Search:

SIYE Time:18:36 on 28th March 2024
SIYE Login: no


The Beginning of Forever
By IlliriahRising

- Text Size +

Category: End-of-Term Challenge (2004-2)
Characters:None
Genres: Angst, Fluff
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Reviews: 23
Summary: *** The author has been reminded via the e-mail address on file that this story is listed as incomplete and has not been updated since 2004 ***
During the train ride home at the end of his 7th year Harry must make the most of the time he has with Ginny. Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of his fictional friends and enemies. I bow down to JK Rowling and her brilliance.
Hitcount: Story Total: 3029







ChapterPrinter


The compartment was nearly empty. Neville and Luna had left a half an hour ago in search of Trevor who
had once again, vanished and a rather loud set to in the passageway between a group of third and fifth
years had called Ron and Hermione away a few moments earlier.
The only other occupant was sitting beside him and Harry glanced to his left and found Ginny staring out
the window, the copy of The Quibbler she had been absently thumbing through now forgotten in her lap.
She kept her gaze averted from him as she watched the rolling hills and valleys slip past the train…and
he wondered if he should say something.
“But what would I say?” he thought feeling his palms grow damp.
Over the years his relationship with Ginny had gone through so many changes. It was hard to even remember
the awkwardness of those first few years. It all seemed so removed from the way things were now.
These days Ginny took it upon herself to give him a good telling off when she felt he was in need of one.
Now, she had no trouble arguing or disagreeing with him and yet, when he needed someone to just simply listen
and understand what he was going through…she was always there. She had no expectations and neither did he and
it was just… so…easy.
They’d grown so close over the last two years, playing Quidditch together, facing battles and hardships
together…and through it all Harry had never thought about the day when all of that would end. But now he
knew it would…as soon as they pulled into King’s Cross station.
All too soon they would go their separate ways and Harry wondered how time had slipped away so quickly.
Ginny would spend her summer at The Burrow…then she’d be returning to Hogwart’s for her seventh year in
the fall. But Harry wouldn’t be going with her. He was moving on…into a world that lay beyond exams and
detentions and potions essays. After today…he’d be on his own, living in London…finally able to have a
home of his own without the threat of impending doom hanging over his head. Not for the first time, he
wondered why the prospect of that life left him feeling hollow.
Maybe it was because it meant leaving behind the sense of family and safety he had always felt at
Hogwart’s… or maybe, he thought studying the captivating profile of the young woman next to him…there
was another reason.
His mind drifted back over the long years…replaying the moments he had spent with Ginny…some of the best
moments in his life. He wished he hadn’t wasted so much time.
The thought of suddenly not seeing her every day, talking with her…just being near her had filled him with
a deep sense of loss for weeks. He hadn’t been sure exactly why at first, but when he’d finally allowed
himself to wonder why he was so reluctant to lose that connection the conclusion he had reached had been
both frightening and comforting at the same time.
Somewhere in the middle of all the troubles and trials, the laughter and the losses, he had fallen in love
with her.
He watched as Ginny drew in a deep breath and rose from her seat, heading toward the door.

“What are you doing?” he asked, reaching out to clasp her hand in his without thinking.
“I thought I’d leave for a bit…” she began, looking down sadly at his long fingers gripping her own.
“I…I just thought you wanted to be alone.”

“Tell her how you feel, you daft prat!” his brain screamed and he swallowed hard trying to think clearly.

“I don’t want you to go…I uh…I mean…I was just…thinking…that’s all.”

Hey, Dipstick!…Just say it…before someone comes back!” The voice in his head was growing louder and more
persistent.
“Want to know what I was thinking about?” he asked, feeling his stomach clench.
She shrugged, settling back down on the seat and facing him, her hand still held loosely in his. “Only if you
want to tell me.”
“I…well…I was just…thinking about uh…us.”

“Us?” she asked softly, her brow furrowed, her tone unreadable.

“Yeah…I mean…you…and…me…and…well… I’m going to miss you…miss having you around, ya know. I’ll have to erm…deal
with Ron and Hermione …all on my own now…”
“Oh….right…” she replied hesitantly, glancing away from his eyes…eyes that she’d seen so much sorrow and fear
in…eyes she had fallen in love with when she was ten years old. “I’ll…miss you too. I…uh…I doubt I’ll be able
to find a better seeker… for the team next year.” She tried to sound lighthearted but her voice trailed off
and his face fell.
Nervously Harry ran the fingers of his right hand through his already rumpled hair and frowned. Maybe it was
too much to hope that she would return his feelings.
He tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace. “Yeah…well, you’ll be a great captain…you won’t settle for
anyone but the best.”
As he glanced back at her he saw a raw flash of pain in her eyes.

“No…I won’t settle.” She said, her voice strained. She blinked then… her eyes suddenly moist with unshed tears and
she tried to get up again, but Harry’s fingers were still wrapped about hers and he urged her back down before she’d
even stood up fully.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his eyes searching hers anxiously. She shook her head, and he could tell she was trying not
to cry in front of him.
Not knowing what else to do he raised his right hand and cupped her cheek, the rough pad of his palm a sharp contrast
to the smooth skin of her face. Her breath caught and she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“Ginny…what is it? Why are you crying?” He asked softly, his voice trembling a bit.

“It’s nothing…it…it doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me…” he said, his thumb idly brushing a stray tear from her face and sliding of its own volition to the
corner of her mouth.
She looked up at him then, uncertainty and hope in her gaze and her hand drifted up to cover his. He felt a surge of
hope and he knew what he had to do.
Quickly, before he could talk himself out of it, he leaned forward. “There’s another reason I’m going to miss you…”
he said a second before he brushed his lips against hers, savoring the softness and the warmth of her mouth.
He felt her stiffen for a moment in surprise and then…to his relief her fingers tightened on his and her free hand
slipped up between them to caress his jaw. One kiss blended into the next and it was hard for either of them to
believe they could have existed before this moment.
Finally, Harry pulled back and looked into her soft brown eyes. He had wondered his whole life if he would ever
be truly happy and now he knew the answer. “I love you.” He said softly, speaking the thought aloud without worry
or fear.
Her hand grazed his cheek, pushing its way up into his unruly hair and she studied him for a long moment.
“I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
Her voice was low and full of emotion and he felt tears sting his own eyes.
There were no words that could tell her how she made him feel…what she gave to him so he did the only thing
he could. He pulled her against him and kissed her once more. Telling her with his kiss what he couldn’t any
other way yet…that she gave him all the things he had never dreamed he would have…and that no matter what
obstacles there might be between them now…they would overcome them.

And as they held each other the train rocked along the track, their past dimming in the distance while the future
loomed on the horizon. Even though they knew there would be distance and time separating them soon…it wouldn’t be
forever. No…forever was still ahead of them and in that first soft merging of breath and souls they had felt the
beginning of it.



Outside the door Ron stopped and stood stock still, his mouth slack and his eyes round with wonder as he gazed
through the glass at his sister and his best friend.
“What the bloody hell are they doing?” he asked to no one in particular and he heard Hermione chuckle lightly
as she came to stand beside him. “Well, if you have to ask…”
He turned to face her, his brow furrowed, his lips a thin line of annoyance. “I know what they’re doing, “Mione!
I mean…why are they doing it?”
Shaking her head slowly she smiled up at him. “Ron, will you ever get a clue?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he ground out, trying to remain annoyed with her but failing miserably as she
slipped her hand into his and drew closer until her robe was brushing the front of his.
“It means…that you are completely and utterly oblivious to most of the relationships being carried on right
under your nose. Harry and Ginny have been totally besotted with each other for two years.” Her voice grew
softer and her gaze dropped to her shoes as she sighed wearily. “I suppose it doesn’t surprise me though that
you missed all the signs. Why should I expect you to be able to see what’s going on with them when you can’t
even see what’s been going on with you and me?”
“Uh…what about you and I…I mean me…what about us?” he stammered suddenly realizing just how close they were
standing and just how forlorn she sounded.
She looked up at him then, her expression hitting him like a punch in the stomach. He was used to seeing her
stern or disapproving but this…this vulnerability he saw in her eyes was something new and a bit frightening.
“I…well…I …care for you, Ron.” She said, the words pushing slowly past the lump in her throat.

“I know…” he began his own voice a bit hesitant. “I care for you too…you’re my best friend.”

Her face fell. “Is that all I am?” she asked the lump in her throat growing by the second.
There was a long beat of silence and then she felt his fingers disentangle themselves from hers. She started
to take a step back, his silence answer enough and then…suddenly she felt those same fingers sliding into the
hair at the nape of her neck and she felt his warm breath on her face as he opened his mouth and softly said
the word “No.” a millisecond before he kissed her.
“Excuse me…I…can you tell me….uh….I’m looking for the loo.”
Dimly Ron heard the voice of the first year but he ignored it. He’d been wishing he could kiss Hermione like this
since 4th year and now that he was standing there with her in his arms, absolutely nothing was going to stop him.
“Reckon I’ll have to find it myself…..” the young boy grumbled as he brushed past the kissing couple and headed back
down the passageway.



Reviews 23
ChapterPrinter




../back
‘! Go To Top ‘!

Sink Into Your Eyes is hosted by Grey Media Internet Services. HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related characters are trademarks of Warner Bros. TM & © 2001-2006. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R. Note the opinions on this site are those made by the owners. All stories(fanfiction) are owned by the author and are subject to copyright law under transformative use. Authors on this site take no compensation for their works. This site © 2003-2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Special thanks to: Aredhel, Kaz, Michelle, and Jeco for all the hard work on SIYE 1.0 and to Marta for the wonderful artwork.
Featured Artwork © 2003-2006 by Yethro.
Design and code © 2006 by SteveD3(AdminQ)
Additional coding © 2008 by melkior and Bear