1: Thoughts

Ginevra Molly Weasley awoke on a bright summer morning surrounded by an aura of happiness. Today was the day she had been waiting for. The day she would finally profess her true feelings to Harry James Potter, the only man she could ever truly love. Ever since she heard about him from her older brother, Ron, she had a crush on him. Not until her first year at Hogwarts, however, after Harry had saved her life in the Chamber of Secrets, had she really known that she loved him. Ginny had felt a bond with Harry so strong after Lord Voldemort so helplessly controlled her as if she was a piece in a chess game that she knew that this person could take care of her and love her as no one would ever love her. It was in her third year when her hope started to dwindle. Harry liked another girl, Cho Chang, and in the following year she and Harry had dated. Curse her…she thought maliciously. During this time, Ginny was so distraught that she could barely eat or sleep and she was studying hours on end to keep her mind off of him. She had dated Michael Corner and Dean Thomas in her fourth year, but Michael always said he came before anything else and Dean had been flirting with a wide variety of other girls, particularly Susan Bones, so Ginny called the relationship off. Good riddance too…

She thought.

Ginny dug around in her trunk to find the gift that she had gotten Harry, because today was his birthday. As she held up the picture of them in the Chamber, which she had drawn herself, she couldn't help but break into tears. She sobbed quietly for a moment and then regained her composure. I have got to stop doing that…She often broke into tears thinking of that terrible time when Voldemort had possessed her. It's over now. Harry will protect me…I hope…She went to her wardrobe and got dressed while hoping and praying her knight in shining armor would take her as his damsel.

Harry woke up with a start. Today is my birthday… he thought happily. He stared out of his window to the sun shining brightly on the lovely scenery surrounding 12 Grimmauld Place with a smile, but that smile disappeared as suddenly as it had come. He started to think of Sirius, his godfather. Why did he have to die? He thought grimly. He seemed to be the only one that Harry had to confide in. That was until Ginny had stepped up to help him through his time of grief. She was the only one who could make him happy, the only one who could understand. They had a very special bond that could never be broken. Lord Voldemort had been inside both of their minds enshrouding their lives in darkness and pain. They sought each other to get through it and had become closer in the process. Harry realized that he loved her more than anything in the world. I only hope she feels the same…after all I did ignore her for four years…he thought as he got ready to face the day that lay ahead.

Ron and Harry raced each other down the ancient and rickety stairway that led to the kitchen. The Black family residence, which now belonged to Harry, had undergone a vast variety of changes over the summer. Most of the filth had been cleaned out during the summer before they're fifth year, Ginny's fourth, and Mrs. Weasley had been taking great care in the house while the school term went on, but once the children had returned, she put them straight to work.

"Careful, you'll break something and we just finished fixing this place up!" said Hermione, very proudly. She was sporting a striped tank top and some shorts with her hair in two bushy plaits to the sides.

"Alright MOTHER DEAREST," Said Ron jokingly. "We shall be more careful" He went to her and kissed her gently on the cheek as he took his place beside her. They had been going out for about a month now. Ron finally realized that he loved her more than anything in the world and as soon as he was able to get a hold of her professed his true feelings and asked her to be his girlfriend. She told him that she shared those feelings and that she would be glad to be his girlfriend. She also added that she would take him over a thousand Viktor Krum's, at which he beamed brightly.

"Happy birthday Harry! I can't believe you lot didn't think of it!" said Mrs. Weasley as she smothered him in one of her lovingly warm hugs.

A chorus of happy birthdays soon followed her proclamation. Harry thanked each person, noticing that one person was missing. "Where is Ginny?" he asked perplexed. She was usually down before he was.

"I'm right here," Ginny announced as she happily went to her place at the table. She wore her fiery red hair in a loose ponytail, and was wearing a form-fitting orange Chudley Cannons shirt and some jeans that she borrowed from Hermione.

She looks lovely today…thought Harry.

"Happy birthday Harry," she said with a grin. Wait until he sees what I have gotten him… she thought as she sank her teeth into her warm toast.

Harry and Ginny wandered around in the backyard of 12 Grimmauld Place slowly as they glanced at the wonderful scenery. Before it had looked like a god-forsaken mess of weeds and dead flowers, but now after much hard work and effort, there was a beautiful garden, a pathway, and even some benches gathered around a small stone hearth, mainly used for roasting marshmallows (it was Hermione's idea to put it in). It was late afternoon and they had both been chatting away, mostly about what they wanted to do with their lives after the final battle with Voldemort. Harry had shared the prophecy with her, but no one else just yet. As they reached the benches they sat down opposite each other, gazing silently into the ashes that were left in the small fire pit. The wind made them dance about, as if by magic. This, of course, probably wouldn't have been too uncommon where they came from.

"The weather is quite wonderful, isn't it?" asked Ginny, breaking their shared silence. As are you…she mused.

"Yes, quite lovely, like yourself." Said Harry, and then realizing what he had just said.

"Excuse me?" said Ginny quizzically. She thought that she had heard him say something, but she was too distracted by the look in his eyes. Something must be troubling him…

" Nothing." Good. She didn't hear me…

"Oh. Er..." This was her chance. She could tell him right now if she could just get the words out! "Harry," she spoke as her voice quavered with nerves. I am so stupid, just as I was when I had just a schoolgirl's crush on him…

"Ginny," he said at the same time. "Go ahead. You probably had something more important to say."

"Actually…" Ginny was cut off just as she was about to say how he truly felt by Mrs. Weasley calling them inside for supper. "Hurry, it's getting cold!"

Why, oh why did she have to come?… Ginny thought as she walked through the doors in a huff.