Harry Loves Ginny

Goblet of Fire: After Harry's Name is Drawn

Harry sat morosely in front of the fireplace, he couldn't believe that Ron didn't believe him that he hadn't placed his name into the Goblet of Fire. Some best mate he was turning out to be.

Hermione at least seemed to believe him but she had spent the better part of the last hour lecturing Ron, though to Harry it looked like all it did was increase Ron's resentment.

Harry shook his head, he just couldn't take it any more and since the way to the dorms was blocked by partying Gryffindors he made his way to the portrait hole and slipped out unnoticed by everybody but one.

Ginny noticed Harry slip away and she knew he was feeling very depressed. She hurried to catch up with him. As she exited she saw him slip down the Hall, descending the stairs. She followed him until he reached the bottom where he sat down and rested his head in his hands.

Ginny was torn about what to do, it was obvious that Harry had left because he wanted to be alone or maybe just to get away from Ron and Hermione who had been arguing as usual. Of course this time it concerned Harry and if he had put his name into the Goblet.

Screwing up her courage she said "Hi Harry," as she came down to where he sat.

Harry's head snapped up and it looked like he was going to make an angry retort but when he saw who it was the words died on his lips and he looked slightly embarrassed.

"Oh, Hi Ginny," he said rather dejectedly.

"Can I sit down?" she asked softly.

"Um, sure," Harry replied, looking at her uncertainly.

Ginny sat down on the stair next to him and stared at her feet for a moment. Pushing her anxiety aside she looked over at him.

Harry was looking at her intensely and she almost lost her nerve but she pushed through her nervousness and asked "Are you OK?"

Harry shot her a withering look.

Ginny gave a small nervous laugh, "OK, stupid question," she said.

"What do you want Ginny?" Harry asked pointedly.

Ginny almost broke at that point but in her heart she knew that he was only reacting to the way the others had been treating him.

"I thought you could use a friend right about now," Ginny said softly as she looked into his eyes.

Harry's face fell as he realized he had over reacted. "I'm sorry Ginny," he said with a sigh.

"It's OK Harry," Ginny said softly.

"No it's not," Harry said dejectedly, "The one person who is actually being nice to me and I almost snap her head off."

"I understand Harry," Ginny replied. She looked at him and saw how dejected he looked. She began to feel like she was only making things worse and began to get up. "I should probably leave you alone," she said.

Harry reached out and gently took hold of her arm, "Please stay," he said sincerely.

Ginny stared down at his hand resting on her arm, not believing that he was actually touching her.

Harry misinterpreted her look and hastily snatched his hand back. "Sorry," he said gloomily.

Ginny reached out and laid her hand on his shoulder, "No, it's OK Harry," she said realizing he had misinterpreted her look.

Harry looked up into her eyes and they locked gazes for a moment before they both hurriedly looked away.

They were broken out of their stupor by the arrival of Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat coming down the stairway at them.

Harry jumped up and extended his hand at Ginny, "Quick, Filch can't be far behind," he said.

Ginny took his hand and was almost pulled off her feet as Harry hauled her down the last few steps and along the hall, away from the prying eyes of Filch's obnoxious cat.

They ran hand in hand around several corners, down a staircase and into one of the secret passages where Harry drew up short, Ginny pressed close to him in the narrow space.

They both grinned at one another in their shared elation of having escaped Filch. It was then that they both became aware that they were still holding hands.

They both blushed, looking into one another's eyes but for the moment they seemed reluctant to let go.

Finally with a shy smile Harry let go of Ginny's hand, "Sorry," he mumbled.

"Why are you Sorry?" Ginny asked with a shy smile of her own and if Harry could have seen it in the dim light she was blushing furiously.

"I, ah, Well you see, I, ah," Harry stammered, suddenly aware of just how close they were standing. His head was spinning from Ginny's intoxicating fragrance and he tried to step back but Ginny followed, keeping herself close to Harry's chest.

"There's nothing to be sorry about," Ginny said softly, embolden by the darkness that surrounded them.

Harry was dimly aware of Ginny's soft small hand taking his into hers. "This isn't so bad, is it?" she asked.

"N-no," Harry managed to get out, feeling light-headed now with Ginny's closeness.

Though Ginny was being the aggressor her insides didn't feel near as confident as the performance she was putting on. Her heart was beating like a Hummingbird's and her stomach was twisting into knots.

Harry could feel Ginny more than see her in the dim light, he felt the heat of her body standing millimetres from him and her warm breath brushed across his neck with every word she spoke.

"Is there something wrong with my hand that makes it difficult for you to hold it?" she asked softly.

Harry had never felt anything so soft and wonderful in his whole life. It was as if Ginny's hand had been made just to fit into his.

"Ginny, I . . ." Harry started to say but then he halted, unsure of just what to say.

"What Harry?" Ginny asked, her sweet warm breath caressing his skin, further driving him crazy.

"I – I really like holding your hand," he managed to get out. In the dim light he saw her smile shyly. "It feels really, - - Nice," he stammered.

"Nice?" asked Ginny, her smile fading a bit.

Harry tried to recover quickly, "Well more like wonderful," he said. "It's like my hand has been looking for something to fill it even though I didn't realize it until your hand was in mine and then I knew what it was looking for," he said sheepishly, not feeling like he had adequately explained what he was feeling.

Harry saw the look of surprise on Ginny's face and he was afraid he had said too much or failed in describing just what he was feeling.

Ginny saw the concern run across Harry's face and she was afraid that Harry would pull away. "I know just how you feel," Ginny whispered softly. "I feel the same way."

Harry felt his heart give a leap and his fear evaporated. His eyes drifted shut as a feeling of contentment filled him.

"Harry, are you OK?" Ginny asked when she saw his eyes close.

Harry's eyes snapped open and Ginny saw a green fire burning in them that hadn't been there before.

"Harry," Ginny began but Harry leaned toward her and his lips found hers forcing all coherent thought from her brain. All she was aware of was Harry's lips on hers and a tingling sensation running up and down her spine.

The kiss evolved into a series of little kisses as their mouths sucked and nibbled on each others lips. Ginny had never experienced anything so sensual in her life. She was dimly aware in the back of her mind that one of her childhood dreams had come true. Her first kiss was with Harry Potter, but not the Harry Potter of children's stories and legends but as a warm, live, breathing Harry who she knew to be just a normal young man who now had his one hand entangled in her hair and the other on the small of her back keeping her close as they explored each others lips in a kiss that was taking her breath away.

Finally they broke apart and Ginny gasped at her feeling of loss as Harry's lips left hers.

"Sweet Merlin!" Harry breathed into her ear.

Ginny's answer was to put her hands on the back of Harry's neck and pull him down once more into another mind numbing kiss.

The second kiss lasted longer than the first and if anything the effect on both of them was much more intense than the first.

By the time they broke the second kiss both were panting hard, out of breath and slightly overwhelmed by the emotions that they were feeling.

Ginny snuggled tightly into Harry's embrace, feeling like she'd fall down if he hadn't been holding her. As their breathing returned to near normal Harry asked "Are you OK with this?"

Ginny couldn't stifle a small giggle and she whispered "Oh Harry, I'm more than OK with this."

"Really?" Harry asked softly, not believing his ears.

"Really," she replied softly as she gave him a small quick kiss.

Neither really felt like moving but they both realized it was now quite late and after curfew and if they got caught it would mean detention and the loss of house points.

Harry carefully peeked out from behind the tapestry that hid the passage they were hiding in. "The coast is clear," he whispered.

Taking Ginny by the hand they slowly crept out of their hiding place and made their way quietly back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Both shyly glancing at one another as they walked along.

Harry gave the password to the Fat Lady who gave them a knowing look and they entered hand in hand. The Common Room was virtually empty except for a couple of Seventh years working over in a corner and Hermione who was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.

She looked up at them as they came over and sat down on the couch beside her. Harry noticed her eyes widen in shock when she noticed they were holding hands.

"Harry," she said softly.

"What Hermione?" Harry asked.

"This sure isn't going to make things better with Ron," she replied.

Harry couldn't believe his ears, "What?" he asked incredulously. "You think I give a rat's arse right now what Ron thinks?"

Ginny giggled at Harry's response. "Come on Hermione," she said. "Ron's being a right royal prat right now and you know it."

"I know Ginny but it's just that this is going to make things worse," Hermione said.

"That's his problem," Harry said harshly. "You and Ginny have been the only one's who believed me when I said I didn't put my name in that damn Goblet and Ginny's the only one who came after me when I left this evening to be by myself.

"You mean go and sulk," Ginny said softly with a small smile.

Harry looked at her and blushed, knowing she was telling the truth and feeling a bit embarrassed by it.

"Don't get me wrong," Hermione said defensively. "I have always thought you and Ginny are perfect for one another but the timing is atrocious."

Harry just shrugged and then gave Ginny a grin, "Well you could actually say that this is Ron's doing."

When Hermione gave him a shocked look like he'd lost his mind Harry finished by saying, "If he had believed me I probably would have been hanging out with you and him and Ginny never would have come after me, so in a sense he was instrumental in us getting together.

Ginny and Hermione started giggling at Harry's reasoning, convoluted as it was it did have a certain sense of irony to it.

"So what happened if you don't mind my asking?" Hermione asked.

Ginny was content for right now to let Harry handle the questions from Hermione so she just snuggled into his side and laid her head on his shoulder.

Harry paused for a moment to look down at her and he gave her a smile before he turned back to Hermione "Well we were on the side stairs just talking when Mrs. Norris came skulking around so Ginny and I ran for it and ended up hiding for a while. The next thing you know we were holding hands and it kind of escalated from there."

"What will the Twins say?" Hermione asked worried about what they could do.

Ginny just giggled and said "They know better than to stick their noses into my business. Lets just say we have a non-aggression pact and they know better than to break it."

Hermione laughed and put up her hands defensively, "I don't think I want to know."

Harry just looked at her with a new found respect. He'd always known that Ginny was very independent and feisty but to be able to keep the Twins at bay was really something.

When Ginny noticed Harry looking at her she said, "Don't worry Harry, just be nice to me and you have nothing to worry about."

Hermione laughed twice as hard and almost fell out of her chair. "Looks like you have your hands full," she said.

Harry just smiled at her, "Maybe I do but I can't think of anyone I'd rather have my hands full of than Ginny."

Ginny just beamed at him while Hermione was reduced to choking and sputtering.

Ginny gave a mighty yawn and Harry knew she was very tired. "You should go up to bed," he said tenderly.

Ginny just nodded, she'd really rather stay right where she was, tucked up against Harry's side but she saw Hermione giving her a look and felt she shouldn't push her luck. After all she didn't want Ron to come down in the morning and find them snuggled up on the couch. No telling what he'd do in his current state of mind and she didn't want to be caught sleeping when they confronted him.

Harry rose first as Ginny straightened up and offered her his hand so that he could help pull her to her feet. Harry walked her to the stairs to the girl's dorms and took her in his arms. Mindful that Hermione was watching, Ginny was surprised when Harry gave her another sweet, tender, spine tingling kiss, once more taking her breath away.

"Good night Ginny," he said tenderly.

"Good night Harry," Ginny replied.

Harry watched her all the way up the stairs and after she gave him a small wave and disappeared into her room he turned to the boy's stairs and fervently hoped that Ron was asleep because he really didn't want to spoil the feeling he had right at the moment. He felt like he could fly without his Firebolt and with a smile he ascended the stairs two at a time.

XX

A/N: Second instalment, just another place I feel that Harry and Ginny could have and probably should have gotten together.

As always please review.