"ALWAYS"

Chapter 2: "My Little Sister!"

They shrieked with laughter at their crazy impulsiveness as they ran towards the Gryffindor common room, holding hands. Their clothes were soaking wet with some seaweed wrapped around them. They were quite a sight, but they hadn't a care in the world. They were finally together after all this lust; that was the most important thing. They hadn't even bothered to talk about the Quidditch match.

Their socks were soaked and they felt their shoes bursting with sea water but Ginny's hair looked as radiant and shiny as ever, if not for a few pieces of seaweed caught up in her hair. Harry noticed this and brushed most of it away. He and Ginny rushed up the stairs, unable to contain their happiness and euphoria. They ran past confused first-years, who stared up at them as if they were some fascinating attraction at a zoo. The couple ignored the other students watching – they were still caught up in joy – and finally sighted the common room just ahead of them.

"Liquorice wand," Harry said breathlessly. The woman in the portrait smiled and muttered, "Naughty children" as she moved to expose the large hole behind her. Harry and Ginny climbed through the hole, still holding hands.

It was clear that the Quidditch celebration was over. Most of the Gryffindors had headed to the Great Hall for dinner. They were probably celebrating there as well. Dean must have went there, since Harry couldn't see him. Only Seamus, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Colin Creevey and Angelina Johnson had stayed behind. Hermione was completing her homework and helping Ron with his, as per usual. Colin was helping clean up the common room after the big mess the Gryffindors had made, assisted by Angelina and Neville. They each held Butterbeer cans and bottles, and piles of rubbish left behind. There were leftover treacle tarts, pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs, as well as some Firewhisky and pumpkin juice. Harry looked over and knew he didn't need any Firewhisky – his heart was already beating three times its normal speed. Ginny reached over to grab a chocolate frog. Seamus was listening to the Weird Sisters next to Ron and Hermione.

As Harry and Ginny stood right in front of everyone, they all turned their heads to look at the pair.

"Guys," Angelina said, her eyes wide, "what happened?"

The couple grinned at each other. Harry didn't know what to say, and Ginny picked up on that. "Um… we fell in the lake. Lost control," she lied. Harry held back a small chuckle.

"Bloody hell, Harry." Of course it was Ron. "What have you done with my sister?"

Ginny glared at her brother. "I don't need you looking out for me all the time, thank you very much Ron," she snapped. "So we were just having fun, no harm done…"

While Hermione left to fetch some towels, Colin Creevey stopped cleaning and came over to Harry. "Can I have an autograph?" he asked. "I've always wanted one…" He held out a quill and an unused serviette.

Normally this would have annoyed Harry (he didn't need the extra attention, he already had enough… the 'Chosen One' rumours hadn't done him much good), but at this moment, here with Ginny, both soaking wet, he didn't care. "Sure, Colin," he said as he quickly signed the serviette. Colin stared at it in awe. He looked like the luckiest person in the world. He was fifteen like Ginny, yet he was still intimidated by Harry like a first-year…

"Well, we best be off then," Angelina smirked as she saw Colin's delighted face. She held the last of the rubbish. "Come on, Colin… Neville."

"See you later, Harry," Neville said as he headed towards the portrait hole.

"Er, right. Later." Harry replied.

Seamus, as well as 99 of the other Gryffindors, knew that Harry and Ginny were now together, so he winked at Harry. Seamus was Dean's best friend but he knew Dean was never that good with Ginny. Harry suited her a lot better, and everyone knew it.

"You have a good time, then?" Seamus asked.

Harry nodded to him as Hermione returned with four towels. "Here, or you'll get sick. Seriously, you both should get washed up, you've got seaweed everywhere! Honestly, what were you thinking? It's freezing in the lake! Look at the weather…"

"Sorry, mum," Harry said jokingly. "I don't think we were really thinking at the time…" Harry wrapped two towels around himself and handed Ginny the other two.

"I'm a bit tired. I don't think I'll be having dinner," Ginny said suddenly. "I ate a lot in the common room after the match before everyone saw me and…"-she blushed-"well, I'll see you later. Thanks for the towels, Hermione."

As she turned to leave, she winked at Harry. He got the message. "I'll, er, be going too." Then, without further ado, he followed Ginny and disappeared out of sight.

Ron looked disapprovingly at them before they left. My little sister, he thought before Hermione shook her head as she had done so many times that night and said, "Ron, you spelled it wrong again."