#sunshine x midnight rain

[chloesolace]

Midnight Rain - Thranduil x Reader

summary: You are an elven ambassador from Rivendell living in Mirkwood. The realm is currently celebrating a victory in battle over the dwarves when Thranduil asks to have a private word with you. The two of you share history, but his scars scared him into letting you go. A decision he clearly regrets after seeing you dance with your fiancé.

pairing: Thranduil x F!reader

word count: 1.3k

warnings: angst

a/n: Another part of my Swift series, where I write multifandom one shots inspired by Taylor's songs <3 the next series after this will be a Florence + The Machine one. Hope you enjoy this story!

Masterlist - Discord Server - Request Info - Taylor Swift Series

My girl was a montage A slow motion, love potion Jumping off things in the ocean I broke her heart 'cause she was nice

In the dim light of sundown, he watched the woman dance. Her hair cascaded loosely around her shoulders, and her red lips curved into a bright smile revealing her teeth. Giggles escaped her, the skirts of her dress in her fists so she would not stumble and fall over them as she hopped around in circles. She twirled around her dance partner, one her hand held tightly in his as she looked between him and her footing. Her bare feet moved confidently over the forest floor, soles stained with moss and earth from earlier rain.

He was sitting in his chair, a crown of leaves and twigs sprouting from his head. He could feel the weight of it pressing down even more than it usually did, although he was sure this was merely his imagination. His gaze hardened as he observed the man dancing with the woman, their arms entwined. No one besides him noticed but each time they drew close, the man whispered in her ear, eliciting blushes and giggles.

The glass in his hand shattered. 

“Oh, Your Majesty!” Exclaimed a servant girl next to him, immediately taking the glass out of his hand and cleaning his palm of shards and blood. The cloth she used soaked up the red liquid as the girl placed the shards into a basket nearby. 

Barely glancing at his opened palm, he held it away from his body, allowing her to continue cleaning up the mess he made. Hissing, he pulled it away once she informed him he was clean again. There was still a stain on his palm, but the cuts did not appear deep. He would seek out the palace healer after the festivities ended.

The music stopped when he raised his other hand, all eyes falling onto him when he stood from his seat. His blue eyes were resting on the elven girl he had watched earlier, the air thick with anticipation from his people. 

“Do not let the festivities stop. I shall have a private word with the Rivendell ambassador inside. Please, continue,” he said, his deep voice loud and collected. It radiated authority and control, all while he never took his gaze off of you.

You gave your fiancé a short nod and left him alone on the clearing that had turned into a dance floor, just as the musicians to your right resumed playing their instruments. Some of the spectators around watched you as you approached the Elven King, others joined your fiancé in dancing, and the air was once again filled with laughter. 

Thranduil extended an arm for you to take, and you reluctantly wrapped your hand around his biceps, feeling the expensive fabric of his garment on your skin. His scent was clear and familiar; a mixture of musk and wood. 

Neither of you said a word until you found themselves on a terrace, far away from the festivities and the music, which could only be heard if one concentrated very hard. You placed your hands on the railing, your eyes drifting off to the forest in front of you. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Thranduil looking at you, his gaze making you feel naked, seen, though never uncomfortably exposed.

“Why did you want to speak with me?” You asked him, knuckles white from your tight grip around the railing. You hoped he didn’t notice your nervousness. He hesitated as if he wasn’t quite sure himself. 

“You have proven to be a valuable asset in keeping an alliance between Rivendell and the Woodland Realm,” he began, his voice lacking emotion, his words sounding practiced and memorized. “I suspect now that you have found a suitable match, you plan to stay?” The words only reluctantly left his lips, and you could feel him tense further.

You clenched your teeth as you stared out into the forest, the sky darkening as dusk slowly began to blend into nightfall. There was a thickness in the air, indicating the imminent arrival of rain.

“Sharion and I have not decided yet,” you said hesitantly, the name of your fiancé now feeling strange on your tongue. You cursed yourself for the momentary feeling of shame that spread through your chest. Yet you had nothing to be ashamed of; Thranduil had turned you down. 

“I see,” replied the Elven King, and you saw him follow your gaze out of the corner of his eyes. He stood straight and tall next to you, silence resting between you. It was almost suffocating until you heard the roar of thunder above you.

You opened your mouth to say something just as he did the same, and it was the first time that evening your eyes met. You stopped yourself from speaking, gesturing for him to proceed instead. With flushed cheeks, you listened and averted your eyes again.

“I never meant to hurt you,” he said softly, the pain in his voice barely audible. Your grip around the railing tightened just as the first raindrop fell onto it. “Please, look at me.”

There was something else in his voice now; he was pleading. When you turned to him you saw the glassiness of his blue eyes, the way his thick brows furrowed and his arched lips pursed as if in agony. 

“I do not know what you want from me, Thranduil,” you whispered, his name on your lips a familiar feeling. You were one of the few who knew about his name, let alone addressed him with it so openly. “I gave you my heart. I wanted to become your wife.” Your eyes momentarily dropped to his lips before locking with his again, your hand gently rising to touch his cheek where you knew he had glamored it. “No matter the scars you bear.”

Thranduil closed his eyes, leaning gently into your touch. You saw his own hand rising, only to fall again as if he was scared to touch you. As if he feared that if he did, you would pull away. 

When he opened his eyes, he inhaled deeply with the greed of someone who had stayed underwater for too long. Underneath your touch, his skin began to fade, replaced by the deep scars you had often seen him stare at in the mirror with disdain in his eyes. 

“I need you,” he whispered, but you only dropped your hand and he let the scars disappear behind his glamor again, eyes marked by rejection. 

“I cannot be with someone who hides himself behind thick curtains of shame, Thranduil.” Next to you, you heard the falling rain quicken in unison with your heartbeat. “Are you ready to draw the curtains back?”

He hesitated and looked away. Now it was you searching his gaze, but stubborn as he was he would not meet it. The silence that followed was answer enough, only disrupted when the heavy rain swallowed it and thunder roared again. You felt as if nature itself was urging him to open himself fully to you, though he ignored its pleas.

“I do not want to fight for a heart that would stay inside its cage when it could be free,” you continued, the words heavy. “A home should not be a battlefield.”

You saw him tense before you turned your back on him, leaving him standing with only the terrace’s roof to shield him from the rain. You began shivering, the feeling of your engagement ring cold against your finger while tears streamed down your cheeks. It was painful breaking one’s own heart, but sometimes it was a necessary pain to bear. 

With a heavy heart, you entered the palace again while the rain swallowed him calling out your name. 

'Cause she was sunshine I was midnight rain She wanted it comfortableI wanted that pain

[liv-333]

Grumpy x sunshine prompts

A/N I love this trope sm i need a black cat gf asap 

They're both extremely protective of each other but sunshine sticks up for grumpy in front of their friends and shuts down any negative comments made about them (Grumpy thinks it's the hottest thing ever) early on in their relationship and before they started going out Grumpy thought that sunshine was annoying, sunshine's heart broke when they found this out, grumpy felt horrible and apologised profusely while explaining to sunshine their real feelings about them. Sunshine often compares them and their relationship to the sun and the moon, one day grumpy randomly handed them a box containing 2 rings, a gold one with the sun on and a silver one with the moon on, the couple wear them every day. Sunshine loves horror movies, grumpy hates them but always watches them with sunshine so they can snuggle up really close to their love and feel safe For whatever reason, Grumpy and Sunshine are secretly dating at work/school. One day Sunshine has a really bad day and just needs grumpy, when sunshine finds grumpy they hug them tightly, slightly taken aback by the gesture grumpy hugs sunshine just as tight while kissing their forehead and whispering sweet nothings into their ear.

[merleneish]

My favourite romance trope is reversed grumpy sunshine/sun moon dynamic, where the fmc is the smart loner and the mmc is the caring, cheerful person. There can be a lot of variations on those two and being the sunshine doesn't mean you gotta be caring and cheerful, the same for moon.

The reason I like it sm is bc when it's done right, the fmc isn't exactly feminine and the mmc is if that makes sense? And it's nice to see bc every fmc I see is feminine and it's good to be feminine, I love femininity and it's such an important quality for everyone to have, but that's the thing why are only the women feminine?

It's nice when we see a mood fmc that acts exactly like a mood mmc would act and the same for the sunshine character. Ofc there are differences in the way people act because of the way society effects them, but those experiences can be acknowledged while also treating people as just humans Yk? Don't write the fmc as a moon fmc, write her as a moon character that happens to be female, and has struggled that reflect that too.

I hope I explained myself well lol

Also when grumpy/moon is soft for sunshine. My favourite thing ever. And he actually appreciates it bc they're not usually like that and it's kinda like I have everyone but you trope as well but not in an engsty teen way but in an Introverted person that has a hard time with emotions that happens to be a girl, that cares for someone deeply that's usually caring and sweet and soft that happens to be a guy

[layla4567]

saving this for later 👀

~ BLACK CAT X GOLDEN RETRIEVER ENERGY ~ OTP PROMPTS

requested by: @moondrop-gummies request: Can you do grumpy sunshine where she’s the grumpy but doesn’t believe she can be loved and he’s the sunshine who treats her like she’s the best thing in his life and they’re roommates? Thank you in advance! 🎀

Feel free to use and reblog!

Part 1: ~ GRUMPY X SUNSHINE ~ PROMPTS

grumpy being unable to accept anything kind that sunshine tries to do for them

sunshine just admiring anything grumpy does

sunshine staying at home despite being invited elsewhere just to spend more time with grumpy

sunshine doing the things around the house that grumpy dreads doing

grumpy being snarky about the nice things sunshine does but they both know grumpy is actually enjoying them

sunshine having endless patience with grumpy because they know/hope that they'll come around eventually

sunshine making sure to tell grumpy that they deserve the world

grumpy warming up to sunshine and being in a bright mood in sunshine's company

grumpy being patient with sunshine and listening to their long, colourful stories but that's the least they can do when sunshine does everything for them

grumpy's love language is telling sunshine that they deserve more (than grumpy could ever give them)

sunshine's love language is showering grumpy with affection until grumpy snaps

grumpy trying to push sunshine away to guard themselves from developing serious feelings

grumpy hyping sunshine up when they find out that sunshine has a crush, not knowing that it's them

^ and immediately changing course when they find out (because sunshine shouldn't throw their love away on someone as undeserving as grumpy)

sunshine not paying any mind to grumpy's self-depricating rants and just keeping up their high level of affection and warmth

grumpy being able to let their guard down and accept the love because of sunshine's unconditional and unwavering support

grumpy 'you're an idiot to choose me' & sunshine 'I would be that idiot in any universe and you love it'

grumpy being seriously worried about sunshine having developed feelings for grumpy ("you can't be sane. you should see a doctor.")

grumpy being the biggest sunshine stan but they adore them too much to be willing to expose them to the madness that means grumpy

sunshine doing everything with grumpy that want but nothing more and nothing less because they know how important it is to respect grumpy's boundaries

[henfox]

KISSINGCHAMBERS AU

[fircbolts]

jegulus as patrochilles 💞

[godofstupidsentences]

“sunshine x midnight rain” but the sunshine is actually deeply fucked up in the head

[beargyufairy]

The moon His sun

[good-oldfashioned-lover]

I was going thru pinterest and this came on my feed

And my first thought was "ohh~ James Potter"

But then my brain went "what if I said its not James but Regulus? What if I said Regulus loved James so much that it leaked out of him like that, but not everyone could see it? What if I said, within deeply loving everyone in his life, James never learned to love himself? And Regulus taught him that? And that picture there is Regulus healing James?"

And I was like Ohh~

[rachelatwell]

They're the same couple and you can't change my mind

[amethvysts]

aí amiga a foto que o pipe postou 😭 ele é gostoso e ele sabe…

ele não é bobo e nem inocente!!!! tipo assim, sério… como pode esse homem existir e eu não ter a chance de fazer um cafuné nele 😔

alexa, toca tamino - fascination

[whenthep8wn]

THEY ARE SUCH A HOT COUPLE OMFGGG (I want them both.)

He was sunshine and she was midnight rain

[thesunwillshineonusagain757]

𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗧

In almost every sport, rivalries are something normal, even expected occurrences. And even more, foreseen is that those people considered rivals, who compete for the same titles and the same spot of number 1# tennis player of the world, to hate each other. It is considered normal that people that engage in a state of long-lasting rivalry are supposed to hold grudges and hate each other's guts. So when these people become friends, it is already something unexpected. So when the two of them fall in love, being such positives truly shocks the modern tennis world.

𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗦

Rhaegar Targaryen is a Crownlands tennis player, widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. He began playing tennis at a young age and turned professional at 17, quickly rising through the ranks to become the world's top-ranked player. Targaryen has won a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles, including eight Karhold Open titles and 8 Red Keep titles, and he has spent a record 310 weeks as the world's No. 1 player. He is known for his fluid and graceful playing style, versatility on all surfaces, and exceptional shot-making ability, particularly his one-handed backhand. He was named the King of Grass, but he is not the only king in tennis.

𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗬

Lyanna Stark is a professional Northern tennis player, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. She turned professional at 15 and quickly established herself as a dominant force in the sport, winning her first Dornish Open title at 17 and ultimately capturing a record 14 Dorne Open titles, along with 20 Grand Slam singles titles in total. Stark is known for her exceptional athleticism, speed, and endurance on the court, as well as her ferocious left-handed forehand and tenacious fighting spirit. Lyanna has also been recognized for her sportsmanship and her wilful, happy-and-go-lucky vibe. She was bestowed the name of the King of Clay after winning the Red Keep for the first time, against Rhaegar, and becoming the number 1# player, in the world.

𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 :

Alternate Universe - Tennis | Tennis | Alternate Universe - Modern Setting | Rivals to Friends to Lovers | Friends to Lovers |Rivalry | Angst and Fluff and Smut | Slow Burn | Based On Real World Rivalry | Sunshine x Grumpy | Introvert and Extrovert | Clay and Grass | Mutual Pining | Trauma | Feelings Realization | Tennis Players | Tennis jargon will be explained | Dual POV | Gen Z Memes

[henfox]

FIRSTPRINCE AU: The Kissing Chamber (or, Marco x Elliott) "all you can do is love them... and make sure they know that you're never gonna slip away."

[angelicheaven12]

Sweet moment between alex and anika and she loves kisses to his cheek and she was very clingy towards him which irritated alex but he liked it

[booksforevermore13]

Sunshine and Midnight Rain

Summary: When she's 25 and he's 26 and they're missing all the other's moments, they break apart, afraid of the consequence, afraid of what they'd be losing. Now, 5 years later, she wants things to be different. And he wants them too. Angst/Fluff Inspired by Taylor Swift's song, "Midnight Rain" from the Midnights album, as the title wisely said :D

...

My town was a wasteland

Full of cages, full of fences

Pageant queens and big pretenders

But for some, it was paradise

“Must you always drink this much?” Marlene muttered as she packed the bottles into a crate, frowning at a half-sleeping Ginny.

“Yeah,” the latter replied sarcastically, before getting up much hesitantly to help her team-mate, cum best-friend. “I never asked you to help out, you know,” Ginny continued snidely, and Marlene, as though appearing enraged, smacked her on the side of her arm.

“I’ll leave them, will I?” 

“I never asked you to do that, either,” Ginny smirked. “And that,” she rubbed her arm tenderly, “was uncalled for.”

It was much justified,” Marlene replied curtly. “How a girl can spend her 30th birthday drinking her way to unconsciousness, I can never understand.”

Ginny stayed silent, and Marlene grabbed her arm, forcing her to look up at her.

“Really, Ginevra, all of us thought we’d go out yesterday, have some food, get our game on, the lot. And here I am today, cleaning up bottles because you spent the entire night drinking yourself to insanity.” Marlene shook her head in disappointment, then wrinkled her nose. “And what even is this?” she exclaimed, bringing a half-finished bottle up to her nose. “This can’t be normal whisky, can it?”

Ginny smirked, grabbing the bottle from her. “It’s not whisky. It’s vodka.”

“Vod-what?”

“Muggle alcohol. It works best.”

“For drowning out your miseries? Really, Ginny-”

Ginny shook her head, silencing Marlene. “Every time we go out, the news gets us on the front page. And by us, I mean me.” She got up, crate in hand. “ ‘Quidditch Star Ginny Weasley, now a professional drunkard.’”

She scoffed, then continued, “Last time we were out, the paper got a picture of me and that freaking bartender, and somehow made it seem as if I was seducing him with my exceptional ‘femme fatale’ skills.”

Marlene got up, then looked at Ginny. “And is that all?”

“Huh?”

“Is that all, Ginny?” Marlene said, with an accusing voice. “Are you really telling me that the tabloids are the reason you didn’t go out with us last night? The reason you haven’t left your house for anything other than quidditch for the last year?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No, I think you do. Because I know for a fact, that this,” Marlene gestured at the stray-away bottles in Ginny’s house, “has very little to do with your image in the news.”

Ginny looked away, then walked past Marlene to deposit the heavy crate beside the door. The lights in her house flickered, Ginny realising it had been too long since she had had anybody over to look at the muggle powered lights in her house.

“How long is it going to take for you to get over him?” Marlene pressed on, and Ginny looked over at her angrily.

“Don’t say another word.”

“Is it going to take you destroying yourself to get over a boy?”

“Get out, Marlene,” Ginny snapped.

Marlene looked at her straight in the eyes, then sighed, picking up the bag, and walking towards Ginny. Then, without saying a word, she picked up the crate of bottles, and Apparated.

Ginny gulped, then looked up at the flickering lights of the house.

Maybe it would.

Keep reading

…

My boy was a montage

A slow-motion, love potion

Jumping off things in the ocean

I broke his heart 'cause he was nice

FIVE YEARS AGO

It had been a wonderful match. In fact, one of the best in years. The Harpies had won by a fair number of points, and though the Seeker had done a marvelous job in catching the Snitch, it had been the Chasers who had stolen the show. It had also been Ginny’s first time in the finals of the World Cup. The first one was always the one which kickstarted the player’s career, and she had definitely proved her mettle on the field there. 

And though they had a lot of work to do, talking to the reporters, getting ready to hoist the cup, Ginny couldn’t wait to tell Harry. 

She’d missed some of his floo messages in the last few days. Between the tension of the match, and Gwenog’s continuous badgering, she had completely forgotten to floo back.

But now, she wanted nothing more than to talk to him.

Ginny pulled off her gloves, passing them off to Marlene before she rushed off into the changing room. 

She was breathless when she started the Floo Network, a huge smile on her face as she waited for Harry to show up. Nearly giddy with excitement, she beamed as Harry, or rather, his image showed up in front of her.

Even from the get-go, she knew something had gone wrong.

“We won!” she grinned in glee and Harry smiled back at her, his green eyes sparkling through the floo network. 

“I knew you would,” he replied. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you.”

“That’s alright,” Ginny said. “You had a mission.”

Harry nodded, and Ginny held her breath, waiting for him to say something else. 

Something had gone wrong. 

“What’s…what's wrong, Harry?” Ginny asked, heart hammering in her chest. In mere minutes, the excitement had dulled down, replaced with nervous-ness.

“Nothing’s wrong, Ginny. I’m just extremely happy for you,” Harry smiled back at her, but even his smile looked strained.

“Don’t do that Harry, just tell me what’s wrong,” Ginny urged, wishing she could reach through the Floo and touch him.

Harry sighed, then looked back at her, his eyes betraying the pain he was in. “The mission,” he relented. “It went horribly wrong.”

Ginny’s heart stilled.

“Some of our team,” Harry’s voice wavered, “died in the cross-fire. It was unexpected, and we received the brunt of it.” 

She could have lost him, Ginny realised.

She could have never seen him again. 

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine Gin,” Harry paused, and Ginny felt relief flood through her.

But it was the hesitation in his voice that told her what was to come. “Gin, there are the….funerals. I don’t think I’ll -”

“You won’t be able to come,” Ginny finished.

Her heart squeezed painfully, and she forcefully fought the lump in her throat. 

“That’s okay,” she said. “That’s absolutely fine, Harry.” Ginny said breathlessly. “In fact, I’ll apparate back. The match is over. I can come back now.”

“No, Gin, please. You don’t have to do that. You’ve worked for this for seven years-”

“And I’ve done it, Harry -”

“No.” Harry said, finality in his tone. Ginny gulped, blinking back tears. She could hear her teammates' excited chatter get closer, and it seemed Harry could too.

“I should go,” Harry said. Ginny stayed silent, as he smiled at her one last time before vanishing.

Gwenog burst in, a triumphant look on her face. Behind her, Marlene and Wilda bounded in, stopping in their tracks as they saw Ginny’s expression.

“Your boy's coming?” Gwenog asked, and Ginny’s throat clogged.

“No. He isn’t.”

…

He was sunshine, I was midnight rain

He wanted it comfortable

I wanted that pain

He wanted a bride

I was making my own name

Chasing that fame

He stayed the same

All of me changed like midnight

He was waiting for her at the Apparatus Terminal when she opened her eyes. A big smile on his face, sparkling green eyes. Ginny burst into a smile, as she bounded over to him, jumping into his arms.

Harry laughed as the flowers in his hand fell on the ground, and Ginny kissed him. He’d missed her. But what was more, he’d regretted that he’d missed her match. Even more so because he knew how hard she had worked for it. Day in and day out on the Quidditch field, coming back home absolutely knackered, going back the next day again.

She didn’t deserve what had happened nearly a week ago.

When they let go of each other, Ginny kissed him, and Harry smiled against her lips, cherishing the feel of them. 

He’d half thought he’d never feel them again.

“Are you okay?” Ginny asked, as they broke apart.

“I’m absolutely fine.” He didn’t like how his mission had taken over her game. He didn’t want that.

After that floo had ended, he’d sworn he’d never let that happen again. 

“I’m so proud of you,” he said softly, looking into her brown eyes, as they looked back worriedly.

But then they transformed, and a smile replaced them.

Oh, how he loved that smile.

“Let’s go home.”

Ginny smiled, silent as she slipped her hand into his and they Apparated.

...

It was when he was opening the door to their house did Ginny ask about the mission.

Harry looked away then.

He had been dreading the conversation. 

“It was a couple of rogue Death-Eaters. We found them hidden in the outskirts of a Muggle town,” he said. “I’m pretty sure they would have willingly handed themselves over, if -” Harry wavered, looking away from Ginny as she rubbed his forearm comfortingly. “If I hadn’t been there.”

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she cupped his neck, bringing her closer to him. “It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered, and Harry closed his eyes as she rested her forehead against his.

 This. This was it. This was what he’d been craving since days. It was pathetic for him, but he had needed this reassurance. That this-this wasn’t his fault.

Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny, and then looked at her. “I’m so sorry I missed the final. I swear… it won’t ever happen again.”

“It is absolutely fine,” Ginny enunciated her words.

“It isn’t, but I’ll make sure it won’t ever happen again.” 

It wouldn’t, and he’d made sure of that.

But it didn’t seem to get the response he was looking over. Now that they were in their house, the house that they had found together, Ginny pulled away from him, expecting an answer.

“What do you mean?”

“I asked Kingsley to reduce my workload. There won’t be as many missions as before, and he wasn’t very happy about it, I’m sure, but you have been there for every single important moment of mine, and I haven’t been in -”

“No, Harry,” Ginny interrupted. “You can’t possibly do that.”

Harry looked at her in confusion. He’d expected her to be elated, but it seemed the opposite had happened.

“This is your career that you’re talking about,” Ginny said. “You can’t possibly be throwing away all of that for me.”

“I’m not. Gin, I’m just going to go on fewer missions -”

“But missions are what you love. Fighting on the frontlines is what you chose to do,” Ginny cried.

Above them, the lights flickered, a momentary lapse in power. 

“Gin, being with you is also what I chose. And I am happy with this. With you. Maybe in a few years, we can think about settling down. Merlin knows, that would be something a long time coming.”

Harry cupped Ginny’s face, trying to understand the conflicted look on her face.

“I swear, everything’s going to be alright.”

And as Ginny rested her head on his chest, Harry couldn’t help but wonder if what he had said was true.

…

It came like a postcard

Picture perfect, shiny family

Holiday, peppermint candy

But for him it's every day

TODAY'S TIME

Three days till Christmas.

Ginny knew, if she didn’t leave now, she wouldn’t ever find the courage to go home in time for it.

She looked up at the still flickering lights in her house. If her mum found out about the way she was living, she’d be horrified. Hell, Ginny herself seemed horrified herself most days.e

Half-finished bottles of whisky near the basin, her clothes lying all over the house, most of them unwashed, and food? She had resorted to eating mostly at pubs, or over at Marlene’s.

Normally, she’d be looking forward to Christmas. But, somehow, this year, she just couldn’t find the will to go to the Burrow and put up that mask of hers, the one where she was happier than most days.

He’d be there too.

Ginny closed her eyes, using her wand to create sparks of golden glitter over her, that disappeared before they fell over her.

She’d known things were going to fall apart the day he’d opted out of that mission. And Tomas had died. 

She’d seen his face when Kingsley’s patronus had appeared in the room. Seen his expression.

Ginny gulped down the lump in her throat, taking in a few deep breaths, before clicking her tongue and getting up from the couch.

She couldn’t afford to do this.

She got up, waving her wand to get herself dressed, before picking up her rucksack and heading out the door.

An hour later, she had apparated right in front of the door. Even while outside, she could hear the chatter inside the house. Ron’s voice, her mum yelling. Someone laughing.

Even unconsciously, she felt a smile across her face.

He’d be there, but it’d be okay. It would.

Taking a breath, she muttered the spell Bill had set on the door and walked right in.

Almost instantly, an uproar started. 

“Ginevra,” her mom cried out, followed by a chorus of Ginnys, and a lot of footsteps running towards her. The first one was her mum. 

Ginny laughed as she was wrapped up in a hug by the shorter woman.

“You’re eleven days late,” her mum was yelling away, and for a second, Ginny just buried her nose in her shoulder, taking in the smell of home. After being promoted to Captain, and Gwenog leaving, a different arena of responsibilities had fallen on her shoulder, and Ginny had struggled throughout the past year, trying to keep the Holyhead Harpies up. She had succeeded, to an extent, but not without being under the scrutiny of the entire Wizarding World, and of course, herself.

But now, after nearly 17 months, she was home again.

The second her mum left her, she was brought into a hug by her Dad and Bill, and then the rest of her brothers followed, each of them ruffling her hair, though she gave Ron a much deserved glare as he went to do so.

“How’s the baby?” she asked Hermione, as Fleur kissed her cheek. 

“Rough. She’s started kicking, but it’s not as bad as it had been a few days ago.”

“All babies are like that, my love," Fleur reassured. "I remember, Dominique nearly broke me by all her moving.”

The three women laughed, and Ginny’s eyes travelled among the crowd, as they slowly landed on him.

He was looking right at her. 

It had been ages since she had seen those green eyes.

Ginny lowered her eyes in embarrassment, as she felt everybody slowly scurrying out of the room, The fire crackled in the distance as Ginny spared a smile.

“Hey, Harry,” she said softly.

“Hi there, Gin,” his voice ringed in her ears and Ginny couldn’t help but reel at the name he had called her, the name that seemed right only on his lips. His eyes were still as green as ever, but right now, in the soft light of the fireplace, they seemed golden.

His eyes travelled across her face, and Ginny shuffled uncomfortably as his eyebrows furrowed. “How’s everything going?”

“Good, good,” he said. 

Ginny nodded. How long had it been since she’d seen him last? Two years? Three? All she remembered was that the last time they had met, she’d been so utterly devastated, that she had retreated to the closures of her house, and not come out for nearly a week, before Gwenog and Marlene dragged her out.

She didn’t even think she deserved to pine after him. Not when she had been the one to end things. 

Irony, she’d fallen in love first, and she’d been the first one to let go.

But right now, him in front of her, she couldn’t help but think that only if they had tried harder, if she’d just held on longer, then this wouldn’t be it. This wouldn’t be the life she’d be leading. One submerged in loneliness, one where her job had become her one and only ultimatum in life.

She could have had a different life with him. A different world.

It was too late to think like that. And it seemed pretty pathetic on her part.

Ginny snapped out of her reverie as Harry called out her name. 

“Yeah,” she answered breathlessly. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Yeah,” she repeated. “Completely fine.”

…

So I peered through a window

A deep portal, time travel

All the love we unravel

And the life I gave away

She couldn’t sleep. It was torture, because she was exhausted. She had nearly dozed off during dinner, before being sent up to bed by her mother. It took her back to her younger days. When sleep came easy. 

It seemed the moment she landed on her bed, all her sleep vanished in an instant.

Frustrated, she slipped out of bed, carefully, without noise, climbing her way down the stairs. If she had been back at home, she would promptly take a sleep potion, and that would have made things easier. Here, not so much.

Ginny paused by the Christmas tree as she was making her way out the door. After Victoire and Dominique had learned how to walk, they’d resorted to tying the ornaments on the top portion of the tree, out of their reach and even after they had grown up, things had remained that way. Ginny smiled, reaching above her to touch a small toy horse that her dad had whittled for her when she'd been three.

Her younger self had been absolutely elated.

Thankfully, that feeling hadn't changed.

Ginny drew in a breath, before slowly creeping out of the house.

She stopped when she entered the backyard.

Harry.

Ginny gulped, slowly backing away, her steps quickeing as Harry turned his head. 

“Ginny, hey.”

She cursed under her breath, then called out to him, the wind carrying her words to him. “I’m sorry, I was leaving-”

“You don’t have to do that.”

Ginny paused yet again, as Harry continued. “I was only leaving, so you can stay -”

“You don’t have to leave because of me,” Ginny stated. “I’ll join you, if that’s okay.”

Harry nodded, then stepped aside to make room for her beside the pumpkin patch, as Ginny walked towards him. 

After the Burrow had gone up in Flames all those years ago, they'd worked hard to rebuild it. She couldn't say that it was better than before. But the view from the backyard was absolutely undeniable.

“Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” she asked as she reached the patio, a small smile on her face.

“When have I been able to?” Harry scoffed.

Ginny frowned, then, as if by habit, she asked. “How long has it been since you last slept?”

“Truthfully, um...last night. Ron and I went out for drinks, and I had a good too many, before I passed out. Woke up right before your mum called us for lunch.”

Ginny laughed, and felt Harry look at her. Under the moonlight, and even with the shadows falling on his face, his eyes shone like the light of day.

The silence between them was welcomed.

“How are things, really?” Harry asked her.

“Rough,” Ginny admitted. “Turns out, being a captain is not all that they tell you.”

“You’ve done a marvelous job though,” Harry replied. “The Harpies have had the most number of victories since the Magpies in the last decade.”

So, he had been keeping track of her. Ginny couldn’t help but smile at that.

“How’s things looking in the Ministry?”

“As they are,” Harry replied, as if by habit. But then, as if thinking over his answer twice, he continued. “Kingsley has things mostly under control, but they tend to get out of hand once or twice.”

Ginny nodded, looking out at the lake glistening in the moonlight. She wondered what to ask next. What do you ask someone who’s heart you had broken not even five years ago?

She cleared her throat, then turned towards Harry. “Anybody you’re, umm…with, nowadays?”

Harry turned to her, his arms hanging effortlessly on the railing. His eyes stood fixed on her face for a few seconds, before answering.

“Do you think so?”

“Uhm..” Ginny cleared her throat. “What do you mean?”

“It means no, Gin,” Harry shook his head. “It means I’m not dating anybody.”

“Oh.” Ginny nodded, then turned towards the railing again. 

And yet again, they fell into a deafening silence, a silence different that others, the silence that seemed to suffocate her into the same hole she’d led herself to five years ago.

“Would we have worked out if Tomas hadn’t died?” Harry asked suddenly, his voice breaking through the mist and Ginny felt a chill travel through her spine.

She turned towards Harry, her eyes blazing. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, Gin.”

“Are you really asking me that, Harry?”

“Yes,” his voice strained. “I am. Because I have thought about all the things that happened over and over in my head, and I still can’t believe what I did wrong.”

“You did nothing wrong, Harry,” Ginny cried out. How could he think he had done anything wrong when it was her that was the problem? 

“Then, tell me, Gin. Speak to me. Tell me what happened that led us to being this way.”

“I don’t know Harry,” Ginny cried out. “You were ready to give up everything just for us, for me, and you think I could have taken it as it is?”

“What was I going to give up?”

“Really, Harry?” Ginny said, agitated. “Because Tomas died, I was able to see how it affected you. How you opting out of missions affected you. He died, and it seemed that you took it all on you.”

Harry shook his head, denying, but Ginny continued.

“You think I don’t know you Harry? The minute that Patronus appeared, you were completely crushed because somehow, you thought that if you had just gone on that mission, he would have lived.”

“That isn't fair. I chose that," Harry said, his voice brimming with something she couldn't recognize. "How many times had it been since we'd had one waking moment with each other? You think I didn't notice the way you hurt with all the times I left you standing with overtime missions and duties?"

"I would have rather you do that than sacrifice doing what you love to be with me."

"That isn't fair."

“It isn’t. My career, it would have led me to be away nine months out of twelve. Yours, the other three. Me sacrificing my career would have led me to destroy myself. You sacrificing it nearly destroyed you.” “And I know,” Ginny’s voice turned heavy, “that maybe if I had bargained with Gwenog, asked her to keep me out of a few matches, then maybe we could have worked something out, but I - “ her voice cracked. “I don’t know why I didn’t do that.”

“You shouldn’t have had to,” Harry said quietly. Ginny couldn't hear the anger within them anymore. He stepped closer to her and raised his hand, his thumb brushing off a stray tear. And just when he was preparing to leave, he paused, and then lightly pressed his lips on Ginny’s forehead.

Ginny closed her eyes, and when she opened them back again after a few minutes, he was gone.

…

He was sunshine, I was midnight rain

He wanted it comfortable

I wanted that pain

He wanted a bride

I was making my own name

Chasing that fame

He stayed the same

All of me changed like midnight

“Did he say when he’ll come back?” Teddy asked Ginny for the third time, and Ginny closed her eyes, her mind straying to the night before the last for what may have been the fiftieth time. Her heart clenched as she shook her head.

“No, Ted, he didn’t tell me anything.”

Teddy frowned, as his hair turned a grimmer shade of blue.

“But it’s Christmas Eve,” Teddy whined. Bill looked at Ginny sadly, and then whispered slightly.

“You want me to take him off your arms?” Bill whispered.

“That’s alright. I could do with the company anyway,” Ginny smiled. 

With Victoire and Dominique off with their mother and Hermione, Teddy had been rendered horribly alone. Especially when he missed a certain young blonde. 

“Then do you mind if I pop out with the guys for a-”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ginny waved him off and Bill pecked her cheek gently, ruffling Teddy’s hair before leaving.

Ginny watched as Teddy messed around with a few trinkets, probably from Zonko’s and then rested her head back on the couch. She shut her eyes, blocking out everything around her.

Harry had not been back since that night. He had floo-ed in, so that no one would worry, but everyone knew. Bill and Ron had been especially protective, making sure Ginny didn’t run off too somewhere. 

The fire crackled, the heat from it not nearly enough to warm Ginny. She shivered, and as Teddy noticed, he got up, bringing over a blanket for Ginny.

“Thanks,” Ginny smiled as Teddy made herself comfortable beside her.

“I don’t like that the both of you are always so sad during Christmas,” Teddy muttered, and Ginny looked at him in surprise. 

“What do you mean?”

“You and Harry,” Teddy motioned with his eyebrows, “you know, all that drama.”

Ginny raised an eyebrow, and Teddy huffed. “I’m not a child, you know.”

Somehow, that seemed funny to Ginny, the way he sounded so much like Harry. Her heart clenched as she thought about him, and she shuffled to get warmer.

“Are you still cold?” Teddy asked and Ginny shook her head. 

“I’m good.”

Teddy nodded, sinking into deep thought, and Ginny watched as his hair changed into green and then turquoise before turning back into blue. She smiled sadly, her thoughts turning to his mother.

“He still loves you a lot,” Teddy stated suddenly. “More than a lot actually.”

And yet again, Ginny was rendered speechless. Teddy looked at Ginny, and then winced. “I don’t think I was supposed to say that.”

Ginny chuckled weakly, then closed her eyes, reeling from what he’d just said.

“Do you love him?”

Her eyes snapped back open.

“Huh?”

“Do you love him?” Teddy asked again.

“Yeah,” Ginny admitted, albeit breathlessly. “I do. Of course I do. More than I know.”

Teddy nodded, and then, with a triumphant smile on his face, muttered under his breath.

“I knew it.”

…

Rain, he wanted it comfortable

I wanted that pain

He wanted a bride

I was making my own name

Chasing that fame

He stayed the same

All of me changed

Like midnight rain.

She watched with bated breath, as the train that would take her to the Apparating Station arrived on the platform. Not a lot had happened since Christmas Eve, but it seemed a long way away now, even though it had been only a week. 

Christmas had not even started fully, that the Quidditch Authorities had sent an official letter to all Quidditch Captains and Managers to report to Ireland, or the official Management Quarters with their entire team roster, and details. Apparently, some of them had been using broom enhancement potions in secret to win matches, and now the Authority wanted to review everybody’s position in the roster.

It was bollocks, Ginny had thought personally. The fact that this had happened on Christmas too hadn’t helped matters, and she had chewed off the wizard who had met with her at the Department. It had only led to a stricter review of her team members, but to no avail, as it returned absolutely spotless.

And very well so too. Her team was as good as they came, she had thought angrily.

Now that she was back in London, all she had to do was get on the train and reach the Apparating Station so that she could get back home and sleep. 

Merlin knows, she needed that.

As she got up on the train, Ginny thought back to her conversation with Teddy. How a conversation with a teenager wanted to make her try things again, she had no idea, but for a moment there, she had wanted to. 

And perhaps, she would have too, when Harry got back. But, that clearly hadn’t happened, and now as she rested her head on her seat bench, opposite to a sleeping Muggle lady, she let herself think what hurt her to the core.

Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.

Ginny closed her eyes, letting the train lull her into a sleep.

…

It hadn’t even been half an hour when the train screeched to a stop. Ginny jerked awake, wiping at some stray drool at the corner of her mouth. She smiled briefly at the lady opposite to her, before she hurried out of the train. 

It was when she stepped on the platform that she allowed herself to look at her overly-familiar surroundings. After spending nearly her entire life in London, she had grown to become accustomed to it, and now, as her eyes scanned over the crowd filled with Muggles and Wizards, her eyes landed over a pair that were too familiar to be true.

Ginny blinked, then looked away to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. 

But no, there was no denying it.

It was him.

“Harry,” she said breathlessly, as they both started walking towards each other at the same time.

“Hey, Gin,” he smiled, and Ginny chuckled in surprise. 

“Were you waiting for me?”

His eyes told her whatever she wanted to know, so she nodded, avoiding his eyes.

“Uhmm…my house, we can just apparate there from here,” she said, as Harry nodded. “We can go there and talk.”

Ginny felt her heart hammering against her chest, as she motioned him towards the Apartment Compartment, which was basically an Old London telephone booth now.

Without saying a word, Ginny gripped his sleeve, as they both Apparated right in front of their house.

“Come on then,” she said, as she tapped her wand three times against the door to open it. 

Harry followed her wordless, and it was not before the door had closed behind them did Ginny utter a word.

“The house is messy, but don’t mind it,” she stated blankly. Then, after mulling it over her head, she hesitantly started, “What do you want to talk about?”

Harry looked straight at her as he started speaking. “Teddy told me,” he stated.

Ginny swallowed, and then looked away from him, afraid to glance into his eyes. Her heart hammered painfully in her chest.

“I thought it would only be right if it was me who told you what my nosy grandson did.”

Ginny chuckled drily, and then looked at Harry, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Harry,” she warned.

“What, Ginny?” he said, as he took a step closer to her. “Am I supposed to deny what Ted told you? Because I can’t do that. Not when every word he said was true.”

“Harry,” Ginny’s voice broke, as Harry stepped even closer. But even with her denial of what was happening at the moment, she couldn’t step back.

“I love you, Gin,” Harry said softly. “Merlin knows, I have loved you since that day in the Common Room, even before that and I don’t think that there is any way or any thing in this world that would stop me from doing so.”

“Harry -”

“No, hear me out, Gin. Please,” Harry begged. “We know all too well that every word you said that night was true, but somehow, I can’t quite comprehend it. Let’s try this, Gin. Let’s try this one more time, because I don’t think I could settle with the world if we didn’t try again.”

Ginny looked up at him, the gap between them becoming increasingly smaller as she stepped closer. Her fingers wrapped around his, as she closed her eyes. She’d spent five years thinking and thinking and thinking yet again about all of this. And she’d decided, that back then, when they had been younger and the world had seemed a bit more conquerable, they had not known what they probably knew all too well now.

That they couldn’t live without each other.

That Ginny couldn’t live without Harry.

“If you don’t want this Gin, tell me now, and I swear to Merlin, I’ll never bring this up again -”

“No,” Ginny said, her voice strong. She cracked a teary smile, and then let her fingers intertwine with his. “I want this, Harry. I want it too.”

She drew in a breath, and then repeated her thoughts, loud and clear. “This time, it’s just going to be you and me against the world Potter. Just us. And nobody else.”

Her voice wobbled, as her eyes filled with tears. She didn't think she'd survive if she lost this man again, and though she was stepping into hellfire at the moment, she hoped it would be worth it.

And as Harry looked at her with those clear green eyes, as he brought her face closer and captured her lips in a kiss, she let herself be drowned in that bliss she'd denied herself for so many years. And after years of being apart, those lips felt like home.

Just them against the world.

And as they pulled apart, and Ginny looked into the eyes of the man she had loved and missed for so long, a smile broke on her face, a bright smile; a smile that she herself had missed for so long.

“Remind me to thank Teddy for this,” she chuckled, and Harry joined her, leaning their foreheads against each other, his arms around her waist, hers around his.

“I will,” he said, finally. 

And Ginny laughed.