Chapter VII:

The night went quickly and it seemed that Ginny danced with every available man the United Kingdom. Yet the dance she was looking forward to the most was her last. She already informed Bill which she chose to have the honor and only waited for the dance to begin. She could only laugh when Malfoy walked up to her and held out his arm clearly thinking that he had the honor only to be disappointed when Harry walked up.

"Milady," he said bowing. "I must say it is an honor to be your last dance."

She smirked over at Malfoy and his gob-smacked face. "It is an honor that you accepted, Milord Potter."

He held out his arm and she took it. He led her out onto the dance floor among the other couples waiting for the song. Malfoy, she noticed, was snagged by the insufferable Pansy Parkinson and she took pride in the look of pure loathing he sent her.

The dance was a simple waltz, unlike the waltz from earlier that evening, a dance that kept them in complete contact, a dance meant for them to connect and maybe even get married.

The pair started the dance in comfortable silence until Ginny noticed the far away look in Harry's eyes.

She knew not to comment considering their earlier conversation but her curiosity got the best of her. "Mr. Potter?" she asked. "What is wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing that you need to worry about, my dear."

Her stomach fluttered at the pet name she gave her. "But I do think I need to worry about it. This is not the first time I saw that look in your eye."

He sighed yet smiled. "It is not a conversation for such a ball. This is supposed to be a happy time. Perhaps when we meet again I will tell you the story."

"That would assume we would meet again."

She looked straight into his eyes and saw longing. "Won't we?"

They laughed realizing they had just repeated the entirety of their conversation earlier, yet she sighed sobering. "I am not ready to get married, Mr. Potter and if you think that by giving you this dance I am giving you my hand, I am sorry I mislead you."

He smiled. "You did not mislead me, Miss Weasley. I am not ready to be married either, but I am hoping that if sometime in the future that…" He trailed off at first seemingly looking for a word then his face sharpened.

Ginny turned just as the dance ended to see the livid faces of her parents standing with a fearful looking Bill.

She curtseyed as he bowed. "I am sorry if I caused you trouble, Ginny," he whispered. She was so caught off guard by hearing her first name that she couldn't respond before he disappeared into the crowd.

Ginny walked to her parents with a sense of foreboding only to have Bill intercept her. "Mum, Dad, it was I that authorized her dance and I know for a fact that Mr. Potter is an honorable man."

Her mother turned to face him. "How can you say that, Bill? When those creatures took your brother from us and now it seems that they want your sister too."

"Molly," Arthur interrupted softly trying not to make a scene. "This is not the time nor the place for such a conversation. Come, let us go home."

She appeared not to hear him when she turned to Ginny and said, "You are never to see that Potter boy again. You hear me?" Ginny was taken aback by the ferocity in her mother's voice.

"And why not?" Ginny countered. Arthur tried to shush her but it didn't work. "Mr. Potter is an honorable man unlike some that are vying for my attention! He actually likes me for me and not for my family's position!"

Molly seemed unable to say anything in her anger and stalked away because of it.

"Ginny…" Bill groaned as the three watched her go.

Ginny ignored him and turned to her father. "And where are your feelings in all of this?"

He was unable to answer because of Tonks informing them that Molly was in a right state and wanted to go home. Arthur sighed. "I'm sorry Ginny-dear," he said before walking away. She gaped after him knowing that he had inadvertently told her that he was supporting his wife and not his daughter.

"Bill?" she asked still watching her parents. He looked over at her. "May I go home with you?"

Bill smiled. "Of course, little sister. I am sure Fleur would love the company."

She took one last look at the ballroom and noticed that none of the Potters were present which meant that Ron did not witness the whole fight. Ginny sighed again. She didn't know what to do.

… … … … … …

Harry sat in his parents' sitting room with his head in his hands. He had not changed from the night before but his usually pristine clothes were all disheveled. The carpet in front of him looked somewhat abused, as he had taken to pacing for most of the night only sitting when his exhaustion was too much.

I was so stupid! he thought. I knew that her family life wasn't the best and I just had to make it worse!

The door opened and he mother stepped out. It was obvious that she had just woken up. "Harry?" she asked coming up behind him. "Were you here all night?" All he could do was nod. He felt the couch dip next to him and he looked up into the concerned face of his mother. "What's wrong, dear?"

"I may have ruined her life," Harry answered as he once again lowered his head into his hands.

"Who, dear?" Lily asked rubbing his back comfort-like.

"Ginny."

Her movements stopped short, the only outward sign of her surprise, then resumed. "Surely it can't be that bad."

"I saw the look in her parents' faces when they saw us together and by the sounds of their fight, what part I heard…"

"Is that why you rushed us out so quickly?" Lily asked.

Harry nodded as best he could then looked up. "I didn't want Ron to hear any of it. He beats himself up enough for the situation."

"But I am sure he wouldn't you to worry either."

"She's right you know," a voice said from behind them. The pair looked behind them to see an equally disheveled Ron standing in the doorway. Like Harry it looked up he hadn't slept at all. "It's my family that is such a mess. You don't have to worry so much."

"But it's my fault that it's such a mess," Harry said as he watched Ron sit across from him.

Ron glared at him sharply. "It is not your fault I was turned, Harry. It was the dissenter that decided to bite me because I was fresh source of blood and wanted to suck me dry. If you hadn't turned me my parents would be without a son and relations would be worse between your family and mine. But because I am… alive…" Harry snorted, it was a much-discussed issue if vampires were truly alive or not. "There would be no chance for you and my sister—"

Harry stood suddenly and glared at his mother. "Did you tell him?!"

Several emotions flitted across Lily's face, including fear, sadness and regret, but she shook her head slowly.

Harry was just about to turn to Ron and demand how he knew when he heard. "Tell me what?" Harry closed his eyes and cursed his outburst. "Tell me what, Harry?" Ron asked again.

"I—I can't," Harry struggled. "I can't tell you, Ron, not yet." He looked briefly at him and saw disbelief and confusion but he also saw acceptance.

"While I don't like secrets concerning my sister, I'll let you have your time, but you will tell me when your ready."

Harry nodded and marveled at how mature he was being. When Ron was human he never would have let it go, especially when it concerned Ginny.

"By the way, the reason I came looking for you was because I thought you might like to see The Prophet that just came in. It mentions the fight but apparently none of the reporters heard what they were saying so they couldn't get specifics." Harry nodded and accepted the paper. He actually dreaded reading it. "Oh, and Harry?" He looked at Ron. "You and Ginny were said to be the best couple from last night." Harry saw his smile and returned it before Ron left the room.

A/N: I know! I know! I am a horrible author. And to make it worse this chapter is so much shorter than I wanted it to be. School has started and with it my muse has gone on vacation. Not much help there. Right now I am going to work on a chapter of one of my other fics and then get back to this. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll get back to this as soon as possible.

Always,

Vàna