Harry looked at the boisterous family around him and wondered again why he had accepted the invitation. Right before he kissed Ginny goodbye, after their dinner date, she had asked him if he would want to come over and have dinner with her family on New Year's Eve. At the time, it had seemed like a great idea. Harry loved her company and wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. What he hadn't factored in at the time was that they wouldn't be alone. Ginny's family was relatively big: five brothers, with wives or girlfriends, and even some kids. In addition, the Weasleys were in the habit of inviting any of their friends who happened to be alone for the Holidays. Harry wondered how the family would have managed to fit everybody in their house if they hadn't had magic to extend the size of the kitchen.
He felt a squeeze on his thighs and looked up to see Ginny looking at him.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.
"Yes... I think... My head is spinning some," he said with a small smile.
"You're not use to all this, are you?"
"Not really," he answered. "I'm used to something a little bit more quiet."
"If you want, we can go."
"No, no," said Harry quickly. "This is your family and we're staying."
Ginny smiled at him and looked at her brother Bill who was sitting on her other side and was trying to get her attention.
"She shouldn't be seeing him," Harry heard Ron say to Hermione.
"Ron, it is none of our business," said Hermione. "She's an adult. Let her make her own decision."
"But Hermione, she's not thinking like an adult. Who in their right mind would date him with the reputation he's got?"
"Ron, don't believe everything you hear."
"How would you know if the papers are right or not?"
"Well, Ron, as you may not have yet realized, Harry is my business partner."
Harry heard a chair scratch the floor and fall on its back. He looked up just in time to see Ron storm out of the room. He looked at Hermione who was sitting on his other side just in time to see her sighed sadly.
"Sorry," said Harry. "I didn't mean to bring trouble. I shouldn't have come."
"Nonsense," said Hermione dismissively. "You had every right to come. The Weasleys are very well known for welcoming anybody who is alone during the Holidays. On the other hand, you being here did not give Ron the right to be an idiot."
"He didn't know we were business partners?"
"No," she answered. "The subject has never come up. But I guess now is as good a time as any to tell him."
"I really am sorry, Hermione," said Harry, looking at his plate.
At that moment, he really did feel sorry. He never meant to create trouble and it seemed he would never be able to shred his reputation. Ron may be right after all: he was not good enough to be here with these people.
"Harry, don't be," said Hermione, gently putting her hand on his. "Ron has to learn to accept everything about me and it includes us being business partners... And he has to let Ginny make her own choice."
"Yeah, but what if he's right? What if I'm just like the papers say?"
"But you're not!" protested Hermione. "If you were, you wouldn't be here right now... You wouldn't care enough to be here. And honestly, Harry, anyone who takes a minute to really look at you knows how much you care about Ginny."
"Yes, I do," he said quietly.
Ron was still throwing daggers at him later that night when they moved to the living room. Harry was standing by the fireplace sipping a firewhiskey when Ginny joined him, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You seem bored."
People had very much left him alone all night. He wondered if it was not because they really didn't know what to tell him... What do you say to the man who has defeated the most evil wizard of their time?
"I'm okay," said Harry, hugging her against him. "I'm just not used to so many conversations going on at the same time," he added with a grin.
"That's it! That's it!" announced Mrs Weasley. "The countdown."
Effectively, the wireless had started the countdown and was now down to 10.
"10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! Happy New Year!" the Weasley family exclaimed.
Ginny looked up at Harry and smiled.
"Happy New Year, Harry."
"Happy New Year."
They looked at one another a moment longer and Ginny raised herself on her tiptoes. Putting her arms around Harry's neck, she pulled him towards her and kissed him gently. Harry pulled away and looked at her. In her eyes, he saw only acceptance and joy at being with him. Slowly, he kissed her again, pulling her to him, letting her body fit against him.
She tasted so right, she felt so good. He knew, at that moment, he had never felt that way for anybody before.
"About time, if you ask me," said somebody behind Ginny, interrupting them. "I was beginning to wonder if you didn't prefer women."
Ginny turned around.
"George, let it be," said another one of her brother, Bill.
"Hey, that's our little sister," said Charlie, smiling. "Maybe we should pull that bloke aside and have a conversation with him."
"Now, I don't think we need to," said Percy. "Mum will do just fine."
"Oh! You boys! Leave them alone."
Harry could not help but notice Ron was not participating in the friendly bartered. In fact, he was a few feet away, fuming, while Hermione was trying to calm him.
"Don't worry about them," said Ginny to his ear. "They're in fact pretty afraid of me," she added with a grin.
"I don't doubt it," said Harry smiling back at her. "I don't doubt it at all."
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"Harry, where are you taking me?" asked Ginny, laughing at Harry's antics.
"You'll see. Tell me, Ginny, what is your full name."
"Ginevra Molly Weasley. Why?"
Harry stopped walking, faced her and took her hands in his.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley, Harry James Potter lives at 12 Grimmauld Place, London. From now on, you are invited to visit his home any time you wish to."
"Why are you saying that to me?" asked Ginny puzzled.
Harry shrugged.
"My house, it is under a very very strong Fidelius Charm," he explained. "Hermione sort of expanded on the charm and made it so strong that if you were taken to my house without hearing the key phrase, you would not be able to go there again. You need one of the secret keepers to tell you the phrase to be able to get here on your own. In fact, Hermione made it so strong that if somebody was looking for me, they wouldn't even find the street.
"What I just told you is a ritual of sort. My using your name prevent anybody else who happen to hear to actually be able to remember. Your name is the key for you to understand. The invitation part is also essential otherwise you would only be able to find my house once. Now you have full access, all the time."
"Wow!" said Ginny very seriously. "How many people know where you live?"
"One other," answered Harry. "Hermione."
"And how many people have been to your house?" asked Ginny, thinking about all the women the newspapers had been referring to.
"Very few since I live there," answered Harry. "The Minister. One or two friends. That's all."
"It's quite an honour you telling me, isn't it?" she asked once she had absorbed his answer.
"I... I really wanted to show you my place," said Harry, looking at the ground. "And I wanted you to be able to visit me as much as you wanted.
"Come. Let me take you there," he added, starting to walk again.
A few minutes later, they turned onto Grimmauld Place.
"So you're saying the Fidelius is so strong that someone who was looking for you couldn't even find the street?"
"They wouldn't remember it either," said Harry. "I told your mum I was living in my uncle's house on Grimmauld Place... She's even been there in the past. If you were to ask her where I live, she wouldn't remember the name of the street."
"That's quite powerful."
"Yes," agreed Harry. "You know, a lot of people underestimate what Hermione can do. If the Ministry had wind of half of what she is capable of, they would probably hire her as an Unspeakable. Good for me, she wants nothing to do with the Ministry."
"Why are you telling me all this?" asked Ginny surprised. "Don't you think I shouldn't know?"
"Maybe," said Harry, shrugging again. "But I think I can trust you."
Ginny remained silent as they walk the rest of the way to the house. They climbed the stairs and stopped on the stoop.
"To open the door, you've got to wave your hand and thing 'I am seeking home'. Try it," invited Harry.
Ginny did as he told her and the door opened.
"Wow!" she said. "I never was good at none verbal."
"This one is not really none verbal. The door reads your intent, after a fashion," explained Harry. "If you come with evil intent towards anybody who's inside, the door wouldn't open."
"I guess if I was mad at you, I would be stuck on the stoop then?" asked Ginny with a grin.
"No, you should be able to come in," answered Harry, smiling also. "Unless, of course, you want to hurt me physically... then the door wouldn't open."
"So noted," said Ginny, walking in the house.
Harry closed the door behind them.
Ginny took in the appearance of the old house and thought it was a very charming and welcoming place.
"It doesn't look the way my brothers described it back in the days," she said.
"I did a lot of changes," said Harry. "I didn't want to live here if it still looked as dark and gloomy as it did during my Godfather's time."
Harry gave Ginny a full tour of the place, finishing by his own bedroom.
"Wow! It looks like Gryffindor!" said Ginny. "I wonder if I would have been a Gryffindor if I had gone to Hogwarts."
"Have you ever seen a Weasley who was not?" asked Harry with a chuckle.
"You've got a point," she said, walking out of the room and following Harry down the stairs.
"I've got dinner ready for us," said Harry, guiding her to the kitchen.
"That's good because I'm starving."
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"He did what?" exclaimed Hermione, almost choking on her tea.
She and Ginny were sitting at the little café Harry had taken Ginny so many times before.
"He told me where he lived and he took me there," said Ginny.
"And you remember?"
"Of course," answered Ginny. "He used my full name."
"Dear Merlin!" said Hermione, shaking her head. "Ginny, you do realize he has never taken anybody to his house, don't you? Actually, do you realize very few people actually know where he lives?"
"He told me there were only you... and now me," said Ginny. "Hermione, I was wondering, where did he take the women in the newspaper if so very few people have ever been to his place after the war?"
"He had a flat in the Alley," answered Hermione, looking at her cup of tea. "He always thought he needed a place where he could be away from the public eye, away from the popularity, and he never though they were worthy enough for him to tell them where he really lived."
"Wow!" said Ginny.
"Yes: wow!" agreed Hermione. "I never thought I would see the day he would share the knowledge of where he lived with someone else."
"Does he... Does he still have the place in the Alley?" asked Ginny hesitantly.
"As far as I know, he does, but he hasn't been there lately," said Hermione. "If he had, it would have been all over the news. Besides, he was home every morning I arrived to work early for these last two months so I really don't think he's been there at all."
"What do you think it means, him showing me his place?" asked Ginny a little worried. "I mean, we've been seeing each other for what? Two months? And he already sees me as worthy?"
"Ginny, let me ask you this: have you slept with him?"
"No," answered Ginny. "Not even close."
"Well, do know this is also very unusually for Harry. Ginny, I think Harry really really likes you," said Hermione seriously. "If you don't like him, I would suggest you tell him right now."
"Hermione, I do like him," said Ginny very seriously. "I really do. I'm just afraid he's not going to like me back."
"Oh! I think he does," said Hermione. "He would not have shown you his house otherwise... I mean, you have to admit, even his closest male friends don't know where he lives... even if some of them have been there.
"No, Ginny. If I was a gambler, my money would definitely be on you," added Hermione.
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Ginny had spent the night at his house.
They hadn't shared a bed but she had spent the night at the house.
Harry had invited her over for dinner and, after a movie, they had lain on the bed of the guest room and spoke until the wee hours of the morning. He had looked at her fall asleep and gone to his own bed.
She was beautiful when she slept.
And Harry never thought he would ever want somebody as much as he wanted her. But he didn't dare. She was so pure, so fresh, so... everything. He was just afraid he would ruin it all.
But now was not the time to think about something like that.
After spending the morning following his mark, and observing the man's lack of activities, he had decided to take a short break to bring Ginny flowers and her favourite coffee.
He arrived at the shop and found the door lock.
He frowned. The shop sign said open and Harry didn't know Ginny to lock the door at any time during the day. He peered inside and did not see anybody. He removed his wand and unlocked the door before opening it slowly. He put the flowers and the coffee on the window seal and turned back to face the empty shop.
"Ginny?" he called.
He heard a loud crash from the back of the shop.
"Ginny?" he called again.
But he received no answer.
His wand in his hand, he slowly walked to the back of the shop. What he found shocked him. His query was standing over Ginny, his fist bloody. At the sound of Harry's footstep, he looked up and Harry shouted a binding spell. The spell affected the man for only a few seconds before, at incredible speed, he ran past Harry, knocking him aside, and went for the door. Before Harry could send another binding spell his way, the man was gone.
Harry turned around and looked at Ginny. She was on the ground and didn't move. Her jaw was visibly broken and her left eye was swollen shut. She also had great difficulty breathing.
"Ginny!" exclaimed Harry, running to her. "Hold still! I'm here now. I'll take care of you."
Gently, Harry took her in his arm and Ginny's eyes closed, her small body claimed by unconsciousness. Panic filling his heart, Harry spun on the spot and apparated them at St. Mungo's. He appeared in the special yard where he had been treated a few years ago, after his encounter with Voldermort, and any other time since, when he had needed treatment. The yard was reputed for its discrete staff and it was held separated from the rest of the hospital.
"Help! Please! Help me!" he yelled as soon as he appeared.
Two nurses and a Healer came running.
"Mr Potter? Who is she? Are you all right?" asked the Healer.
"I'm fine. This is Ginny Weasley. She was attacked," said Harry.
"Her pulse is weak. Something is wrong with her lungs," said one of the nurses.
"Her jaw is in a bad way, too," said the other one.
A third nurse arrived with a stretcher and Harry put Ginny on it.
"Harry, we'll take care of her," said the Healer, stopping Harry when he meant to follow them. "Now, you wait here and I'll be with you as soon as I know what we're dealing with."
Harry looked at the nurses who were taking Ginny way.
"Healer Roberts, please take good care of her," he begged, his heart breaking in a thousand pieces.
He couldn't lose her. She was the sun in his life.
"Yes, I will," said the Healer, putting a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder. "Now, you wait here, okay?"
Harry nodded and the Healer ran after the nurses.
Harry took his wand out and sent a Patronus to Hermione, telling her what had happened. He then let himself fall on a chair and took his head in his hands. He was still sitting there when Mr and Mrs Weasley arrived at the Hospital.
"Son, are you okay?" asked Mr Weasley, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry looked up, and saw concern and acceptance in Mr Weasley's eyes.
"No," said Harry, "no, I'm not."
Mr Weasley nodded once.
"Any news on Ginny?" asked Mrs Weasley.
"No," answered Harry, letting his head fall back in his hands.
"Hold in there, Harry. She's strong. You'll see," said Mr Weasley.
About an hour later, the Healer walked towards them. They all stood up and waited for the Healer to talk.
"She's fine," he said. "She'll need rest for a few days but she will be fine. It's a good thing you brought her here right away, Mr Potter. Her injuries were quite serious."
"Can we see her?" asked Mrs Weasley.
"Yes. She's resting for now but you may go see her. She should be good to go home later tonight."
Mr and Mrs Weasley followed the Healer while Harry sat back down on the bench.
"Harry, son, aren't you coming?" asked Mr Weasley.
"No, not yet. I'll let you have some time with her," he answered, smiling sadly.
Mr Weasley nodded and left.
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"I want to go to Harry's, Mum. I'll be safe there."
"You're sure you don't want to come home?"
"Yes, I am. I'm sorry, Mum. There are just too many people at the house and I really need some rest."
"She's right, Molly," said Mr Weasley. "The house is often busier than a corner store. She'll be fine with Harry."
Ginny looked at her father gratefully.
A few minutes earlier, the Healer had come over to examine Ginny and pronounced her ready to go home. Ginny was now getting dressed and ready to leave.
"Dad, where is Harry? He hasn't been in yet."
"He's in the lobby," answered her dad with a smile. "I think he feels very bad about what happened to you. I think he thinks it's his fault."
"How can it be his fault? He had nothing to do with this," said Ginny.
"Nevertheless, I think your father is right," said Mrs Weasley. "Your young man is very fond of you, Ginny. I think he is rather distraught by all this."
Ginny smiled and finished dressing up. A few moments later, she walked out of the room and went to the sitting room where Harry was still sitting on the bench, his head in his hands.
"Harry?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Can we go home?"
Harry looked up puzzled.
"I'd like to go to your place, if you'll have me," she said.
"Yes!" said Harry, standing up. "Of course. If it is okay with your parents."
"Yes, Harry," said Mr Weasley. "She will be better at your place. Ours is like a zoo and the Healer told her she needed some rest."
Harry nodded once and looked at Ginny.
"I'm ready when you are," he told her.
She put her arms around him.
"I'm ready."
With a twist, Harry apparated them away.
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Harry was in his study when he heard a commotion in the dining room, followed by footsteps running up the stairs. He looked in the hallway to see Hermione walk towards his office. He looked at her frowning.
"He's impossible!" she exclaimed.
"Who?" asked Harry.
"Ron, who else? He insisted I took him to see his sister when he found out she wasn't staying at the Burrow."
Harry shrugged and got back to the report he was reading. Hermione went to her desk and began working on her own research. They had been working for over fifteen minutes when they heard Ron storm down the stairs. A few seconds later, he walked in the study, went to Harry and without stopping, punched him in the face.
"RON!" exclaimed Hermione, getting to her feet.
Harry, who had fell off his chair, got to his feet and looked at Ron, a hand rubbing his jaw.
"You! Piece of shit! Get away from my sister! She's too good for you! And she would not have been attacked if you were not in her life!
"Ron! That's enough!" said Hermione.
"No! It is not enough! I don't want this piece of filth..."
"Immobilus!" screamed Hermione, her wand in hand.
"Hermione!" exclaimed Harry. "Let him speak!"
"No, Harry! I won't! You don't deserve to be treated that way. Not by him and not by anyone else," she said, looking at Ron angrily.
"But he's right," said Harry quietly. "I'm not good enough for her," he added, sitting on his chair.
He put his elbows on his desk and grabbed his head in his hands.
"Harry James Potter! You saved the whole wizarding world and you think you're not good enough for her? Stop being a martyr and take upon yourself! You may not be perfect but you sure are good enough for her!
"As for you," she said, turning to the frozen Ron. "I am taking you out of here right now. And don't think to contact me again when you learn to grow up."
She casted a weightless charm on Ron and took him out of the room to the apparition point in the dining room. She came back a few minutes later and heavily sat on her chair.
"How did it go?" asked Harry.
"Well, I left him in the Burrow's kitchen with a note pinned to his chest telling his mum what he did. I left it up to her to lift the charm... And I told him I don't want to see him until he comes back to his senses. Ginny is 21 years old. She knows what she's doing and it's not up to him to intervene.
"No. This nonsense has last long enough. I won't tolerate it anymore," finished Hermione.
"I wish I was an Animagus just to change into a fly and listen to what Mrs Weasley will say to him," said Harry with an amused smile.
"I've got to admit, it will be rather amusing, wouldn't you say?"
Harry chuckled and went back to his reading.
"She really likes you, you know," said Hermione after a few minutes of silence. "And I think you like her too," she added.
"Yes, I do," said Harry, not lifting his eyes from his reading.
"You know, what happened to her was not your fault."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I know you, Harry Potter. You are blaming yourself for it. It may have been our half-vampire who did that to her, but it would have happened even if you hadn't known her. He is after something, after something Ginny may have. Now, we just have to find out what."
"Hum!" said Harry.
Hermione was right: they had to find out what this guy wanted.
After a few minutes of thinking, Harry put down his file, stood up and left the room. He climbed the stairs and went to Ginny's room. Gently, he knocked on the door.
"Yes?" called Ginny from inside.
"It's me," said Harry.
"Come in. It's not locked," she said amused.
Harry walked in and went to sit next to her on the bed. Ginny was sitting, her blanket over her lap, reading a book.
"How do you feel?" he asked, taking a wisp of hair away from her eyes.
"Like I was hit by a muggle car," answered Ginny with a chuckled.
"Ginny, the guy who attacked you, what did he want?"
"Rubies," answered Ginny.
"Did you receive any rubies lately?"
"Not that I know of. I hadn't ordered any so why would I get some?"
"Ginny," said Harry gently, taking her hands in his. "The guy who attacked you, his name is Dawson Mulroney. Hermione and I have been investigating him for a while now. We suspect he is a dark artefact dealer. We are yet to figure out how he gets his artefacts delivered. So far, all we found was a legitimate, if not shabby, business."
"Oh!" said Ginny. "Is his attacking me related to you?"
"Hermione doesn't think so," answered Harry. "She thinks it's part of his operation. She thinks if I hadn't known you, you would still have been attacked."
"And you?" asked Ginny gently.
"I... I don't know. I... I don't want to put you in danger. I hope Hermione is right but I don't know," he answered, looking at their linked hand.
Ginny liberated one of her hands and brought it to his cheek. Slowly, she raised his face so he would look at her. She leaned forward and kissed him.
"I don't want you to think you're responsible," she said. "I think Hermione is right," she added before kissing him again.
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"So, what did she say?" asked Hermione when Harry came back to his study.
"He wanted rubies," he answered. "Come with me. I think we have a shop to search."
A few minutes later, Hermione and Harry apparated into Ginny's shop.
"He doesn't seem to have come back," said Hermione, looking around.
"Let's hope not," said Harry.
"So, Ginny said he was looking for rubies?"
"Yeah."
"Accio Rubies," called Hermione.
To their surprised, an unopened box flew to Hermione's hands.
"What is it?" asked Harry.
"I don't know," answered Hermione. "Looks like unopened mail."
Harry walked to where the box flew from, next to the back shop door, and saw a small pile of boxes on the floor.
"Yes, unopened mail," he confirmed.
"That's interesting," said Hermione, putting the box on the counter. "Should we take it with us or open it here?"
"Let's take it with us," said Harry. "This guy may come back and I don't fancy being here if he does," said Harry.
"Yes," said Hermione. "Let me just put some wards up first."
Once she was done, they apparated into the dining room and Hermione put the box on the table. Not only was the dining room the apparating point in the house, it was also, once the doors were closed, a very securely warded room for spell practice or to manipulate objects that may prove dangerous. Once Harry closed the door, they sat at the table and Hermione began some detection spells to see if the package was secure.
"I detect something... strange, but no traps on the package."
"You want me to try too?"
"Yes," said Hermione slowly, still concentrating on her magic. "I cannot pinpoint what makes this strange... feeling."
Harry cast a few detection spells of his own and rapidly found what Hermione was referring to. The package, while not dangerous, seemed to be evil at the same time. The feeling was definitely strange, as if what was inside would only be dangerous if the intent of the user was unfriendly.
"Do you think it's safe to open it?" asked Harry.
"I do not know but I think we should," answered Hermione, still frowning. "Let's put a few extra wards around the room just in case."
After a few minutes of adding wards to the room, Hermione opened the package. Rubies rolled on the table, one of which was definitely bigger than the other one.
"Oh!" said Hermione. "That's interesting."
"Have you ever seen one of those before?" asked Harry, his eyes on the bigger stone.
"I may have," answered Hermione. "Let me do some research to confirm it but I think it may be a blood stone. In the meantime, let's put this in the strongest warded box we've got."
"A blood stone?"
"Yes. Relatively dark magic. It is created with a human blood sacrifice and it allows a vampire to go without feeding as long as he keeps it on him. If broken, it also holds the same power as a blood sacrifice for a dark spell," explained Hermione. "Not the type of things we want around the house. And definitely not the purest of magic either. If it is used by a vampire, it is not as bad however it may end up corrupting a weak minded vampire. Now if it is used for a spell, that would be pretty evil. I think this would explain the feeling we've got from it."
"Then wouldn't that be the proof we need for the Ministry?"
"Yes, it may," answered Hermione slowly. "However, I would very much like to know how he got it to Ginny. I wouldn't want another person to pick up after we catch him and use the same means of smuggling artefacts."
"Okay," said Harry. "I'm on it."
"And I will look into this thing to confirm my suspicions."
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And Harry found out about the way his query was smuggling artefacts totally by chance, almost a month later.
"Harry, can you stop by Flourish and Blotts this morning to pick a copy of The Gems of Wonder?" asked Hermione over breakfast.
"We don't have that one?" asked Harry, thinking about all the books filling the bookshelves in the sitting room.
When they had started their business over four years ago, Harry had transformed the sitting room into a library/entertainment room. The Black family tree was now covered by floor to ceiling bookshelves which covered not only the tapestry but all the other walls except for the windows. On a table, away from the bookshelf, Harry had installed a muggle television and entertainment system. His money and connection had allowed him to have his system modified so it would work without electricity and receive cable without direct connection. He was pretty proud of his system and, in the past, it had filled more than one of his numerous lonely nights. Nowadays, he especially enjoyed it with Ginny, when they snuggled on the sofa to watch a movie.
"No, we don't," she answered.
Harry definitely thought it was a good thing the bookshelves were not already full but he would no doubt need to convert another room into a library in the not so distant future.
"Okay, I'll get it."
An hour later, he was walking to Flourish and Blotts, thinking about his upcoming date with Ginny. After staying at his house for a week, she had gone back to her activities and her shop, to the delight of Matilde and her numerous customers.
Harry had invited her to dinner in Muggle London that night, something she really enjoyed, especially since her new Muggle patron was the Muggle Prime Minister's wife. Her name was slowly becoming a fashion household name and being seen in public wearing her creations was very good for her newly established Muggle business. But before the evening, Harry had to find more about Dawson Mulroney.
Thinking his query's name must have summoned him as Harry suddenly saw him a few yards in front of him. Harry hid in the first doorway he passed and observed the half-vampire for a moment. To his surprise, the half-vampire approached the parcel delivery man.
A few years back, the merchants of Diagon Alley had complained about the droppings of the numerous delivery owls, droppings which inconvenienced the shoppers and dirtied the street. After an incident during which the Minister himself had been sprayed by droppings during an important inauguration, the Ministry took it upon itself to restrict the flight of owls within the Alley. The Ministry had created a delivery center on the outskirt of the Alley and had hired Squids to deliver the mail to the numerous shops. The solution had pleased the merchants, who were now free of the droppings, and the few Squids who had now found suitable employments.
Harry saw Mulroney say something to the mailman who gave him a parcel and left for his round. Dawson looked around to see if he was observed and rapidly disappeared towards Moonlight Alley. Once Harry was sure he was gone, he walked to the mailman.
"Mailmaster, what did the gentleman asked of you?" he asked the mailman.
"Excuse me sir? Which gentleman?"
"The one who was just here," answered Harry.
"I'm sorry, sir. I haven't seen anyone since I started my round this morning."
Harry looked at the mailman puzzled.
"Will it be all? Do you need me to take back a parcel to the post office?"
"No, no. That'll be all," answered Harry.
As soon as he got the book for Hermione, Harry went back to his house and spoke of the incident with his business partner.
"Harry, I think you just found it," said Hermione. "According to my research, vampires can mind control the weak. They could not mind control most wizards but they definitely could mind control a Squid... And everybody knows mailmen are Squids."
"But a half-vampire would be able to mind control too?" asked Harry.
"Most of them can," answered Hermione. "I think, from now on, our best bet is to follow the mailmen. I think they are the key."
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Harry loved the time he spent with Ginny.
He loved Ginny.
With all his body, his heart and his soul.
But he couldn't tell her.
She was sitting next to him, in the sitting room, and they were watching a movie. He was holding her to his chest with both arms, as if he was afraid she would fly away. He loved the feel of her body against his. He loved the smell of her hair. He loved the feel of her skin when he caressed her hand. He loved the taste of her month when she kissing him. He loved everything about her.
But he couldn't tell her.
He sighed in contentment, caressing her hair with his cheek. There was nothing he liked more than to be with her.
Slowly, she looked up, and her eyes found his. They were the most beautiful brown eyes he had ever seen. But now, he could see something else in them: desire. She leaned forward and kissed him passionately. It was the sweetest thing Harry knew, her kisses, and this one was as good and as intense as ever. To his immense surprise, her hand found the front of his pants and she stocked him gently.
Harry's breath caught in his throat in desire but also in fear. There were no hiding how much he wanted her but he couldn't.
Gently, he took her hand in his and took it away from his raging erection. Surprised, she pulled from him and looked at him in the eyes.
"Ginny, I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I... I can't. I'm not... I'm not ready."
He wanted her. Every fibres of his body wanted her. They had now been dating for over 5 months and he wanted her so much. But he couldn't. He was afraid. What he had with Ginny was so special, so pure. He was afraid that if he took their relationship any further, all of it would go away and he would lose this wonderful woman he had come to love so much.
Harry could see the disappointment in her eyes but she quickly recuperated and put her head on his shoulder.
Harry wanted to cry. He didn't want to see disappointment in her eyes. But how do you tell a woman that first, you loved her, and second, you were terrified that taking a step further would ruin their relationship.
Closing his eyes to keep the tears from falling, he caressed her hair with his cheek again.
He wanted to say that he loved her, but the words would simply not come out. And he wondered if she would believe him. She knew, after all, of his reputation. And it pained him that he hadn't waited for her instead of messing around.
Still fighting his emotions, he hugged her to his heart, wishing she would understand.
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"Hermione, tell me what's wrong with this guy?" said Ginny, exasperatedly walking back and forth. "We've been dating for over five months and the only thing he finds to tell me is that he's not ready. Now, how many healthy men would say that?"
Ginny was frustrated on the verge of tears. But she wouldn't cry: it was not her style. But she was angry. She could not understand why Harry wouldn't want her. Was it that he didn't like her? But that didn't make sense since everything he did with her screamed of his affection, if not love. And her body was dying to know his touch. She had never felt the touch of a man before but she knew herself enough to know she wanted Harry. Badly.
"I don't know, Ginny," said Hermione at a lost. "I know he's been with a lot of women before but I don't know why he told you he wasn't ready."
"Well, I am!" said Ginny.
She turned and put some shirts away in her chest of drawers. She then banged the drawer close, taking her frustration on her furniture.
"Hermione, is it me?" she asked, turning to her friend, suddenly insecure. "You know, all these women he's been with, they were all very pretty, and very classy. I'm just not like that. Do you think that has to do with it?"
"I don't know but I don't think so," answered Hermione.
And Ginny was pretty sure she was right. After all, she had felt Harry's desire through his pants.
"Then what is it?"
"I don't know, Ginny," said Hermione. "I really don't know."