A/N: A pretty long chapter. But not the final one. I know I said it would be, but Harry just wouldn't let me stop... Many thanks to Jonelle, my beta for being the awesome one she is.

Chapter Nine—Relentless

November 14, 1994--Great Hall

Harry is constantly seen in the presence of two Gryffindor girls, one Hermione Granger and one Ginny Weasley, according to his close friend Jimmy Peakes. Is Harry playing the affections of the two girls off one another? Ginny is known around the castle as a feisty pureblood, who knows how to stand her ground. The Muggle-born top student, Hermione is stunning and smart. Which one will capture the heart of the Gryffindor champion?

Ron crumpled The Daily Prophet in his hands, not wanting to see the article flaunting Harry's status as a Hogwarts champion any longer. Looking up and down the Gryffindor table, he only saw a few sixth and seventh year students scattered. Ron rose to his feet to head back to the common room, lost in his thoughts. It simply wasn't fair. Harry had everything already: fame, fortune, a wealthy godfather, a fabulous broom. Now he was a Hogwarts champion and there was no doubt that he would win the thousand galleon prize. But he had Hermione, too? And where did that leave Ginny? Forcing his thoughts away from the girls, he resumed thinking about his former best mate. It was bad enough when I just had to live up to Bill, Charlie, Percy and the twins. Now I have to try to be as good as Harry, who defeated You-Know-Who as a baby. How can I ever compete with him? Unfair was an understatement. What only made it worse is that Harry still refuses to tell me how he put his name in the Goblet.

Feeling morose and lonely, he mumbled the password to the portrait and crawled into the common room. He went to his dorm room, hoping to find Seamus or Dean. No one was in the room. Heading back down, he wondered if he could convince anyone to play chess with him. Biting the inside of his right lip, he thought about the fact that under normal circumstances, he and Harry would be the ones playing. A sigh escaped him as he recalled how circumstances had changed.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he took the time to look around to see who was there. A group of first-years were huddled around what looked like a broom catalogue, whispering and pointing. A smattering of fifth and seventh years were studying at the various tables strewn throughout the room. Fred and George were whispering and penning something in one of the window seats.

Over by the fire were Hermione, Harry and Ginny. Hermione, with her bushy brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail, was in the armchair, reading a book. Her profile was mesmerizing to him as if he was a moth staring at a flame. He watched as her lips silently formed the words of what she was reading. It must be a particularly difficult piece for her to understand if she's resorted to that. Ron smiled at the dedication of his friend to learning everything she could.

Forcing himself to look away as Hermione wasn't really speaking to him at the moment, he studied the two sitting on the couch together. Stunned, he observed Harry's fingers tracing the outline of Ginny's hand absent-mindedly as they talked with Hermione occasionally adding something to their conversation. Were they getting closer? Going to sit at a table near them, which had a wizard's chess set already ready to play, Ron began to play himself while he listened to Hermione, Harry and Ginny's chatter.

"What will Rita write when she sees the two of you together at Hogsmeade? You know she'll be there," Hermione said.

"Who cares what she writes? She's just an old cow. Hmm. Maybe I could get something from the twins to help her show who or what she really is," Ginny responded. Harry lifted his head and turned to Ginny. Ron couldn't see the look that Harry gave her.

Harry's voice was fainter as his head was turned further away from Ron, but Ron still heard him say, "Ginny, do you think that's wise? After all, she never prints the truth. If we make her mad, she's more likely to say something horrible about you? I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for that." Ron wanted to yell in response "And you would be the one responsible, too", but he kept quiet to hear more.

"I'm not letting her ruin my first Hogsmeade visit. Besides, I'll be with you, Harry. You aren't backing out on our date, are you?" Ginny retorted with narrowed eyes and a pout on her face. Ron knew from past experience with that look, it meant you better give in now. Wait, she and Harry were going on a date? When did this happen? How was it that I didn't know? Anger welled in his chest at the thought that his best mate and his little sister were going around behind his barely heard the vague comments

"Harry is not stupid enough to back out on your date, Ginny. He's already in enough danger as is with the tournament," Hermione added, arching an eyebrow at Harry. "You aren't that stupid, are you, Harry?"

"Of cou--" Harry started to say before Ron interrupted him.

"So, Potter," he spat at Harry, who stood up to face him while letting Ginny's hand drop. "Just taking a break until your next interview? How are you going to tell Skeeter which girl you chose? Or are you just going to let her continue to guess? Maybe you haven't made up your mind yet, after all."

"Ron, what is your problem?" Harry asked exasperatedly.

"You, you're my problem. You were supposed to be my best mate. Yet, you went off and entered yourself in the tournament without me. Fred and George put their names in together like best mates should. I guess it goes to show how little you think of our friendship," Ron sneered.

"Actually, I think it goes to show how little you think of Harry if you honestly believe that he entered his own name into that cup," Hermione responded to Ron, standing up to face him.

"Hermione, come on. You can't believe that innocent face of his. Of course, he put his name in. How else would it have gotten in there?" Ron hissed at her.

"Gee, I don't know, Ron. A Death Eater? Someone who wanted to kill Harry? It's not like it doesn't happen every year. Oh, and by the way, Ron, I do believe the innocent face, especially since he made me a promise that he wouldn't put his name in," Ginny retorted, turning around on the couch to face Ron.

"A promise? That's supposed to convince me?" Ron looked askance at her.

"I always keep my promises Ron," Harry said through clenched teeth.

"He hasn't broken one yet," Ginny responded.

"And how many promises has he made you?" Ron questioned.

"Two. The one about the tournament and one he made in the Chamber," Ginny answered. Harry just turned to Ginny, with his mouth hanging open.

Ron, seeing that he was getting nowhere in this, muttered, "Whatever," before turning on his heel and storming out of the Tower.

HPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGW

Dear Mum,

Your youngest son is being an absolute prat. I'm surprised that Harry hasn't hexed him yet, seeing as they sleep in the same room. Ron refuses to believe that Harry did NOT put his name in for the tournament. Both Harry and I have tried to tell Ron, but he refuses to listen to us. I even told him that Harry had promised me that he wouldn't put his name in, but that wasn't good enough for Ron. Honestly, how can you be best mates with someone when you don't even understand them? Harry made me a promise that he would not enter. He would never break a promise to me, Mum, never. Yet, Ron is continuing to be nasty to Harry, calling him names and starting fights.

Oh, and Mum, I'll warn you now in case you get an owl about it later. If Ron tries to wreck my Hogsmeade date with Harry, I'll put him in the Hospital Wing. I'll sic Fred and George on him. I'll hex him myself.

I miss you and Dad lots. Give Dad lots of hugs and kisses for me.

Love,

Ginny.

HPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGW

November 21, 1994-- Gryffindor Third Year Girls' Dorm Room

Ginny rolled over in her bed, cursing the sunlight that slipped in through a crack in her curtains. It always fell right on her face, which was so annoying, especially when she had been having the most delicious dream. Her mouth curved upwards while she remembered the dream that had involved Harry and Hogsmeade. Hogsmeade! she thought. Today was the day she would visit Hogsmeade for the first time and with Harry no less.

Forgetting that she had ever been annoyed at the sun, she tore open her bed curtains and fairly danced her way over to the window to look out over the grounds towards Hogsmeade. Opening the window, she took a deep breath of the cool air, savouring the moment until Anna stuck her head out of her curtains.

"Merlin, Ginny, that window is cold! Close it before we freeze to death in here," Anna rebuked.

"Isn't it a glorious day, Anna?" Ginny replied, not in the least nonplussed by her roommate's comments. She complied with the request before going dreamily back over to perch on the edge of her bed.

"Um, Ginny, are you feeling okay?" Anna asked in a worried tone. "You aren't normally this chipper in the morning. Oh, wait," she paused as if remembering something. "It's Hogsmeade day, isn't it? No wonder you're so happy. But you know not all of us third years are visiting with a Hogwarts champion," she teased Ginny.

"Well, there are only two of them and one is most decidedly taken. Thank you very much," Ginny said with a flounce.

"Oh really?" Anna arched an eyebrow at Ginny. "So are you two official?"

"No. We're just really good friends. I was referring to Cedric. He's been taken by the Ravenclaw seeker, Cho Chang," Ginny laughed at her roommate's assumption that she was referring to Harry and herself. She crossed to her wardrobe and took out the outfit she had chosen last night. Turning back to Anna, she gestured toward the bathroom. "I'm going to take my shower now before everyone else wakes up."

Still floating, she started her shower, lost in daydreams of how the day would go. As she soaped her hair with the shampoo she and her mum made using the roses they grew, she thought back to her conversation with Harry the night before in the common room.

"So, Ginny, what do you want to do tomorrow in Hogsmeade?" Harry asked, playing with the fingers on her left hand again. She never would have thought that Harry would ever feel comfortable enough with her to play with her fingers, but here he was doing it again. She was so caught up in the emotions that tumbled through her from the feel of his fingers on hers that he had to repeat his question.

"I don't know, Harry. I've never been, after all. Besides, it really doesn't matter to me as long as I get to spend time with you," Ginny smiled at him. Harry's grin got wider as she talked. His fingers slowed in their motions, but didn't stop.

"So you'll let me plan everything? Do you trust me?" Harry asked her, weaving his fingers through hers and pulling her hand to rest on his thigh. This movement caused Ginny to move closer to Harry's side, which she did willingly. She dropped her head to his shoulder while staring into the fire.

"Of course, I trust you. I don't know of very many people that I trust more than you, Harry. I don't think I even trust my parents as much as I trust you."

Harry seemed rather shocked at that statement because he didn't say anything for a little while. Ginny had almost fallen asleep as Harry made a comfortable pillow when he spoke again. "So it's settled. I'll plan the events of the day. You just come looking like your own beautiful self."

Ginny lifted her head off his shoulder to look at him, amazed at the compliment. Seeing that he wasn't joking, she felt a smile spread across her face. "Okay, I'll meet you down here to go to breakfast. I'll be ready to leave once we finish eating. I'm leaving myself in your capable hands, Mr. Potter."

He lifted her hand to his mouth and dropped a tender kiss on it. "Thank you. I'll take very good care of you, I promise."

"Now I know everything will be okay. You promised me. Well, I need to go to bed if we are leaving straight after breakfast. Good night." With that, she slid her hand out of his. As she crossed to the staircase, she heard Harry call out a good night. She went to sleep, thinking of how wonderful the next day would be.

Ginny had finished her shower and was working on her hair when Hermione knocked on her door. The older girl stuck her head in the door.

"Harry's waiting downstairs when you're ready, Ginny. You know, I don't think I've ever seen him this nervous before. It's strange, but good." She grinned at Ginny.

"Hermione, who are you going to Hogsmeade with?" Ginny asked, pausing in the brushing of her hair as she just realized that Hermione might have to go alone. Ginny didn't want anyone interrupting her day, but she didn't want Hermione alone, either.

"Don't worry, Ginny. Neville and I are heading in together as friends. If your brother wasn't so stubborn, I would be going with him, but he can't see the forest for the trees as usual," Hermione spouted off nonchalantly.

"I'm sorry," Ginny said as if she needed to excuse Ron's behaviour. Hermione just waved her off.

"I'll see you at breakfast, okay?"

Ginny returned to her preparations before finally deciding she was ready to go. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly before leaving to descend the stairs to meet Harry. Her trip down the stairs was incredibly nerve-wracking. She was terrified that she would trip or that Harry would have given up on waiting on her and would have left already. When Ginny reached the bottom, she didn't expect to see Harry standing by the fire with his hands in the pockets of his trousers, looking very sullen.

"Harry?" she inquired, causing him to look at her. His face, which had been clouded before, went slack as his eyes went wide. Ginny looked behind her to make sure his reaction was to her and no one else. She couldn't believe that he was looking at her like that.

Harry swallowed rather loudly before saying, "Wow, Ginny. You look nice. I always knew how pretty you were. Your hair, it's like… I have no words to describe it. I'm not good with words anyway."

"Thanks, Harry." She blushed. "You clean up rather nicely as well." She could tell that he had tried to straighten up his hair, but had ended up running his fingers through it nervously. "What's the matter?" Ginny asked, trying to ascertain what had caused his discomfort.

Harry looked at his hands before, turning to sit on the couch. "Are you sure that you want to go with me? You could go with almost any boy here at Hogwarts. Why would you want to be stuck with one that's being shunned by over half the school?" He buried his head in his hands.

"Harry, where is this coming from? Of course, I want to go with you. You're my best friend. Who else would I want to go with?" Ginny sat beside him, taking his right hand in both of hers.

"Dean Thomas, that's who," Harry muttered through his left hand that was covering the bottom half of his face.

"Why would I care about going with Dean?" Ginny asked, not seeing why Harry would ever think she wanted to go with Dean.

"Well, he was your first kiss, wasn't he?" Harry asked with a tinge of what Ginny thought might be jealousy in his voice. Her heart started galloping in her chest.

"No, he wasn't. Whatever gave you that idea?" Ginny retorted, completely blindsided by the thought of kissing Dean. The only one she wanted to kiss was Harry.

"I thought he kissed you on the Hogwarts Express. That's all. So he didn't kiss you?" Harry looked perplexed.

"Is that why you came and sat by me that night at the feast? You thought Dean had kissed me and you didn't like that idea?" Ginny questioned, amazed at Harry's over protectiveness. She dropped his hand and crossed to stand in front of the fire. Did he really think that she couldn't take care of herself? Like she didn't have any say in the matter if Dean wanted to kiss her? She didn't need another brother. She had six of them already. Well, yes, it could be considered flattering to be cared for by Harry like that, but it wasn't the type of relationship she had thought she had with Harry.

She looked back at Harry, who was sitting on the couch, struggling for the words to explain. "Gin… yes, I didn't like the idea of him kissing you."

"Well, at least you're honest," she muttered. "Why in Merlin's name did you care anyway?"

"Because I wanted to be your first kiss," Harry looked startled when those words came out. Ginny was stunned. That was something she hadn't expected to ever hear Harry say.

"But you… you were falling all over Cho. I thought you wanted her. Why would you ever look at me if you liked her? She has dark hair and beautiful skin," Ginny stammered.

"Ginny," Harry said, crossing to take her hands in his. "Yes, Cho is very pretty, kind of like a painting, you know? Pretty to look at, but you can't touch paintings without messing them up. You, on the other hand, are prettier because you're more real." He lifted one hand to her cheek. "I can touch you and not worry that I'm going mess anything up. The beauty you have can't be marred by a touch."

Ginny couldn't believe her ears. Was this Harry Potter, the boy she had had a crush on before giving up? Was he really saying that she was pretty? She watched as he leaned his head in closer to her and gently touched her lips with his. Her eyes closed automatically. Ginny felt him move back away from her before she opened her eyes to look into his deeper than normal green ones that were glinting behind his glasses.