DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. This isn't anything professional, this is all J.K.R's work.

REALLY AU: Harry and Ginny never got together in HBP or DH. Takes place after DH. Hermione and Ron haven't gotten together yet, but still had affairs with Krum and Lavender. Those dead are dead.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE DEATH, CHAPTER 1

Chapter One: Harry

"So you're telling me," Hermione couldn't breathe, it seemed so ridiculous, "that the very bloke who defeated Lord Voldemort, the greatest dark wizard of all time, can't braid?"

Harry flushed, Hermione's laughter seemed to making him turn red with every pitch. "It's not like I could practice on anyone. Between fighting dark forces on a daily basis and schoolwork it's not like I could fit in braiding sessions!"

"I could teach you! My hair is obviously too curly, but we can try using Ginny… Wait here." Hermione left Ron's bedroom and came back moments later with Ginny Weasley.

She was silent as Hermione sat her down on the floor in front of Ginny. "Okay, first divide her hair into three separate sections…" Hermione ordered. Harry was careful not to pull Ginny's hair but the tangled masses didn't make it any easier.

"Oi! That hurt!" Ginny flinched.

"Sorry, sorry!" Harry apologized.

"Okay… Now take the one on the right- no, the right, Harry- and cross it over the middle section. Now repeat everything 'til you're done!" Hermione instructed. Harry did so and as he seemed to get the hang of it, Hermione left the room.

Harry was a very slow braider. It might be because he didn't want to hurt Ginny, or because he just wanted to make it perfect. After a long silence, Ginny spoke up.

"Let's play a game, to make the time go by."

"Okay… What'd you have in mind?" Harry asked, self-consious that she thought he was slow.

"It's called Question. I ask a personal question and you answer. Say Pass and you don't have to answer, but you'll have to answer the next question." She explained.

"Alright… Shoot." Harry nodded.

They started by asking questions that weren't too personal, because both had seen pretty horrible things. After a while Harry finished braiding Ginny's hair, but to stay and play the game, he untied it and redid it and untied it and redid it.

"This is getting nowhere. We both know what the other wants to ask. Ask the real questions!" Ginny yelled after a while. "And stop untying my hair…" Ginny sat down oppisite of Harry on Ron's bed, with the hard blazing look that gave him a funny, enjoyable feeling. He felt ashamed and sorry, yet he agree with her. It took him every ounce of courage he had to utter his next word.

"What happened to you in the Chamber of Secrets?" He asked.

Ginny looked as if he had slapped her suddenly.

"Sorry, that was too soft of a subject. I'm rea-"

"It was dark. There were times I didn't know what I was doing." Ginny said suddenly. "I woke up there, my hands were covered in blood and I could hear everything around me but I couldn't move or see. I couldn't feel anything."

"Your turn." Said Ginny after her long pause. "Before Hogwarts, did you ever wonder about your parents?"

Harry almost laughed. "All the time. When I slept, I could sometimes see a flash of green light. Very rarely, a cold laugh came with it. My aunt and uncle lied to me, saying that they died in a car crash."

"I'm so sorry." Ginny muttered quietly.

"It wasn't your fault. Voldemort's cruel that way." Harry was a bit suprised when Ginny didn't flinch at the mention of his name.

"Go." Ginny said, nodding towards the messy haired boy.

Before he could think, the words slipped out his mouth quicker than the Golden Snitch.

"HowcomethefirsttimeImetyouyoustuckyourelbowinabutterdish?"

"Sorry?" He could see the Weasley girl holding back a laugh.

"Why did you stick your elbow in the butter dish the first time I met you?"

"I had a huge crush on you. I read all about you and couldn't stop talking about you. It was ridiculous." Ginny laughed, recalling the memory.

Harry's face seem to fall and inch every time she said 'was' or 'used' or any word in the past tense.

"My turn, Mr. Oblivious." Ginny teased. "Did you ever… do it?"

Both the eighteen year old and seventeen year old reddend.

"No. Never. You?" Harry responded.

"Nope…" Ginny said. She stared at him and he she. She slowly made her way over to Harry, grabbing his hand.

They're lips were inches away from each other. Harry almost stopped breathing. Ginny's mouth went to his ear and-

"It's time for lunch." She whispered. Before Harry could react she ran out the door, laughing at her tease. Stopping at the doorway she looked over her shoulder and smiled, "come and get me, Potter."

"Oh you're on, Weasley!" Harry laughed, fully recovered as he chased her down the steps and out the field. As he ran out the back door, he mentally added 'kiss Ginny Weasley' to his list of 'Thing to Do Before Death'.