  One moment she’d been gloriously wrapped around her boyfriend, overjoyed he’d honored her with something as special as meeting his parents, and then he’d grown suddenly quiet and reeled out a rambling, spontaneous marriage proposal.  Ginny was quite sure Harry hadn’t been considering this earlier.

With every fiber of her being, she wanted to shout yes, yes, yes!  But for the briefest of moments a little voice in her head roared forth:  Why would Harry want someone like you?  What have you done to deserve him?  In a split-second Ginny squashed her lapse of self-confidence, pushing away any appearance of ladylike propriety and tackled the bespectacled, messy-haired boy in front of her, locking his mouth with hers.  Moaning with delight, she intensified the kiss as she tangled her arms around his neck only pulling up for air when she thought she was about to drown in her own happiness.

“Am I supposed to take that as a yes?” asked Harry, drawing back with a grin as he locked eyes with Ginny.

“Mmm…” said Ginny, yanking him back and planting more small kisses all over his face, “that was most definitely a yes,” she said with a brilliant smile.  “What’s this blather about us being too young and it being so soon?” she teased.  “You act as if I don’t have another year of school to finish and NEWTs to take…” said Ginny with a tantalizing grin.  “Surely you’re going to marry me and take me away from all that horrid revising?”

“Er…I hadn’t really considered that yet, Gin,” uttered Harry with a ghastly look.  “Merlin!  I didn’t even consider your last year of school…I really wasn’t thinking, was I?” he said with disappointment.  “If I take you away from school your mum will murder me and it won’t have mattered that I lived through the war.  You’ve got to finish school first!”  Harry exclaimed as he separated himself from the knot he and Ginny had tangled themselves into and sunk his face into his hands.

“Harry?” Ginny asked gently, placing her small hand questioningly on his shoulder.  “You’re not second-guessing your decision to ask me, are you?” she asked, fear evident in her eyes.

“This sodding war…I’m just tired of it all.  Tired of waiting to be happy.  Tired of being torn away from the people I love the most.  The idea of sending you away to school for another year…I’ve just managed to get you back and now I realise I have to wait some more,” sighed Harry heavily.  “I should have thought this out and asked you properly.  Y’know…got the ring and the whole bit?”

“But I don’t want the whole bit done properly,” reassured Ginny as she lifted his chin and then brushed his hair back from his face.  “The ring can come later.  The wedding can come later.  We have all the time in the world to figure this out, love.  What’s important to me is you asked me — that you love me enough to want me to be your wife someday.”

“How’s tomorrow?” chortled Harry nervously.  “I’m feeling a right bit impatient.”

“Is it the marriage part you’re impatient with or could it be something else, Mr. Potter?” insinuated Ginny with a knowing smirk.  “Mum going on about buying the cow when you already have the milk is just nonsense.  I wouldn’t do right by the Weasley name if I did something as proper and chaste as save myself for marriage, now would I?” she said with a hearty laugh.  “Not a one of my brothers managed to wait for the blessed event — why should I let those overprotective buffoons dictate my actions?  Even Mum and Da didn’t wait ¾ Mum practically told me as much herself earlier outside the common room!”

Harry blushed fiercely as he looked at his new fiancée with amazement.

Noticing her boyfriend’s rosy cheeks, Ginny slithered into Harry’s lap and placed her nose on his.  “Blimey, Harry!  You’re such a bloody gentleman.  I reckon when I’m ready for something like that to happen I can at least say I saved myself for the one I plan to marry, don’t you agree?”

Harry nodded dumbly, wishing desperately all the blood in his body hadn’t rushed to his nether-regions when Ginny had let out that minx-like laugh about not wanting to wait.  He was quite sure it would be weeks before he’d be able to stand and keep his dignity.  “What’s this story about a cow?  Maybe I’d like to buy the cow and have the milk as well,” Harry giggled.  “I’ve never heard it put that way before.  How many Galleons for a cow, d’you reckon?”

“You’ve got to be joking, Harry!” exclaimed Ginny.

“No, really…I grew up with the Dursleys, remember?  Those plonkers who kept me locked in a cupboard until I was old enough to come to Hogwarts?” ribbed Harry.

“I hope you won’t be expecting me to extend any olive branches to that miserable lot when it’s time for the wedding…” murmured Ginny.  Rolling her eyes at the thought of being sociable and gracious to Petunia and Vernon Dursley was something Ginny knew would never happen.  She’d poison her own wedding cake if she thought it would guarantee a trip to St. Mungo’s for that miserable pair.

“No, I don’t think I’ll want to ask them,” chuckled Harry.  The only people important to me will already be there, except for my mum and dad and Sirius.  Well, Moony and Tonks, too.  I think we can take care of telling them about it now, don’t you reckon?” he asked cheekily.

“Sirius always did want us to end up together.  You know that don’t you?” asked Ginny as she smiled in reminiscence of her many late-night talks in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place with Harry’s godfather.  “He told me you’d come around some day.”

“He did?” asked Harry in surprise.  “You talked to Sirius about me?”

“Oh, yes.  He saw through me like water.  That bit with Michael Corner?  He thought that was devilishly funny.  He couldn’t believe you didn’t notice when we broke up.  He just kept telling me that Potters and redheads were a sure-thing.  In fact, that’s one of the last things he Owled to me,” she said sadly.  “I really miss him, Harry.”

“Why don’t we tell him, then?” suggested Harry as he pulled the Resurrection Stone from his pocket.  Holding it in the palm of his hand, he reached out and clasped hands with Ginny as they rolled the stone between their linked fingers.  One at a time, Harry’s family appeared until they at long last came to stand beside the awestruck teenagers.

Ginny turned to look at Harry as he took in the sight of his parents and godfather.  Noticing his shock, she leaned in and whispered in his ear, “I take it you were hoping a few more would show up?”

Then suddenly, a sound Ginny hadn’t heard for many long months permeated the stillness: Sirius’s booming laughter echoed around them as the group came to life.

“You finally came to your senses, eh?” teased Sirius as he jumped forward and wrapped the teenagers in a fatherly squeeze.  Turning his trademark grin on Ginny, he patted her on the shoulder and then cuffed her in the arm.  “I told you they only go for redheads.  The drippy one we talked about?  I knew she’d never last.  There was no way Harry was going to go long without noticing you…I was sure of it.”

Ginny tipped her head back and laughed, remembering her pained conversation with Sirius about her jealousy of Cho Chang.  Harry’s godfather had all but promised her Harry would lose interest, telling her to bide her time until Harry saw through the girl’s weak façade.

“Didn’t I tell you, James?  Isn’t she a looker?  Harry’s gone and plucked himself a bird from a golden cage!” howled Sirius with glee to his best mate while still thumping Harry on the back for a job well-done.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.  “I’m standing right here, you know,” he murmured.

“And I am not a bird, Sirius Black,” reprimanded Ginny forcefully, pointing her wand at his nose with one hand and planting the other on her hip, trying desperately not to giggle.

“Of course you aren’t, dear,” smiled Lily warmly as she approached her son and his girlfriend.  Lily’s arms enfolded Harry and pulled him close, embracing him for several long moments.  Ginny couldn’t help herself from crying as she watched the mother and son share the intimate moment Harry so longed for.  “Your father and I are so, so proud of you, Harry,” said Lily as she held onto her sobbing son.

Unwilling to let Lily completely dominate the moment, James wrapped himself around his wife and son.  “You showed amazing courage — you’re a true Gryffindor, through and through.  I am so pleased to call you my son.”  The little family stood for several more minutes just holding onto each other, pouring a lifetime of love into the small amount of time they had available. 

As Harry began to calm himself, Lily beckoned for Ginny and lifted her son’s chin, forcing him to look at her.  “Would you like to introduce us to someone, dear?” she asked gently.

Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, Harry sniffed loudly and smiled at Ginny.  “Mum, Dad, I’d like you to meet Ginny Weasley,” introduced Harry as he placed his arm around Ginny’s shoulder.  “She’s the reason I was able to defeat Voldemort,” he said with pride.  Lily and James beamed at their son and the girl in his arms.  Harry continued.  “Unfortunately, I’m not ever going to be able to introduce her properly.  I’d have liked to have brought her home and introduced her to you as my girl,” said Harry bashfully,  “but since I have to do it this way I reckon I’m just going to tell you she’s agreed to marry me,” he grinned.

“How wonderful!” squealed Lily, who clapped her hands together excitedly.

“That’s my boy!” congratulated James.

“What’s all this?” guffawed Sirius.  “You two are being downright calm!  I think our boy’s about to have the shag of his life!  If we were alive, James, this would call for a bottle of Ogden’s finest!”

“Sirius!” gasped Lily, horrified at her friend’s pronouncement.  “Mind your manners!”

“He’s fine, Mrs. Potter,” said Ginny lightly.  “I’m used to him.  Besides, Harry might just get the shag of his life,” she teased as she wagged her eyebrows back at Sirius, calling him out.  “Merlin knows we’ve waited long enough for it!”

Raucous laughter was heard all around at Ginny’s admission.  Sirius jumped into the fray and the five hugged and giggled until they were wiping tears from their eyes.

“Mind you,” directed Sirius to Harry, “I expect your first-born to be named after me.”

“I should think not,” objected James with a goofy grin.

“That’s enough, boys,” admonished Lily.  “We haven’t long and I’m not about to waste our time with your nonsense,” she said airily.  “In the vault, dear, you’ll find just what you need for Miss Weasley,” explained Lily to Harry and Ginny, “unless, of course, you’d like to her buy a new one.”

“Is it your ring, Mrs. Potter?” asked Ginny eagerly.

“No,” answered Lily.  “Unfortunately our wedding bands were lost the night we died,” she said sadly.  “But we left you many other beautiful family heirlooms, Harry.  I’m sure any one of them would look beautiful on you, Ginny.  Now that you’re of age, Harry dear, you’ll have access to the entire vault rather than just the money from your trust.  The Goblins should have a parchment for you detailing the contents and balance of your account.  Make sure you use it well, sweetheart.”

Ginny noticed as Harry glanced around him.  “Mum, where’s Remus?  He was with us in the forest.  Why isn’t he here now?”

James answered first.  “He went to meet Tonks, Harry.”

“Meet Tonks?” asked Harry with confusion evident in his voice.  “But…”

“It was time, Harry.  He wanted to be there for her as she passed.  He knew you’d understand,” explained James.  “Tonks wasn’t sure she should come the first time.  That’s why she didn’t join us in the forest.  She didn’t feel it was her place.”

“Not her place?” asked Harry incredulously.  “She was one of my best friends.”

“She knows that, Harry,” said Lily gently.  “Otherwise she and Remus wouldn’t have entrusted Teddy to you.”

Harry looked away with tears in his eyes.  “It’s happened again, y’know.  Because of Voldemort another son is going to grow up without his parents.”

“Remember what Remus told you, Harry,” said Lily.  “They fought so their son could grow up in a better world.  You’ve given Teddy the world Remus and Tonks wanted.  Your memories will keep Teddy’s parents alive.  It’s not going to be like it was for you.  Andromeda is not like Petunia and Vernon.  You and Ginny are going to be there for him.  I promise,” she said with urgency.

“If you say so,” muttered Harry insolently.

“I know so, son,” consoled Lily.  Changing the subject, Lily flashed a smile.  “Now tell me, what will you do now?  Will you get married straight away or will you finish school?”

“Who needs school?” asked Sirius.

“He’ll be finishing school with me,” answered Ginny definitively as Harry eyed her with surprise.  “He promised me we wouldn’t be spending any more time apart, and well, I have another year left.  Mum would kill me if we went and got married before I took my NEWTs,” she explained with a devious smile in Harry’s direction.  “Plus, I think a year locked away at school will help keep Harry out of the public eye, seeing as how he likes his privacy.”

“Harry, I think you’ve chosen a very lovely and very smart young lady.  I suggest you take her advice,” laughed Lily as she patted Ginny on the arm lovingly.  “Great minds think alike, y’know.”

“He should be trying out for professional Quidditch,” protested James loudly.  Sirius nodded along with his best friend, waving off the ridiculous idea of returning to school.  “We think he needs to buy a new racing broom and go out for Puddlemere United.”

“We’ll see,” countered Harry.  “I reckon I have a few months to make my decision, don’t I?” he said as he looked at Ginny questioningly.  “I know I’m not doing anything right away.  We still have to go back to the Burrow.  First of all, I need to be there with Ginny and her family as they say goodbye to Fred.  Then I need to be with Andromeda and Teddy…”

“You have some very tough days ahead of you son,” said James sadly.  “The memorials will be hard.  I’m sure the Ministry is going to want to talk to you, too.”

“The Ministry won’t be so bad.  Kingsley Shacklebolt is the new Minister.  I reckon he’ll take good care of things.  He’s already pushing to have me in the Auror Department as soon as I’m willing,” said Harry to his astonished parents.  “He wants me to help him overhaul the entire department—says he doesn’t care whether I’ve passed my NEWTs or not…”

Harry changed the subject.  He wasn’t willing to waste his time with his parents talking about the Ministry.  “I’m not looking forward to the memorials.  We just used the stone to talk to Fred awhile ago before we came here, for Molly and Arthur.”

“Being able to say goodbye will help them, Harry,” said James, “but the numbness is going to wear off soon.  Reality will set in fast.  Make sure you do your part.  The Weasleys have always done right by you.  We couldn’t have chosen better people for you to spend your time with…you were very lucky that day on the platform.”

“Yeah,” admitted Ginny quietly, “it’s hard to believe it’s only been a few hours since Fred died.  Part of me wants to believe he’s just at the shop since I just saw him,” she said with tears in her eyes.  “I know he’s in a good place, but you’re right — this is going to be hard.  I’m glad I have Harry back now.”

“Time goes by fast, Harry,” counselled James.  “Savor every moment.  And remember, when it’s your turn to pass, we’ll be here.”

“Come here, you two,” urged Lily as she opened her arms for another hug.  Harry and Ginny embraced the woman tightly and then moved to duplicate the motion with James. 

When they were finished, Sirius wrapped his arms around his godson.  “You do right by this girl, y’hear?  I’m not so far away I can’t take the mickey out of you when you need it, boy!” grinned Sirius as he moved away from Harry and placed his hands on Ginny’s shoulders.  “And you — Miss Prankster…you love him well,” he said with tears in his eyes.  “And make sure he spends every last bloody Knut of my money on you and your children.  My money is not for saving — Firebolts all around!” he barked.

Ginny wrapped Sirius in a bone-wrenching hug as tears rolled down her freckled face.  “You know I will,” she promised.  Leaning in to speak softly in his ear, she said, “You know I always have,” she whispered, “loved him…I’ll always love him.”

Sirius patted Ginny on the back gently and cleared his throat with a growl.  “I think this is it, you two,” he said gruffly, his dark eyes sparkling in the moonlight.  “Don’t draw this out and make an old man suffer.”

Harry moved back to his godfather and hugged him tightly.  “I’ll miss you, Padfoot,” he croaked.  Returning to his parents, he was drawn into their arms once more.  Unable to speak, he stood as his mum brushed his hair back from his temple and kissed his cheek.  James held out his hand and clasped Harry’s, shaking it heartily as he pulled him in for one final embrace.  When they stepped away from each other, Harry looked at the three adults and said to them all, “I love you more than you’ll ever know.”  Then, with the litheness and quickness of a Chaser, he drew back his arm in one fluid motion and threw the Resurrection Stone with all his might, watching it arc gracefully over the black surface of the lake and plop soundlessly into the dark water, taking along with it his parents and godfather.

Facing Ginny, Harry took a deep breath and said with finality, “That’s it, then.”

“That’s it,” agreed Ginny sadly, feeling the stabbing loss of Harry’s three parents.  Snaking her arm around Harry’s waist, Ginny laid her head on his shoulder, watching the mirrored-surface of the lake reflect the moonlight.  “Are you all right?” she asked as she subconsciously rubbed small circles over his back.

“I will be,” he promised as he kissed the top of her head, “as long as you’re with me.”

“Always,” she replied.

Ginny smiled and took his hand in hers as they turned back towards the school, knowing whatever fate brought them they would conquer — together.

~end~