Ginny yawned as she stretched, blinking up at a new ceiling. A small smile slipped onto her lips as she remembered last night. It grew as she rolled over and saw Harry sleeping beside her. Harry. Her heart sighed at the sight of him. She cuddled closer to him, slipping her hand around his waist under the covers.
He sighed, but his eyes stayed closed.
Harry Potter, sleeping beside her. Things had changed in the last few weeks. She should've known it would the second he stepped back into her life. There had been a reason she kept avoiding him these past five years. It was easier for her to acknowledge the truth now.
She closed her eyes, nuzzling against him. She chuckled to herself when she remembered the look on his face last night when she gave back the Golden Unicorn Horn. A hum of pleasure shot through her as she recapped his response. She sighed.
"Good morning," a voice muttered beside her.
She smiled, peeking over at the clock. "Good afternoon, you mean." Turning, she met his eyes.
He groaned, looking at the clock too. "Bloody hell," he whispered. "I wanted to go in early today." He dropped his hand onto his forehead.
Smiling, Ginny kissed his cheek. He glanced at her, eyes rolling down to the covers. He licked his lips then rolled on top of her. Ginny laughed. "Screw it." He kissed her. "They can deal without me for a little." His lips moved down to her neck. "They have to have seen the Golden Unicorn Horn on my desk already. Probably celebrating without me."
"Probably," she whispered against his skin.
"I'm totally okay with that." He grinned. "Perfectly okay."
Ginny shivered.
"Today deserves a sick day," he said, kissing her shoulder. He dropped lower, disappearing under the cover. Her back arched. "I deserve it. I worked so hard," his voice drifted up towards her.
Ginny gasped.
*
Later, Harry watched an owl disappear out the window, on its way to the Ministry.
"Lunch is ready." Ginny plated the food in nothing but one of his jumpers. He licked his lips, his heart accelerating. She walked over the table, humming. Sweet Mother of Merlin. He needed her in his home. Always.
He walked up to her and hugged her from behind. She laughed, laying her hand over his at her belly. She turned her head and kissed him softly. He sighed. Then he kissed the spot behind her ear.
"Eat," she said, patting his hands.
He nodded, letting go and sliding into one of the chairs. She sat in front of him and began eating.
After a few minutes of eating, he asked, "So, what will you do now that Fyrefox has been caught?"
She leaned back in the chair and grinned. "I can't believe they think Malfoy is Fyrefox!" She shook her head. "And so easily. Men."
He couldn't exactly argue with her about that. He, himself, had at one point thought it was a man too. He took her in. A soft flush to her cheeks as she laughed, her hair wild, amusement sparkling her eyes. Yeah, it was difficult to imagine that she was the infamous thief.
"But I have been thinking that since the name must be dropped with Malfoy, now seems like a good time to get a legitimate job like the rest of the honest people in the world," she said.
His eyebrows rose. "Like what?" He rubbed his chin. "To be honest, you'd make a great Auror."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Work for the Ministry? I said I didn't hate them anymore that doesn't mean I want to work for them."
"Fair enough." He took a bite and glanced at her a moment before looking away. He licked his lips and rubbed the back of his neck. "That's probably for the best. That would've made me your boss."
"They made you Head Auror?"
He nodded. "Not yet. They told me last night. Since Fyrefox has been caught, I'll begin officially training for the position soon and when Robards retires, I'll take over."
"That's amazing, Harry." She reached over and laid her hand over his. "Congratulations."
"You're not upset?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Upset? Why?" She frowned.
He pursed his lips. "I just thought..." He stopped, looking down at his plate.
"Since you'll be Head Auror, you won't be away a lot, right?" she asked.
"I'll mostly be sticking with Kingsley and dealing with the other Aurors. Managing."
She nodded, moving food around her plate. "That's good. I've actually decided to try out for the Holyhead Harpies. If they're still interested in me."
Quidditch. He smiled. "That's a great idea."
She smiled and continued eating, but he couldn't look away. Merlin. How was it possible to love someone so much? To want to spend the rest of your life with them? To protect them and care for them and walk alongside them. To go to sleep and wake up beside them. Forever.
Forever.
Ginny brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and she looked up and their eyes met. His heart sped up. He gulped. A soft smile spread over her lips, reaching her eyes. Just as quick, she went back to her food. But his heart still raced.
And then he was on his feet, walking around the table.
She glanced up as he came around. "Harry?"
He dropped down to his knee beside her chair.
Her eyebrows rose. "Harry?" she asked again. "What is it?"
He took a deep breath and reached for her hand, holding it between hers. He squeezed it then met her eyes. "Ginny." Her eyes widened, and he smiled. "Since you came back into my life, it's been a whirlwind. One I never thought I'd get caught in again after how things ended between us. I was terrified by this reawakening of the feelings I had for you, stronger than before, different but better. I tried to fight them, but all this time, I couldn't escape the need to protect you, to help you. I couldn't get away from my heart regardless of the situation we found ourselves in.
"The world didn't matter to me. You mattered. You've always mattered, but I'm sorry that I let you believe that you didn't. You're everything to me. Everything. And I never want to let you go again. I never want to be without you." He kissed the top of her hand and looked into her eyes again. "I love you."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I love you, Ginny. Will you marry me?"
Another tear followed and then they were spilling down her cheeks as she pushed away from the table and knelt in front of him, throwing her arms around him and kissing him. "You're mad," she whispered. "Crazy."
He laughed. "Is that a yes?"
"I'm a mess," she told him.
"Me too."
"I'm a thief."
"Hopefully, retired now."
"I have six older brothers-" She stopped then whispered, "Five older brothers."
"Your family will always be my family."
She laughed, a sob following. "Yes," she finally said. Then said it again and again.
This was one of the happiest moments of his life. Yes. Who knew that one word could make him feel so alive?
He leaned back and grabbed her left hand, raising it to his lips, he kissed her ring finger. "I'll get you a ring."
"I love you." She kissed him.
He returned it. "And I love you."
She pushed him to the floor, straddling him. His hands slipped under the jumper as she leaned forward and kissed him. For a few moments, they were lost in each other under she sat up and laid her hands on his chest.
"That just leaves one more thing we have to do," she told him, a little breathless.
"What?" His hand rose, lifting the jumper as he did, revealing her beautiful skin. He licked his lips. Some celebratory shagging right here would be nice, but maybe he should move them to the living room. The carpet there was plush. Yeah, he'd do that. But first, do away with the clothes. The jumper must go.
"It's been years," she said. "I suppose we should go and see my family."
He paused. "What?" The jumper was just below her breasts. "Your family?"
She tilted her head. "Yeah."
"Right now?"
She laughed then pulled the jumper off, leaving her completely exposed to him. His breath caught in his throat. "Not right now. Later."
"Yeah, later," he whispered, rolling over and getting her under him. "Definitely later."
Lunch was forgotten.
*
FIRST, let me say, thank you so much for all of your patience and support. Thank you for all of it while I've been rewriting and posting BAD. I know it's been rocking with updates, but you've all stuck with me through it all.
THANK YOU.
I hope you enjoyed the bumpy ride as Ginny and Harry reunited and came back to love. Please, let me know what ya'll thought. I'd really appreciate it.
So, here is the end of BAD, but there will be another epilogue posted in a few days. With that, it'll be the official end, but don't fret. As I've said before, there is more in the BAD series. So, keep checking to see what comes next!
Lastly, I love you all.
Stay safe and healthy and kind. Always.