So, this has been a work in progress for quite a while, but with the summer hols, I've finally been able to finish it – subject to changes, rewrites and any fantastic suggestions in the reviews too, of course!
I'm going to be cruel, and only post my Prologue for now. I want to know what you think!
Enjoy – Vicky Starfish xxx
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Prologue - May 1998Harry sighed and gave up. Rather than sift through the leftover debris, he upended his rucksack onto the bed, fed up of delving around and half aware that the last time he had completed this task he'd cut himself on Sirius' enchanted mirror. The debris comprised of scraps of paper, litter and a carefully folded envelope he'd forgotten he had. Fingering the parchment gently as he turned it over in his hands, deep meaningful thoughts invaded his mind from all directions. Turning over the envelope and looking again at his handwriting on the cover, he made up his mind; dark thoughts ignored, and left his belongings on the camp bed as he made his way down the attic stairs.
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Ginny wasn't sleepy, despite the lateness of the hour. She lay in bed reading a novel that Hermione had leant her, though her friend's whereabouts were currently unknown, her camp bed in the corner as yet untouched. A tap at the door caught her attention and when she opened it, she found Harry walking back towards the attic stairs.
"Harry?" His presence confused her. They'd barely spoken since the final battle nearly three weeks before but in the Burrow's furore they'd had little time alone; he seemed sad to Ginny, but not knowing where she stood with him, she was loathe to point it out. Harry turned back to face her, barely catching her eye. He started back down the stairs, careful to keep his eyes down.
"Um, sorry. I… I didn't mean to wake you, I –"
"You didn't wake me up Harry. I was reading, I - . Sorry, I cut you off."
"It's ok. I, um… I was emptying my rucksack and I found this." He thrust the letter into the space between them, giving it to her, and watched for a moment as she read her name on the envelope. "It's for you" were the only words that came, dumbly, to his lips.
"I can see that. Do you want to come in?" She gestured him into her room and walked past him to regain her seat under the duvet. He looked lost for a second as he recalled the events of his seventeenth birthday, but eventually took control of himself long enough to perch himself on the end of her bed. The lost and distant look never left his face as Ginny turned the envelope over in her hands, as Harry had done, and opened it up.
Ginny,
I'm sorry.
If you're reading this, as clichéd as it sounds, then I haven't succeeded in the task Dumbledore left us. It is vitally important that you understand that it is something that I have to do, and a small part of me is beginning to suspect that I might have to sacrifice myself in order to achieve our goal. Please ask Ron and Hermione not to give up, I would hate for my sacrifice to have been in vain.
I'm writing to you to tell you I love you. I want you to know that, if my life ends here, today, that our time together at Hogwarts was truly wonderful and I wanted you to know how I feel. And I don't want you to give up either. If I'm not around, I want you to find someone, someone who loves you as much as you know I do right now and someone who can make you smile in the way I love.
I hope one day you can forgive me.
With all my love, always
Harry
Harry watched as she read his words, not once but twice. He felt bad for putting those tears in her eyes and wanted so badly to hold her. He got his wish as she pushed back the covers and crawled across her bed towards him. He could only put his arms around her as the tears swept down her cheeks to his shoulder, where she rested her head.
"Why did you show me this Harry?" He almost missed her words, the quiet whisper swamped by his t-shirt. He hugged her close as he tried to find words, any words, which might help.
"I – I don't know; I guess I just wanted you to… I don't know. I'm sorry." She sniffled slightly as she pulled away from his embrace to sit back facing him, looking into his soul. Oddly, she smiled at him.
"Do you?" she looked at him expectantly, but Harry had no idea where she was going with this.
"Do I what?" the words sounded stupid as they came out of his mouth, but it was too late now. Somehow, it just made her smile more broadly.
"Do you love me?" Harry didn't hesitate.
"Yes," His answer was emphatic "with all my heart, -"
"Always." Ginny finished his sentence for him. "I love you too." She leaned over and kissed him, gently before reseating herself in her bed and covering her lap with the duvet. Harry made himself more comfortable, lying down next to her, but making it obvious he had no intentions towards her, at least just yet. He kissed her cheek as she leant back and read his letter again, this time smiling. When she'd finished, she rolled onto her side and looked at him, a silent question in her eyes.
He began to tell her everything.