Author's Note: All right, so I am a hopeless Harry/Ginny shipper, I know. This story takes place during the summer after Half-Blood Prince. Harry and Ginny are apart... for now. mischievous laugh Anyway, it's after Harry's birthday and all that jazz. I'm not going to bother dealing with Bill and Fleur's wedding, since I've already written it in my other story, "Harry Potter and the Past's Forgotten Mysteries." This is strictly Harry/Ginny. I hope you guys like it! It will turn out to be about six chapters. Please Read and Review! Cheers!

-Julia Holtemore

Disclaimer: I'm not J. K. Rowling; I do not own her stuff. I'm not J. K. Rowling; I do not own her stuff. I'm not J. K. Rowling; I do not own her stuff. I'm not J. K. Rowling... Do you think if I say it enough people will get it?

Admitting the Truth

Chapter One

In His Arms Again

The clock was ticking, filling the silent house with its interminable rhythm. But this particular clock wasn't one you might be used to. You see, there were nine hands, each with the name of a family member inscribed on it. And instead of numbers, there were places, like "work", "school" and "home". As it had been for more than a year now, all the hands were pointed up to where the number twelve normally was. Instead it read "mortal peril." Ever since Voldemort's return, it had been like that. No one was safe any longer. This is what worried the sixteen year old Ginny Weasley as she stared at the clock, as she had for the past two hours, waiting for a particular hand to flick to "traveling" for a brief moment and let her know that he and his company were at least home.

"Ginny, you can go to bed, you know. They'll be here in the morning when you wake up."

Ginny jumped and nearly spilled her tea down her front, which had long since gone cold, at the sound of her mother's voice. She turned and saw Mrs. Weasley coming down the stairs and entering the kitchen.

"I know, Mum. But I want to wait up," Ginny said quietly.

The truth was, she couldn't have gone to sleep if she wanted to. It wasn't the fact that her brother, Ron, wasn't home yet and could be in horrible danger, (though that was something she worried over) but she was worried about the company he was bringing along with him.

"Hmm..." said Mrs. Weasley, conjuring up her own cup of tea with a flick of her wand and sitting down across from her only daughter. Ginny noticed a certain perceptiveness in her voice, a comforting show of understanding. "Could it be that you are waiting up for a certain tall, dark haired young wizard with green eyes and glasses?"

Ginny blushed, looking absentmindedly down at the cold dregs in her mug. Her mother knew her all too well, sometimes annoyingly so. It was true. Ginny could not sleep because Harry Potter would be arriving at the Burrow at any time, and her feelings for him wee still rather... complicated.

Ginny had been quietly obsessing about Harry since she was about five years old. At first it was just a silly little crush on him because he was famous, something common for any little girl. But when she first saw him, when he was first boarding the train to Hogwarts, she truly fell for him. Through the years, she had learned to be normal around him, to act like herself, silently waiting in the background for him to notice her. And finally, her wish came true. A few months ago, during her fifth year, he actually kissed her! She felt like she was walking on air for those few short weeks that they were together. She marveled at the fact that he actually cared for her in return, that she no longer had to wait.

However, it was short lived. After the terrible and traumatic event of Dumbledore's death, Harry had broken it off. It wasn't because he didn't care for her, or that there was someone else. He had just been scared. He had pulled away because he wanted her to be safe.

Ginny understood that, she really did. But she also understood that they were in love, though neither had admitted it yet, and that it was ridiculous to be apart when they didn't need to be. She didn't care if Voldemort would be after her if he found out about her and Harry. She'd waited for ten years, blast it! And for someone who lacked patience, that could easily be defined as pure torture.

"Ginny dear, are you all right?"

Her mother's voice broke her out of her thoughts yet again. She realized she had been scowling, and quickly hitched a smile on her face.

"I'm fine mum. Just wondering why they are so late," she said, setting her cup on the table.

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "I know you miss him, dear. But he'll come around."

Ginny sighed heavily. "I wish I was so sure."

At that moment, the ticking on the Weasley clock quickened, drawing their attention to it. Ginny watched as Ron's hand quickly spun from "mortal peril" to "traveling", then to "home", and back up to "mortal peril".

"They're here!" Ginny and Mrs. Weasley shrieked together, jumping out of their seats. Ginny scrambled to the door and threw it open, then having to jump back as three figures stepped in.

"Glad you're all so excited to see me," Ron said, ducking under the door to avoid hitting his head and giving his little sister a big hug. "I'm flattered, really," he said, proceeding to hug his mother.

"Hello Ginny, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, hugging each in turn as she walked inside. "You really didn't have to wait up."

"Nonsense," Mrs. Weasley said, ushering her in and gesturing for her to sit down at the table. "We couldn't let you come in with no one to greet you!"

But Ginny wasn't listening, because her eyes had fallen on that certain tall, dark haired young wizard with green eyes and glasses. She watched him walk in, a weary smile on his face, carrying a few bags with him. At first she found her legs stuck to the ground as her eyes locked with his, completely immobile under his gaze. But then her sense caught up with her and she willed herself to do something.

Come on, Ginny! she thought furiously. Move! You look ridiculous, just standing there. Get a hold of yourself!

She quickly snapped back into focus and grinned at him, throwing her arms around him and giving him a warm hug. She felt him stiffen slightly before he hugged her back. After a moment, she unwillingly let go, telling herself that he was staying for a while and she wouldn't have to say goodbye again anytime soon.

"How are you?" Ginny asked pleasantly, though in her heart she was aching to simply kiss him right there.

"I'm... I'm fine," Harry said, looking at her oddly. "Just a bit tired, is all."

"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Weasley, enveloping him in a tight embrace. "Why don't you have a quick cup of tea, and then go upstairs to get some sleep. You can have Fred and George's room to yourself. They have officially moved into a flat down the street from their shop in Diagon Alley, and have finally cleared out all of those... things they had left in the room." She frowned slightly, making the other four in the room laugh lightly. Everyone knew that Mrs. Weasley rather disapproved of Fred and George's chosen profession, but she tried her best to not mention anything more about it.

They all sat around the table, drinking warm beverages and talking quietly about all the new things that had happened since they had last seen each other. Harry reported that absolutely nothing special happened at the Dursleys', except that he finally didn't have to go back. Ginny smiled at his care-free attitude, knowing how much he had hated it at his aunt and uncle's house. She barely listened as Hermione spoke of her quick vacation with her parents to Spain, and found herself staring at Harry, remembering all the good times they'd had together. Then she remembered the day he had broke it off, and the event that had triggered it.

Dumbledore's death had been a horrible shock for every one, but no one had taken it harder than Harry. He didn't show it, and he probably never would, but it had left a deep hole inside of him that could never be filled. It broke Ginny's heart when she found him there that awful night, kneeling beside Dumbledore's body. He was so... vulnerable. So many people had died in his life, and he didn't know where to turn. He had leaned on her for those first few days, before he broke up with her. She knew that even now, he needed her support and longed for it. She could see it in his eyes...

"Ginny, are you alright?" Ron asked, brow furrowed as he looked at her curiously. "Have you heard anything we've been saying for the past fifteen minutes?"

Ginny shook her head, trying to get away from her scrambled thoughts and emotions. She looked up again and realized that Harry was staring at her. She could just get lost in those bright green eyes, so full of- No! she thought quickly. You have to stop doing that! Just make up an excuse and leave the room. Go now, before you make a bigger fool of yourself!

"Er, I'm fine. Just tired, I suppose. I think I'm going to turn in." She stood up and put her mug in the sink. "'Night," she said cheerily. She waved and walked slowly up the stairs. She was absolutely positive that she would be tossing and turning the rest of the night, unable to shake those piercing green eyes out of her mind. She knew this only because that was what she did every night since they broke up, hoping that she would somehow wake up and be back in his arms again.