The Prodigal Daughter

by iluvfanfics1

Four years ago, Ginny Weasley left England to find herself. Now she's back and with a few surprises. Four years ago, Harry Potter let Ginny walk away without telling her the truth. Will he be able to be honest with her this time?

11. Chapter 11 Go Siorai Forever

Author's Note: Here's Chapter 11 for those faithful readers who have followed me over from SIYE where the original chapter was rejected for overstepping the "R" content. I have another toned down chapter submitted over there but no word on its' validation yet. In any case, I've added even more to the love scenes in this chapter because I have more leeway at this site. Enjoy it!

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Ginny opened the heavy door to the Three Broomsticks and paused to wipe the wet soles of her shoes on the rug just inside before letting the door slam behind her. The noise startled some of the pub's patrons whose heads snapped up to see who had closed the door so forcefully.

"Sorry," Ginny shrugged at them.

She tried not to notice the continued stares and with an inward sigh, made her way to the bar to order a butterbeer. It was snowing outside, the weather ridiculously cold, and Ginny knew they thought it was odd to see a witch walking around dressed only in tight jeans and a thin blue sweater with a purple scarf. Maintaining her secret during the winter in England was more difficult than she had expected it to be. She didn't really need to wear a winter coat and the snow melted on her skin in little wisps of steam before she could even feel it. British people, Ginny had discovered, were a lot more observant than the French. Or, she amended, perhaps the French were just used to weird people visiting their country.

Already Ginny had been stopped several times in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade by well meaning witches who were certain she was about to catch her death by being out in the cold without a cloak. She had taken to wearing warm clothing, despite the fact that she didn't really need it as she could regulate her body temperature at will. But she couldn't see the sense in wearing a bulky winter cloak that made it difficult to move around.

Muggle London was a lot more anonymous, but she had promised Hermione she would meet her for lunch today and her friend was nearly 5 months pregnant, making it impossible for her to apparate. Since Hermione and Ron lived in Hogsmeade, it made more sense for Ginny to travel to her.

"Ginny Weasley!" Madame Rosmerta had recognized the red-haired witch immediately.

"Hullo Rosie," Ginny grinned, and stepped around to the side of the bar to hug the pub's bartender and owner. Rosmerta and Ginny had bonded several years ago when death-eaters had attacked Hogsmeade and Ginny had defended The Three Broomsticks, protecting a group of third-year Hogwarts' students who had been trapped inside. Rosmerta had never forgotten the fiery student who had saved her bar from destruction.

"I haven't seen you in an age," Rosmerta said warmly. "What have you been up to?"

"Oh a little of this, a little of that," Ginny replied glibly. "I just moved back to England actually. I've been attending Wizarding University in Paris."

"I knew that. Your brother has kept me updated on your progress. Are you home for good now then?"

Ginny shrugged again and smiled sheepishly. "I suppose. I don't really have a plan right now. I've been staying with my parents but I know that will have to change soon. They're probably getting sick of my free-loading."

"I'm sure that's not true," Rosie said wisely. "I bet Molly is really glad to have you home after so many years. Now, what can I get you?"

"A butterbeer thanks," Ginny said, reaching into the satchel purse slung diagonally across her body for some galleons.

"Put that away," Rosmerta tsked at her. "It's no good here. Defenders of the pub don't have to pay—it's a rule I made years ago."

Ginny let the flap to her purse close. "How do you keep track of them all?" she asked amusedly. There had been several who had defended the pub the day death-eaters had attacked.

"I just know," Rosmerta said shortly, drawing a pint of butterbeer from the tap. "One doesn't forget something like that. The trick is keeping the secret from the ones who weren't there. One leak of free butterbeer and next thing you know I'll have a mass riot on my hands of wizards anxious to defend the pub from imaginary creatures."

Ginny grinned at her and took her free butterbeer. "I'm going to find a seat. Hermione should be along soon looking for me."

"I'll send her your way," Rosmerta said, waving a hand in dismissal. "She's pretty easy to spot now with those babies she's carrying around."

The eternally beautiful bartender turned around to serve another customer and Ginny made her way to a seat as far from the roaring fireplace as possible. She usually loved being near the fire but the way the flames reacted to her presence was sure to draw unwanted attention.

Harry had taken her to dinner three nights ago at the Leaky Cauldron where she had automatically gravitated towards a seat in front of the fireplace; when the flames reached out of the fireplace to caress her skin, they had been forced to move. Harry had nearly memory-charmed their server who had eyed them suspiciously as she had followed them to a new table.

Ginny slumped back in the booth she had selected and idly picked at a spot on the scarred tabletop while she waited for Hermione. Her friend was increasingly late for appointments and Ginny suspected it was a lot harder for Hermione to get around than she was willing to admit. She usually blamed her lateness on Ron and Ginny always agreed while holding back a smile. The twin boys Hermione was carrying had ballooned in size the past month and a half and Hermione looked like she was hiding a large quaffle underneath her robes.

Harry had even started referring to the babies as "the quaffles" and it had vexed their mother but amused their father. Hermione had thrown up her hands in defeat when her husband had started referring to their future children as "the Cannons" in honor of his favorite Quidditch team.

Ginny sighed, thinking again of Harry and took another swig of her butterbeer. It had been two weeks since he had offered her a job being his partner for the Magical Law Enforcement office and she still didn't have a definite answer for him. He had been surprised when she hadn't immediately accepted the offer but hadn't pushed her. Instead, they had spent every day of the last 14 working on controlling the new power level they had discovered upon merging their magic.

The practice times had been incredible. Ginny hadn't realized how much she had missed training with Harry. The training was different from the work they had done together at Hogwarts but it had brought back many fond memories. They had spent several days sharing magic and casting spells in the field at Potter Glen before deciding they had enough control to bring things closer to civilization. The practicing was beginning to pay off; they were now able to merge at will and had learned several new powerful spells that had an interesting effect when their power was combined.

By the end of the first week of practice, they were able to stop their auras from showing when they shared magic and this made it possible for them to be around other people while staying connected. They had tested themselves in various settings and had even sat through a Friday night Weasley Family Supper while still merged. Bill had looked at them a bit funny but hadn't said anything and even Hermione didn't seem to notice when Ginny's summoning spell brought a blanket zooming towards them with unnatural speed.

There were a few times they had stayed merged for too long and their mutual attraction to one another had overcome them, including one memorable evening when they had met Neville and Luna Longbottom for dinner. They had been merged for 12 hours by the time dessert had arrived and apparently the sight of Ginny licking whipped cream from her spoon had strained Harry's control beyond the point of no return. He watched her with glazed eyes, completely ignoring Neville's merry prattling in his ear and Ginny had noticed with dismay that his green aura was beginning to glimmer. She had stood up abruptly and making a quick excuse to Neville and Luna, shoved Harry out onto the sidewalk and apparated them both back to his house.

She had silently thanked his foresight in adding her to the wards surrounding Grimmauld Place when both of their auras burst into color as soon as they appeared in his living room. Harry had practically thrown her down on the couch and the following ten minutes had been eerily similar to the first time they had practiced sharing magic at Potter Glen. Ginny had participated enthusiastically, knowing they were both so far gone, only a release would calm the connection. Afterwards, Harry had slumped on top of her, groaning in embarrassment and apologizing for wrinkling her silk sheath dress, which he had shoved up around her hips in a feverish exploration of her thighs as they had ground against each other.

Ginny smiled to herself at the memory and felt a brush of butterflies in her stomach when she remembered the promise she had made to herself.

They would be lovers soon, she had sworn silently, and the next time they lost control, they wouldn't be embarrassed by their actions. They had only been dating for three weeks but Ginny had waited long enough. She wore their love with confidence, most of the time, and the constant practicing had gone a long way to rebuilding the trust she had once had in him.

So why was she so reluctant to accept his proposal of a partnership? Working with Harry would be like slipping on an old comfortable pair of shoes and sighing with relief. They would be tremendous together. She knew he loved her—even now if she concentrated, she could feel the shadow of his magic inside of her that pulsated with love for her. She closed her eyes, seeking out that trace and was immediately filled with warmth when Harry, who had obviously felt her searching for him, responded with his own tendril of magic. He was content, probably just arriving at Ron and Hermione's house to pick Ron up for the Quidditch game they were attending that afternoon.

Ginny's heart swelled for this man who loved her. She was going to say yes, was there ever a doubt? She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, how could she not agree to work with him? To begin that life?

Before she had a chance to explore the reasons she had doubted this, Hermione opened the door to the pub and, with a walk that could only be described as the beginning stages of a waddle, made her way towards the table. She collapsed with a distinct lack of grace onto the padded bench across from Ginny.

"How on earth," she asked breathlessly, "am I going to carry these two another four months? Ron is going to have push me around on wheels or something."

"That's what you get for having sex with my great, big, giant git of a brother," Ginny said, her eyes sparkling.

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Yes, well, I'm seriously reconsidering the idea. I'm not sure I'll ever let him touch me again."

"Oh come on Hermione. It's only the fifth month—don't be so dramatic. You look gorgeous—you're practically glowing."

Hermione smiled at the compliment and signaled Rosmerta for some herbal tea. "Caffeine is supposed to be bad for the babies," she explained to Ginny, ignoring her friend's rolling of her eyes. "I read about it."

"What a surprise," Ginny said wryly. "Read about it you say? In a book? I didn't know you like to read 'Mione."

"Shut it," Hermione said good-naturedly and beamed while Rosmerta fussed over the bulge underneath her robes before leaving the tea on the table. Ginny and Hermione both ordered the pub's special and Rosmerta walked away, shouting out their order to the cook in the kitchen behind the bar.

"Ginny," Hermione said quietly, "Can you cast a silencing spell around the table? I don't want to be overheard."

"Sure 'Mione," Ginny said confusedly and waved her hand. "Why didn't you just do it?"

Hermione took a sip of her tea before answering. "My magic is a bit off because of the babies. Your mother told me that happened every time she was pregnant—it's perfectly normal. She mentioned her magic being exceptionally powerful when she was pregnant with you actually, although she didn't know what that meant at the time."

"What did it mean?" Ginny asked.

Hermione shrugged. "It just meant that she was carrying a magically powerful baby. It was only after you told everyone how powerful you were that she put two and two together."

"Oh," Ginny said. "I didn't realize."

Hermione smiled. "Just think about what will happen to you when you are pregnant with Harry's children. A product of the magic between you two is certain to be powerful."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Slow down Hermione," she said. "We haven't even slept together yet."

It was the perfect segue to what Hermione wanted to discuss with her friend.

"You haven't?" she asked. "So you…uh…haven't been able to control the power yet?"

Ginny shook her head. "Actually we've been doing quite well with that. We just haven't…you know…found the right time."

Hermione titled her head. "When is the right time?"

Ginny laughed. "Probably when I don't have return home to my parent's house afterwards. That would be too embarrassing. Plus I would probably want to spend the night and no matter how much my parents approve of Harry, I don't think they want to know those details."

Hermione agreed wholeheartedly, thinking of the time Molly had walked in on her and Ron in his old bedroom three years ago. They had been fulfilling a fantasy of Ron's and had thought his parents out for the evening.

"So you've been sharing magic again?" She leaned forward eagerly. "I've been doing a lot of research about this at work and have discovered some very interesting things."

"Like what?" Ginny inquired.

"I'll tell you in a moment," Hermione said, waving Ginny's question aside. "Tell me your side first."

So Ginny explained what she and Harry had been doing. Hermione listened with rapt attention; even gasping in excitement when Ginny mentioned some of the spells they had been working on.

"That's amazing," she breathed. "And what about the…you know…the sexual attraction."

"Well," Ginny said cautiously. "It was really difficult at first but we…er…managed to work through it. But we've discovered an interesting side effect." And she explained about the shadow of magic their merging had left in one another. She was cautious not to reveal too much; she didn't think Harry would want Hermione to know the connection had taken on permanence after things had gotten so out of hand and they had humped like rabbits that first time at Potter Glen.

Hermione leaned back in her seat with a thoughtful expression on her face. "This connection," she said at last, running her fingers along the edge of her teacup. "How exactly did it manifest itself?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, at what point did you discover it? Was there a trigger?"

"Well, yes there was," Ginny said slowly. "It happened after the first time we shared magic during that first practice session…"

"And the trigger?" Hermione prompted.

Ginny sighed. "I'll tell you this but you can't say anything. Harry would be so mortified…"

"Agreed," Hermione said instantly.

"Okay. We merged the magic and then tried to…sort of distract each other from our reactions but that didn't work very well. We sort of…lost control…and um…well, the next thing I knew, we were both down on the ground and he was on top of me and-" Ginny cut off blushing furiously. "Don't make me say it Hermione. Harry will kill me if he finds out I told you this."

Recognition dawned on Hermione's face and she fought to keep a smile from forming. "I see," she said demurely. "And afterwards, what happened?"

Relieved that Hermione had been able to discern what had happened; Ginny eagerly explained how they had discovered the connection and the results of it.

"So you can feel how Harry is feeling? At all times? From any location?" Hermione quizzed.

"Yes, yes and yes," Ginny smiled at her. "But only if I concentrate. He can do the same."

"Wow," Hermione breathed. "That's amazing. I said that already didn't I? Because I want to make sure you know how amazing this is."

"What do you know?" Ginny asked sharply. "It's your turn now. Spill it."

Hermione waited while Rosmerta placed their food in front of them and took a sip of the soup, closing her eyes in appreciation. "Merlin, that's good. I've had the oddest craving for Rosmerta's soup." She wiped her mouth daintily with her napkin and spoke.

"I've spent the last two weeks searching through the Department of Mysteries' archives and really found very little records of wizards and witches who shared magic. Which in of itself is very interesting, in a way."

She paused to take a sip of tea. "It means," she explained, answering Ginny's unspoken question, "that you and Harry are pretty much in uncharted territory here. You'll probably be able to do things that no one has ever heard of before."

"What did the records you did find say?" Ginny asked.

Hermione swallowed a mouthful of bread before speaking. "They were fascinating. But only because they contained so little information. All of the couples were male and females—not one wizard-wizard group in the bunch. It leads me to believe that only members of the opposite sex can share magic. Which makes sense if you think about the fact that it takes a compatible couple to share. Only couples who compliment each other, whose magic is compatible and fairly equal, are supposed to be able to do it."

She took another bite of soup and continued. "None of the records said anything about the experience being sexual but then they wouldn't would they? It would have been embarrassing for them to talk about, especially back then."

"Wait a minute," Ginny interrupted, leaning her elbows on the table. "What's the date of the most recent record?"

"1792," Hermione said.

"1792?" Ginny repeated. "You're sure?"

Hermione looked at her exasperatedly. "Have you ever known me to make a mistake like that?"

"So you're saying that no one has been able to share magic in over 200 years? That Harry and I are the first ones in centuries?" She almost laughed; the idea was that impossible to accept. She knew they were powerful, especially Harry, but what Hermione was saying was ridiculous. Wasn't it?

"Why us?" she asked bluntly. "I mean, there's nothing special about me," she protested.

"Ginny," Hermione said gently, reaching across the table to take her friend's hand and rubbing her knuckles with her thumb. "I know you can't see it, but you are the most powerful witch I have ever seen. That any of us has ever seen. And Harry, he's unbelievable as well. The two of you, especially when you're together…well, the power is almost overwhelming."

"Hermione-" Ginny began.

"No," Hermione said emphatically, releasing her hand. "I mean it. I am not exaggerating. I don't know why you and Harry have been blessed with this power but this is the way things are. Truthfully, it's lucky that it is you and Harry because anyone else would have probably abused it."

"But we've both been…well…touched by dark magic. Harry had Voldemort in his head for years and the bastard possessed me. It hardly makes sense that after all that, we would even be allowed to yield magic."

Hermione took another bite of her soup and contemplated her friend. When Ginny had first acknowledged what was inside of her, she had a hard time accepting that she was worthy of such power. But for several years now, Ginny had seemed so sure of herself and Hermione was surprised to discover this lack of confidence in her own power.

"Ginny, I don't understand. You've been living with this power for a long time now; I thought you'd accepted it. It's a gift, you know that."

"I know, but when you tell me that Harry and I are the first ones in two centuries—Merlin Hermione, that's a lot to take in."

"I guess so," Hermione conceded. "But I mean it when I say no one else could handle it but you two. I think that because you've both felt the darkness, you appreciate the light more. It's like a guarantee you won't abuse magic. And you're so compatible—I've seen it when you duel other people."

"How do you mean?" Ginny asked, nervously shredding her bread into little pieces.

"Well, like that duel at Hogwarts when you both fought the professors. It was like you could read each other's minds. Harry would fire a spell and you'd follow it up with out even thinking. The way you moved around each other—it was like every move had been choreographed beforehand. I still don't know how you did that. And then there's the whole elemental thing. Harry can control the earth; you control fire—the two elements compliment each other."

Ginny mulled this over. "I suppose," she said finally. "But Hermione, all this magic, it can't just be for looks. There must be something we're supposed to do with it!"

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I'm sorry, I thought I was talking to the Ginny Weasley who had helped defeat the darkest wizard of the age. My mistake I guess."

Ginny waved a hand in dismissal. "Yes, yes," she said, "but the fire goddess thing didn't happen until after that. And we didn't learn how to share magic until two weeks ago. So there must be something we're supposed to do with it."

"I'm sure there is," Hermione agreed. "But you're only 21 years old; give yourself a little time to discover what that is."

Ginny finished the last bite of her soup and drained the rest of her butterbeer. She wiped her mouth with her napkin and sat back, twisting the napkin between her fingers. She really wanted to talk to Hermione about her job offer but she couldn't reveal too much.

"Hermione," she said tentatively. "I've been offered a job-"

Hermione gasped in congratulations. "No, no," Ginny said, rushing to quell her friend's excitement. "It isn't what you think."

"Okay, what is it then? Something with the ministry?"

"I've been offered a job that is very similar to Harry's job," Ginny said slowly. "In fact, I'd be working very closely with him."

"Doing what? Training aurors? Going to different countries and speaking to their governments?"

"Something like that," Ginny said. "But, I've not said yes yet. I'm worried…about working with Harry."

"Why?"

Hermione forced herself to let Ginny do the talking. She had her suspicions about Harry's real job and now, it seemed, Ginny would be doing the same work. Another piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place. Hermione knew she could never reveal what she suspected but it was gratifying to know that she was probably right. The ministry didn't recruit the two most powerful wizards in England for desk jobs.

"I guess…I'm just worried…we'd be spending a lot of time together. What if," Ginny gulped, "what if he gets tired of me or something? What if we decide that our whole relationship is based on the sexual attraction we feel when we share magic?"

"Are you really worried about that?" Hermione asked quietly.

Ginny nodded.

"Well…I can't blame you for being insecure about this. Harry rejected you, lied to you for years about it and you've just started trusting him again. You're bound to have these sorts of moments. But Ginny-" Hermione reached across and grasped her friend's hand again. "You've just told me you can feel what Harry is feeling if you really concentrate. You must know how he feels. I can't possibly feel what he is feeling and even I know it. I've seen the way he looks at you and I remember the way he always looked at you. He loves you, I know that beyond all doubt and you should too."

"Sometimes I am very confident in our love," Ginny said softly, lacing her fingers through Hermione's. "But other times, I panic. I can't stop myself. I trust him, I really do, but what if he's been fooling himself all these years? What if the more time we spend together, the more he realizes that I'm not what he wanted?"

She withdrew her hand and slumped in her seat, putting her head in her hands. "He's got me on such a pedestal 'Mione. I'm afraid I can't possibly live up to what he's built up his memory of me into."

"And you didn't do the same to him?"

Ginny lifted her face from her hands to stare at her. "What do you mean?"

"Honestly Ginny," Hermione said impatiently. "You've been in love with Harry for 10 years, are you telling me that you didn't have some glorious picture of him in your head? Some 'fantasy Harry?'"

"I suppose I did," Ginny said, startled. She was quiet for a moment. "I guess," she continued, "when he admitted that he had been lying to me for all those years, that picture was destroyed."

"And you fell in love with him anyway," Hermione pointed out. "So what makes you think Harry won't still love you when he realizes you aren't perfect? If he hasn't already that is—it's pretty obvious you aren't."

"Git," Ginny shot at her, grinning. "I love it when you insult me. Makes me realize what an effect Ron has had on you."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I know. I never used to swear until I started hanging out with him." She stopped and searched her friend's face. "Do you feel better? Did that help?"

Ginny took a deep breath. "I think so. I really need to tell Harry about why I've been putting off accepting the offer. It's probably going to get pretty mushy but you're right, as always, I know he loves me. I don't think he'd be able to lie about that. Unless he's been lying to himself…"

"Stop that," Hermione warned. "You'll ruin things and just get more insecure if you continue over-analyzing things. You need to learn to trust in Harry's feelings and your own."

"And you know," she continued. "The sexual attraction—it's really great in the beginning but after awhile it sort of mellows out. Being in a relationship is less about sex than you'd think. The urgency you feel to have each other in the beginning goes away eventually."

"I don't know Hermione," Ginny shuddered. "You haven't felt what is inside of him. I don't see how I'll ever get used to it. It does things to me…"

"Yes, about that," Hermione smirked. "I want to know all about what Harry 'does' to you. And talk slowly, I've been waiting for years to get some good dirt on him."

Ginny laughed and couldn't stop herself from having a good old fashioned girl chat with her best friend for the next hour. They said goodbye at the door but just as Hermione was walking away, Ginny cried, "Wait!" Hermione turned back around and Ginny hurried up to her.

"I wanted to say hello to the twins," she said sheepishly.

"Oh-kay," Hermione said slowly, a bit confused. Hadn't she already said hello to them?

She watched as Ginny placed her hands on her swollen belly and then gasped when warmth washed over her womb. Hermione immediately felt content, and any pain she felt as a result of the pregnancy vanished. Oh yeah, she remembered now, Ginny was an empath.

"There you are," Ginny murmured, closing her eyes in concentration. "Hello little darlings." She bent down and rested her forehead on Hermione's stomach. "I'm your Aunt Ginny and I can't wait to see you. Your mummy and daddy love you very much and are so excited to meet you..."

Hermione watched in amusement as Ginny spent a few minutes whispering to her womb as if the babies could actually hear her. Well, maybe they could—Ginny could do things she had never seen before.

Finally straightening up and removing her hands, Ginny grinned at her. "I think you're going to have your hands full with these."

Hermione groaned and then said anxiously, "They're okay though? Healthy and everything?"

"They're wonderful 'Mione," Ginny said softly. She leaned forward to kiss her friend on the cheek and gave her a quick hug. After finally saying goodbye, Ginny apparated straight to Grimmauld Place where she made herself comfortable on the living room couch to await Harry's return.

It was after 5 p.m. when Harry finally dropped a raucous Ron off at his house and apparated back to Grimmauld Place. The Cannon's game had gone on for five hours and Harry had seen the snitch six times before the Tornadoes seeker managed to catch it. It had snowed the entire time. He was cold and wet and desperately hoped Ginny was waiting for him at home. He could use some of that fire goddess stuff right about now.

With a soft pop, he apparated into the front hall of Grimmauld Place and took off his wet cloak and shoes, conjuring up a towel to dry his hair. He saw a light from the living room shining into the hallway and walked through the doorway to find Ginny curled up, napping on the couch. His face softened and he padded silently in his stocking feet over to her. Squatting down on his heels, he smoothed the hair away from her face and kissed her softly on the forehead.

Ginny slowly opened her eyes to find Harry smiling at her.

"Hi Nix," he said. "Been waiting long?"

Ginny stretched like a cat causing Harry's eyes to darken when the movement caused her sweater to pull tightly over her chest, emphasizing her breasts.

"Not really," she yawned. "Just a couple of hours. I read for awhile and then fell asleep." She lifted her face for a kiss and he brushed her lips once, twice before pulling away and standing up.

Moving to the end of the couch, he lifted her legs and sat down on the couch, settling her legs on his lap. He rubbed a hand up and down her calf, letting her warmth seep into him, driving away the cold of the last five hours.

"How was the game?" Ginny asked.

"Cannons lost," he answered absentmindedly. "Took forever though, I thought I was going to die of hypothermia." He continued to stroke her leg, eventually slipping his hand underneath her trouser leg to rub her bare skin.

"Poor baby," Ginny teased. "Here." She sat up, her legs still in his lap and placed a hand on his neck. A lovely warmth spread along his skin from underneath her hand and the cold that had seemed to take up permanent residence inside of him disappeared. He sighed in contentment and relaxed back into the sofa.

"You're really handy to have around," Harry said and pulled on her legs, tugging her up into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and she curled up into him like a cat. He rested his head on top of hers.

"I missed you today," he said quietly. "I miss you whenever you aren't around. Do you think something is wrong with me? Is it normal to miss someone this much when you see them everyday anyway?"

"I don't know, probably not but then we've never been normal have we?" Ginny responded, snuggling closer to him and tucking her head into the crook of his neck. She placed a soft kiss on his skin and inhaled deeply. He smelled like the outdoors. "Harry," she ventured, "we need to talk."

Harry took a deep breath. He'd suspected this conversation was coming. Ginny hadn't mentioned his job offer in two weeks and he'd been trying not to push her. But the ministry was waiting and it was just a matter of time before they asked him to go on another mission. He didn't want to leave without her.

"Okay," he said cautiously.

Ginny slid off of his lap and scooted to the other side of couch tucking her bare feet underneath her. "I appreciate the patience you've had with me about the job offer," she said, tucking her hair behind her ears. "I want to explain to you why I didn't say yes right away-"

"Are you saying 'yes' now?" Harry interrupted.

She smiled at him. "Yes, I am." Harry's heart soared. "But I really want to explain my reasons for taking so long."

Harry stretched out his legs, propping them up on the table in front of him. "Okay," he said again.

Ginny sighed heavily and hugged her knees to her chest. She had a bad feeling he wasn't going to like the insecurity she still had about his feelings for her.

"Harry," she said finally. "I was nervous because of our relationship." He stiffened and she continued before he could protest. "I love you very much, you know that, you can feel it inside of me." He nodded in agreement. "And I can feel you love me." He nodded some more. "But if we work together, we'll be spending a lot of time together and well…I was worried that you would…sort of…get tired of me."

Harry inhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring. How could she ever think that? He'd spent his whole life waiting for her.

"I know you say you've been in love with me for years," she continued, ignoring the way his eyes had darkened at her statement, "but I feel like you've built me up on this pedestal and I'm afraid I can't live up to it." She gulped nervously.

"I worry that you'll realize I'm not as great as you thought I was and that you'll want out. I'm not always easy to get along with and I have a really big temper and well…obviously I over-analyze things all the time, and I'm messy, stubborn, and I'm sure I'll drive you crazy-"

She cut off as Harry stood up, a menacing look on his face. He knelt in front of her and yanked her towards him until she was perched on the edge of the couch and he was kneeling between her legs.

"You have felt what is inside of me," Harry said in a deadly calm voice, looking into her eyes. "You KNOW that I love you with every fiber of my being. You know everything there is to know about me—the good and the bad—and you still love me don't you?"

"Yes," she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from his. "So very much."

"Then you have so little respect for me, so little trust in me that you can't accept the same from me?"

"It's not that simple," she said, raising her chin stubbornly. "I'm just afraid of disappointing you."

Harry sat back on his heels, dumbfounded. How could she ever think that? Had he not spent enough time telling her how much he loved her, showing her how much he wanted her? She could never disappoint him. He was only disappointed in himself for the way he had treated her.

Ginny sighed again, running her fingers through her hair.

"This has happened very fast," she said, "Us, I mean. It's only been a little over a month since I got home and sometimes I find I'm still getting used to the idea that you're in love with me. I can't help but feel insecure about it, despite what I've felt in you. I know it sounds silly, especially after everything we've been through together, but Harry," she stretched her hands towards him beseechingly, "this is how women are. We get a little insecure sometimes. I was afraid that if we work together, you would discover that you've somehow convinced yourself you were in love with me and after spending so much time with me, you would find that you weren't."

She shrugged. "I know it sounds crazy but I've only ever been in love with you and for most of that time, you didn't love me back so I'm not really used to being in a serious relationship where someone returned my feelings."

Harry contemplated her for a moment.

"This is not a side of you I see very often," he said finally, his eyes searching her face. "Normally you're really very confident…" he trailed off, his heart sinking. She was insecure because he had ignored her feelings for so long.

"This is really my fault," he said slowly. "I hid my feelings for so long, of course you would be insecure about them. I suppose I was being a bit naïve that you had accepted them completely."

She leaned forward, placing her hands on his shoulders. "I do accept them," she said fiercely. "I just don't think I'll be able to handle it if you decide to take them back and so I've got this defense mechanism that makes me want to prepare for the worst. It's hard to get used to the idea that you really want me sometimes. I'm sorry I'm so weak about this."

"No," he said, standing up and making a decision. "I can't blame you for having your doubts about my feelings. But Ginny, I'm never going to take them back. I haven't in six years, even if you didn't know about them."

He pivoted on his heel, taking her hand and leading her towards the stairs. "C'mon, I want to show you something."

"Show me what?" she asked, confused by the sudden turn of events. "Where are you taking me?"

"To my bedroom," came the reply and he dragged her stumbling up the stairs.

"Harry," she said, now amused. "You don't have to make love to me to show me that you love me, this probably isn't the best time-" But she was cut off when they reached the top of the stairs and he spun around, pinning her to the wall.

"When I take you," he said in a low voice, "when we make love, there will never be a WRONG time. So get that idea out of your head right now."

He slanted his mouth over hers, thoroughly dominating her with his kiss, his tongue invading her mouth as if he was anxious to claim her, to mark her as his. He broke away after a moment, panting. "But that is not why I've brought you up here." Without another word, he pushed himself off of her and pulled her behind him, her eyes still glazed from his kiss. They entered his bedroom and he let go of her hand, shutting the door behind them.

Ginny looked around his bedroom. She hadn't seen it before but she couldn't say she was surprised. It was a true Gryffindor's bedroom. A large four-poster bed with red velvet hangings was reminiscent of the beds they had slept in at Hogwarts. In fact, she realized, turning slowly to take everything in, the whole room looked a bit like Gryffindor house at Hogwarts. A seating area in the corner looked like their old common room. The furniture was dark wood and the room was covered in gold and red accents, the colors of Gryffindor. Several of the pieces actually had lions and griffins carved into the wood.

It felt, she thought, like home. She turned back to Harry to find him smiling at her sheepishly.

"Hogwarts was the first place that felt like home," he said simply.

Ginny understood and smiled at him encouragingly. "It's lovely," she said. "I really like it."

A delighted smile came over his face and he moved towards her, backing her into the wall and pinning her against it again.

"What is it with you trapping me against the wall Potter?" she said irritably.

"Sorry," he said, not sounding at all remorseful. "I'm just trying to make sure you can't get away." He slipped his arms around her waist and yanked her towards him. His lips hovered over hers and his eyes darkened.

"Seeing you here, in my bedroom, where I've imagined you so many times…" his eyes slid towards the bed and Ginny followed, gulping as she pictured them in that bed. She could almost see Harry's bare back, his muscles bunching as he moved over her, the blood-red blankets around his waist. She shuddered and arched into him, sliding her arms up around his shoulders and pressed her lips against his.

He groaned and she took advantage by slipping her tongue in his mouth, tasting him. He tasted like butterbeer and peppermint. He always tasted a bit like peppermint.

He hugged her tighter to him for a moment and then with a muttered oath, tore himself from her mouth and gently pushed her away.

"Sorry," he said, now sounding sincere. "I really would like to continue that but I was serious when I said I wanted to show you something."

"Okay," Ginny managed, still a bit dizzy. "What is it?"

For an answer, he walked over to a wardrobe and opened it, pulling out his pensieve. He hesitated, his hands on either side of the basin with his swirling memories as he looked up at her.

"I have a memory," he said slowly, "that I would like to view. I hope it will convince you that I have always seen YOU…that I've never wanted anyone else that it's always been you."

"That's a pretty tall order," she commented, going over to stand next to him. She laid a hand on his arm and was surprised to find him trembling.

"Harry," she said concernedly. "What is it?"

"It's just…I've never shared a memory with someone before," he said shakily. "It was all I could do to view them myself."

"Why did you then? If they're so hard."

He turned tortured eyes to her. "It helped with the nightmares. Ginny, these are really private and the memory here, well…it might surprise you."

"Why?" she asked softly.

"I told you that no one knew how I felt about you," he said slowly, "but that wasn't entirely true. Dumbledore…he guessed and he confronted me about it. We had a big row but before he could continue his quest to convince me you should know about my feelings, Voldemort killed him."

"Oh Harry," Ginny sighed, putting a hand on the back of his neck. Harry immediately felt the tension disappearing. "Did you get a chance to make up before he died?"

Harry had taken Dumbledore's death very hard—they both had. He had been their professor, their mentor and their friend. He had died shortly after the battle at Hogsmeade. Voldemort had apparated into Diagon Alley and started killing people in the streets. Fawkes had flashed Dumbledore to the scene and he, along with the Order of the Phoenix, had saved hundreds of lives before facing Voldemort. Weakened and injured himself, he had given everything he had to fight Voldemort.

Harry and Ginny had not been at the battle as they were both recovering from injuries they'd received at Hogsmeade and it had made the loss even harder to accept.

"We did," he whispered, closing his eyes. It still hurt to think about Professor Dumbledore.

"At the funeral I realized that I was glad he died knowing that I loved you. He wanted so much for me—a normal life for one—and I think it pleased him knowing that I was experiencing a perfectly normal feeling for a girl. That's probably why he got so irritated with me…" his voice trailed off and he placed the tip of his wand on his head, drawing out the memory and letting it float down towards the basin. It swirled around and Ginny could see a row of white beds in the bowl.

"Is that the Hogwart's hospital wing?" she asked.

"Yes," he said dully, gripping her hand. "This is right after you were injured during the fight at Hogsmeade."

"You were injured too," she pointed out.

"Not as bad as you," he said simply. "But then I didn't jump in front of a curse for anyone—you did."

Ginny bristled. "We are not going to have this argument again for the 47th-hundred time-"

"Ginny," he interrupted. "I wasn't trying to start the argument again. I was just trying to set up the memory for you."

Ginny took a deep breath. "Okay," she said, "let's go."

Still holding hands, they both leaned forward and fell into the memory, landing with a thump on the stone floor of the Hogwart's hospital wing.

"Ouch," Harry said, getting to his feet and reaching a hand down to help her up. "I never get used to that."

"That hurt," Ginny grumped, rubbing her backside. Harry grinned at her.

"Need some help?" he asked innocently, placing a hand on one cheek. Before he could commence with the rubbing, she scurried away from him, slapping at his hand.

"Quit that, we're supposed to be viewing your memory, not groping."

"Right," Harry said, turning back to the scene in front of them. He nodded towards the people in front of them.

"That's you, right after you stepped in front of that curse for me. I was so scared for you…" his voice trailed off as he remembered the panic he had felt when Ginny had shoved him aside and took a curse straight to the chest during the fighting at Hogsmeade.

The battle had been nearly over; the death eaters apparating away when they realized they were outnumbered. One last holdout had shot a purple-colored spell towards Harry when he had been looking for Ginny and everything had happened almost in slow motion. Ginny had run up to him from his other side, barreling into him and knocking him down, letting the curse hit her full-on before crumpling to the ground.

She hadn't woken up for three days and they had been the longest days of Harry's life.

"The idea that I hadn't been able to protect you…it nearly killed me," he finished.

Ginny squeezed his hand and pulled him over to the couple in front of them. Her 16-year-old self was lying in the bed, pale and wan, almost lifeless. She didn't remember much about those days. She had been completely unconscious for three days and when she had finally woken up, she had drifted in and out of consciousness for the next two.

After she had regained some of her strength, she and Harry had a huge row where he raged at her for almost getting herself killed, screaming at her that he wasn't worth dying for. She had screamed right back at him that he was worth it and she would do it all over again if it meant saving her best friend.

Once he had gotten over his anger with her, he had been so relieved she was all right that he had held her so tightly she thought he was going to squeeze the life out of her.

She looked at the Harry sitting by her bedside. He looked awful. There were dark circles under his red eyes and he obviously hadn't shaved or showered in days. A tray of half-eaten food was beside him on the floor and he was still wearing the clothes he had been wearing during the battle in Hogsmeade.

She watched as he reached out a hand and gently laced his fingers through hers. He slid off the chair to his knees and bent his head over her prone body, resting his forehead on her right hip.

"Please wake up Nix," he whispered. "Please Ginny…I can't…I can't…I don't know how to…I can't live without you."

He lifted his head and pressed a kiss to the back of the hand he was still clenching in his own. Ginny was surprised to find that he was crying. He let go of her hand and crawled up into her hospital bed, stretching himself along the side of her body and pulling her close, burying his face in her hair.

"I love you," he breathed into her ear, his eyes shut tight. "I have loved you for a long time and I promise that I will tell you this someday when you are awake. You have no idea how much I've wanted to say this to you. Gods Ginny, when you took that curse, I have never been so frightened in my whole entire life. So you have to wake up because once you do, I am going to kick your arse for scaring me so much."

The Ginny viewing the memory laughed a little but the Ginny on the bed had no response. Memory Harry opened his eyes and settled into the pillow, staring at her features. He was still and silent for several moments; watching her as if he might miss any movement that would indicate she was waking up.

Ginny heard the door to the hospital wing open and held her breath when she got her first glimpse of Albus Dumbledore in four years. There were those twinkling eyes, the long, snowy white beard and the elaborate robes he wore, swishing silently as he walked towards the bed. She'd forgotten how much presence he had.

Harry heard him coming and quickly sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He remained seated, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. Dumbledore approached him and wordlessly handed him a handkerchief. Harry took it and blew his nose, apparently not embarrassed to be seen crying in front of Dumbledore. Ginny guessed it wasn't the first time their professor had seen him cry.

Dumbledore took a seat in the chair Harry had vacated earlier and regarded Harry silently.

"Harry," he finally said gently.

Ginny closed her eyes and let the voice of her mentor wash over her—it had been too long since she'd heard it.

"Ginny will be just fine. Madame Pomfrey has assured me she will make a full recovery."

"I know sir," Harry said, looking down at his feet. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I just can't believe she did that."

"Took the curse for you?" Dumbledore asked. "Why should that surprise you? Miss Weasley is a loyal friend who would take many curses for those she cares about…for those she loves."

Harry remained silent, staring at the floor.

"Would you not have done the same for her?"

Harry's head snapped up and his eyes shone green. "In a minute," he said fiercely. "But I don't want her to do it for me. She shouldn't have to get hurt because of me."

Dumbledore sat back in his chair, contemplating Harry.

"I do not think you are being fair," he said finally. "It was Ginny's choice to take that curse for you. She did it because she cares deeply for you. And it is only fair to allow friends you are willing to die for, do the same for you."

Harry stood up, clearly agitated, and began pacing back and forth at the end of the bed.

"No," he said, abruptly stopping to face Ginny. "She does not get to die. Not this friend. I don't care if it isn't fair, she is NOT going to die for me."

Dumbledore tilted his head and Ginny noticed that he surreptitiously waved a hand in the direction of her bed; probably throwing a silencing charm over her bed so they wouldn't disturb her.

"Harry," he said wearily. "Ginny is not going to die. But I think it is time you admitted why you value this friend above all others."

Harry immediately looked shifty and refused to meet his professor's eyes. "She's my best friend and my training partner. She is very important to me, to her family. It would kill them if she died."

Dumbledore huffed in frustration. He appeared to be reaching the end of his tether and Ginny was surprised. Normally he had more patience than this. She suspected he must have been really worn out and cranky.

"Harry," he said sharply. "It is more than that and I believe you know it. I cannot begin to imagine why you have kept your feelings hidden but it is time you told her the truth."

"What could you possibly know about how my feelings," Harry spat at him. Ginny was taken aback by the vehemence with which he spoke.

Dumbledore stood up and folded his hands in his sleeves. He was regal and looked as if he was steeling himself for something. "I know that you care deeply for her. I can tell by the way you look at her. And I know that she is in love with you—I suspect you know that as well. What I do not know is why you have not confessed the truth about your feelings to her!"

Harry, who had been pacing again, whirled on Dumbledore. "The truth!" he shouted at him. "You want the truth? Fine! I'll tell you but when Voldemort comes crashing through that door for her-" he broke off panting, his chest heaving as he stared Dumbledore down.

"When Ginny took that curse for me," he began in a low voice, "I thought she was dead. I thought that I had lost her and I don't think I could go on…I don't think I would have the strength to kill Voldemort without her."

"And why is that Harry?" Dumbledore persisted.

Harry sank into a nearby chair, his head in his hands. "I love her okay," he groaned through his fingers. "Why are you making me say this?"

"Confession is good for the soul Harry."

Harry looked up at Dumbledore. "I don't want to confess," he said brokenly. "I don't want anyone to know-"

"Why not? I suspect Miss Weasley would be very pleased to hear how you feel about her."

Harry stood up and strode over to Dumbledore in two quick steps. He grasped the front of the older man's robes and with a strength that shocked Ginny, yanked him close.

"Don't you dare tell her," he hissed at him, his eyes turning dark green. "I will NOT put her danger. If you tell her, if people find out, Voldemort will know and then he will come after her and if he does, I will hunt you down after I'm through with him."

"Harry," Dumbledore said quietly, his eyes turning a dark blue. "Let go of me. I am not your enemy."

Harry let go of his robes and stepped back, a startled look on his face. "I'm sorry professor," he stammered.

"Quite all right Harry," Dumbledore soothed. "I sometimes forget how strong you can be when protecting your friends."

Harry walked over to stand beside Ginny, looking down at her.

"I love her professor," he said quietly. "I love her more than my own life. She's wonderful, isn't she?" He looked up at Dumbledore as if seeking approval for his choice.

Dumbledore nodded, the twinkle in his eyes returning in full force. "She is an extraordinary witch," he agreed.

"Yeah," Harry said softly, looking back down at Ginny lying on the bed.

"I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to realize that. She was so shy you know? She wouldn't ever talk to me, always running out of the room when I walked in." He laughed at the memory. "And then I got to know her, really know her. She's amazing. Fierce, strong, powerful, stubborn, funny, beautiful…a temper like you wouldn't believe and incredibly messy. She'd sooner fall off her broom than hang out with a bunch of giggly girls, she curses like a sailor sometimes, eats like a horse and she can beat me up with one hand tied behind her back. Her brothers are scared to death of her and I can see why…although I've never been scared of her. I've always known that she wouldn't ever hurt me."

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, scratching two days growth of beard. "I know she loves me and I wish like hell I was free to love her back but Voldemort is out to kill me and what do you think he would do to the girl Harry Potter loves? I have never felt like this before, it scares the shite out of me. But it scares me even more to think that she could be in danger because of how I feel about her."

He looked back at Dumbledore, a hard, blazing look on his face. "She's not perfect but she's perfect for ME. I will NOT let him get her Professor. That bastard cannot have her."

"What makes you think he won't try to take her anyway?" Dumbledore inquired. "Everyone knows that you are friends and he has surely heard of how powerful she is. She is also the girl who fought his possession for a year; he will want to finish what he started."

"All the more reason to keep this a secret," Harry declared. "She needs every advantage she can get."

"Ginny can take care of herself-"

"That's not the point," Harry interrupted. "I need to know that she is safe. As safe as I can make her. I can't keep her from fighting but I'll be damned if I'm going to give Voldemort another reason to come after her."

"How do you think it would make Ginny feel if she knew you were keeping this from her?" Dumbledore argued, switching tactics and raising his voice. "She's been in love with you for years, being with you would make her happy."

"She won't be very happy if she's dead," Harry said stonily.

"Harry," Dumbledore sighed, sitting back down in the chair beside the bed, "the prophecy states you will have a power that Voldemort will never have. I have told you I believe this power to be love. If I am right then you need her more than you can possibly imagine."

"I love her more than you can possibly imagine," Harry said firmly. "And I will not let him take her away from me. He's already taken my parents and Sirius."

Dumbledore stood back up and crossed over to Harry. He placed his hands on the boy's shoulders and looked into his eyes.

"I am afraid you are being very foolish Harry. It is foolish to deny what so obviously gives you strength. But if you are determined this will protect her… then…I will keep your secret."

"Thank you Professor," Harry said fervently.

"But Harry," Dumbledore continued. "Do not wait too long to tell her. Despite your best efforts to protect her, it may not be enough. I don't want you to have to live with the knowledge that you never got to tell her how you feel about her. To live with that regret would surely be more painful than anything you have experienced so far."

"If she dies," Harry whispered fiercely, "I will not live anyway. If she dies, that kills me too."

He twisted back to look down at the figure on the bed and the memory faded.

Ginny found herself standing back in Harry's bedroom in Grimmauld Place. She whirled around to face him, a wide-eyed expression on her face.

He smiled faintly at her. "I know," he said. "That was a bit much. I was going through a dramatic phase I think."

Ginny launched herself at him, hopping up to wrap her legs around his waist and burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice muffled. "I'm sorry you had to live like that."

Her heart had broken watching the scene. It was bad enough that Harry had lost his parents and his godfather and had to spend what should have been the happiest years of his life fighting off an evil wizard. But for the first time, Ginny could really imagine what it must have been like for him to deny himself the joy of love. When she had read his journal three weeks ago, the turmoil he had been in was obvious, but watching his memory just now…well she had SEEN the turmoil first hand. It was an awful way to live. She couldn't imagine how he was still sane. He had sounded so terrified…

He didn't say anything, just hugged her back, inhaling her scent. It had been awful to view that memory. His emotions had been haywire those few days Ginny had been out and he had fluctuated between guilt that she was injured, anger that she would try to sacrifice herself for him and love for the motionless girl on the bed. Even now he couldn't believe he had spoken to Dumbledore that way. Merlin, he'd threatened the wizard, even manhandled him.

"I'm sorry I've been such a prat," Ginny whispered.

"You're not a prat," Harry said instantly, his voice muffled in her hair. "I don't blame you for doubting me. I deserve that and so much more."

"No you don't," she said firmly, letting her legs drop to the floor. "You deserve every bit of happiness I can give you and I promise to not be so wishy-washy about us anymore."

Harry smiled at her, letting her step away from him. "I guess we both have things to work on."

"How 'bout we start by you taking me out to dinner?"

Two hours later Harry couldn't believe his luck to be walking into the restaurant with Ginny. His fire goddess looked unbelievable.

When he had gone to pick her up at the Burrow and she had walked down the stairs, Harry felt like someone had punched him right in the chest. She was so beautiful and he loved her so much—it had all come crashing down on him with his first look at her. Her hair fell in red waves to her waist. She was dressed in a silky green dress that hugged her figure and came to just above her knees. It was sleeveless and the neck scooped down to fall in soft folds over her chest, exposing a hint of cleavage. She was wearing strappy high heels—the type that Harry had once heard Tonks refer to as…well…it wasn't a very nice word. Her only jewelry was a thin gold cuff bracelet wrapped around her upper arm. It was unusual and when he had fingered it later she had told him it was a Celtic design.

After the muggle waiter had seated them, Harry leaned forward and murmured, "Have I mentioned how fabulous you look?"

"Only 10 or 47 times," Ginny said smiling at him over her menu. "I think the last description you used was 'bloody brilliant.' Of course you had me backed against the wall in that alley and you were whispering so I might have misheard you."

"You didn't mishear," Harry said firmly. "Now hurry up and eat because I really need to get you home and kiss that spot on your neck that makes you purr."

"Harry!" Ginny hissed, looking around them. "Ssshhh, the muggles will hear you."

"Easy there tiger," he said amused by the fire flaming in her eyes. He wondered if it was for fear of being overheard or for the desire he felt spiking in her.

"I cast a silencing charm over the table when I sat down."

Ginny lost the battle and laughed out loud. "You think of everything," she said, her eyes twinkling.

His eyes darkened, "I think of you…constantly. You're driving me crazy Nix."

The gold rim in her eyes started to swirl. "Me too," she said huskily. "Harry, I think

I'm-" But she was cut off by the arrival of the waiter. Harry ordered without taking his eyes off of her and she couldn't help blushing under his gaze.

When he had gotten rid of the waiter he leaned forward to grasp her hand. "What were you going to say?"

"Nothing," she said smiling at him. "We'll talk about it later."

Harry was disappointed. He sensed that whatever she had been about to say was important, but respectful of her wishes, he changed the topic. "Do you really want to come and work with me?"

"Yes," she said honestly. "But I need some help. I've been thinking about it and we're going to need a cover story for my parents."

"Already done," he replied instantly. "Officially, you are the assistant to the Ambassador to the Magical Governments of Europe."

"And who is the Ambassador?" she asked quizzically.

"Me," he said with a toothy grin. "I've been promoted. Congratulate me."

Ginny groaned. "Does this mean you are going to be my boss?" she said with a distasteful look on her face. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea."

"Well I suppose on paper I'll be listed as your supervisor but we're going to be partners. Our boss knows it and that's what matters."

"Who is our boss?" she asked. "Will I get to meet him?"

"I can set up an appointment next week if you like." He coughed. "I uh…think he's got something he wants us to do for him."

Ginny pursed her lips, thinking. "Why the official title?"

Harry shrugged. "A better cover I suppose. Now that I have a partner, I'm going to need an excuse for traveling with you. If you're my assistant," he stopped to smirk at her, "then it's only natural you'd travel with me."

"Okay Potter," she said, sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs. "I'm going to need a new place to live. I can't be coming home at odd hours, possibly with injuries, to the Burrow. My parents will get suspicious. And I'm going to need a new wardrobe. If I'm going to be meeting with governments and fancy people, I need to look the part."

"We'll go shopping tomorrow," Harry said distantly. He was only half listening; his eyes were fixed on the stocking-covered leg she had crossed over her knee and was currently swinging gently up and down. The movement transfixed him. He could just imagine his hand sliding up that slim, muscled calf.

"And I want you to move in with me."

Ginny's leg stopped moving and Harry broke out of his trance with a start to find her gaping at him. "What did you say?" she finally choked out.

Harry wracked his brain, going over his words in his head. He hadn't really been paying attention to what he was saying…oh…now he remembered. Bugger. He hadn't meant to bring that up so soon. Of course he wanted her to but he thought he would give her a few months to herself before he broached the subject with her. He let out a breath.

"I'm sorry," he said ruefully. "I didn't mean to bring that up so soon. Its just well…it would be really convenient and there's plenty of room and well, my house is locked up tighter than Hogwarts so you'd be safe there…" his voice trailed off. He was rambling and she was still staring at him.

"Harry," she finally managed. "We've been together less than a month and you want me to move in with you? Don't you think that's a bit soon?"

"Well," he said sheepishly, running a nervous hand through his hair, "you could have your own room if you wanted. And Ginny…damn…" he let out a breath.

"Sod it," he said suddenly, and reached across the table, grasping both of her hands in his.

"I love you," he said firmly, looking into her eyes. "I want to be with you every minute of every day and if this is too soon for you then I understand. But Nix, I mean it. I want you to be with me…forever. I'm sorry if that scares you but it's the only commitment I know how to make to you. I told you after that duel. You're mine and everyone might as well know that now."

"Can I…can I have some time to think about it?" she asked uncertainly. "I agree it would be very convenient but well, this is a big step. I know I want to be with you forever but I don't want to rush things."

"I understand," he said, sitting back. "And I'm sorry I sprung that on you. It just sort of slipped out. Take all the time you need."

"Can…can I come sit over there with you?" she asked tentatively. They had been seated in a booth and she suddenly felt the need to be near him, to touch him.

"Of course you can baby," he said tenderly and lifted his right arm for her to slip into as she got up from her side of the table and slid into his. She instantly snuggled into his embrace and let her magic reach out for him. He reacted instantly and their magic merged for the first time in hours.

He sighed as he felt her magic pour into him. Merlin that felt good.

"Is tú mo ghrá," she breathed, her eyes closed, "a chuisle mo chroí, grá mo chroí."

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"Oh, sorry," she said, lifting her head and opening her eyes to look at him. "It means 'I love you, pulse of my heart, love of my heart.' Guess I got a little carried away."

"I liked it," he said quietly. "I like being the pulse of your heart."

Ginny took his hand and used his fingers to find the pulse at her throat. "Do you feel that?"

"Yes," he said huskily.

"That's my pulse. And it beats for you, always for you," she whispered, looking into his glowing green eyes.

Without worrying about the fact they were in a crowded restaurant in muggle London, Harry kissed her, capturing her lips with a soft moan. She instantly melted into him. Her arms lifted to encircle his neck and his hands slid around her waist to the small of her back. He kissed her thoroughly, slowly exploring the recesses of her mouth, stroking her tongue with his own. She let out a small sigh and just as he pulled her closer, he heard a loud "ahem."

Harry lifted his head, irritated with the interruption, to find the waiter standing over them with their drinks.

"Sorry sir," the waiter said, not sounding at all sorry.

"S'fine," Harry grumped, pulling away from Ginny. This man was not on his way to a big tip.

Ginny thought briefly about being embarrassed that the waiter had broken up their kissing but decided she didn't care who saw her kiss Harry. They were in muggle London, no one knew them anyway.

They spent the rest of the meal engrossed in conversation about the past four years. Ginny smiled wistfully when Harry described Ron and Hermione's wedding and he laughed when she described how Ron had taken Hermione to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris to propose to her.

"She thought they were just coming to visit me," Ginny said. "Instead she gets proposed to in the most clichéd way possible. I think there were three other couples getting engaged on top of the tower that night."

"What did he say to her?" Harry asked, swallowing a mouthful of bread.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "He told her that when he met her, he was only half a person. But when she started dating him, he became three-fourths a person. So it would make him really happy if she would agree to be his wife and make him a complete person."

Harry groaned for his friend and took a sip of his wine. "He never told me that."

"Well it was the ick heard round the world, I doubt he wanted to repeat it," Ginny said laughing.

Sometime later, Harry and Ginny were strolling arm in arm down the sidewalk towards Grimmauld Place. It was chilly outside but Ginny was at full fire goddess power and Harry wasn't cold at all.

"Have I mentioned how handy you are to have around?" he said, hugging her closer.

"Once or twice," she said, her eyes sparkling.

"What do you want to do now?" Harry asked as they walked up the front steps and he opened the front door for her. She stepped inside and spun around, her eyes lit up.

"Can we watch a movie?" she asked excitedly.

"A movie?" Harry repeated. "Sure, but you watch them all the time with Tonks and Hermione. I didn't think it was that big of a deal."

"Yes but you have that enormous television—it'll be just like sitting in a movie theater!"

"Okay," Harry smiled at her excitement. "C'mon upstairs with me, I've got some old sweat pants you can change into so you'll be more comfortable."

She followed him up the stairs into his bedroom and waited while he rummaged in his closet, finally pulling out an old Gryffindor t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants and handing them to her.

"Think you'll be getting these back?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Not likely," he retorted. He walked back to the door. "Come downstairs to the T.V. room when you've finished."

Ginny was already reaching for the zipper in the back of her dress when he shut the door behind him. Harry clenched his fists, trying not to imagine opening the zipper for her with his teeth. Wait a minute…bugger. He'd meant to tell her to get some socks from his drawer as well.

Harry would later excuse what happened next as a result of the brief moment of insanity brought on by his mental image of Ginny undressing in his room. He opened the door, intending to explain about the socks, completely forgetting that Ginny had been pulling down her zipper not five seconds ago.

Her dress fell with a soft swish to her feet just as Harry stepped through the door and she stood frozen in mid-movement, looking at him with wide eyes.

Harry's mouth went dry. He had not seen so much of Ginny's skin since a summer they had spent at the Burrow five years ago, swimming in the pond. He'd barely been able to contain himself then and now that she was grown up…her body was …Merlin. She was wearing the tiniest bits of black lace he had ever seen. A lacy bra pushed her breasts up and riding low on her hips, covering a tiny bit of underwear, was something Tonks had once explained to him was a garter belt. It was holding up sheer stockings that ended mid-thigh, exposing the rest of her creamy white skin to his feasting eyes.

"Have…have you been wearing that the whole night?" he asked hoarsely. It was a good thing he hadn't known about it, he might not have made it through dinner.

"Yes," Ginny stammered out. She could feel the blush creeping up her body at the look of naked desire and longing on his face. Her mind screamd at her to move; to pick up the dress at her feet and cover herself but her feet felt frozen and her heart pounded. No one had ever looked at her like THAT before.

"Then I am really sorry about this because you are the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen, but I'm really going to need you to take all that off."

Without waiting for a reply, Harry kicked the door shut behind him, took two quick steps towards her. He yanked her into his arms, cutting off her protest with his mouth. He snaked his arms around her bare waist and pressed her into his body, making his intentions clear. He had gotten hard the instant he stepped in the door and he had no desire to control himself.

Harry knew his control had snapped the moment he saw her in her skimpy underwear.

Ginny instinctively molded herself to his body. Her hands slid up his arms, across his shoulders to wrap around his neck. She curled her fingers into his hair, holding him tight to her as he plundered her mouth. Okay, okay, her mind chanted. If this was when this would happen then that was just fine with her. She would floo her parents later and tell them she wasn't coming home tonight and they could just sod their disapproving looks. She knew she wouldn't be able to leave Harry after this.

Harry felt his magic trying to escape and he broke the kiss, moving his mouth down to her neck and nibbling her flesh. She shuddered when he kissed the spot behind her ear and he grinned to himself. His hands slid down the small of her back towards her bum. He groaned when he encountered bare flesh, his hands squeezing her bottom. Merlin, she was wearing a thong.

Ginny felt herself being lifted up and she immediately wrapped her legs around Harry's waist as he carried her over to his bed. He took perverse pleasure in knowing that he was the only thing she was touching at the time. He didn't even have to share her with the floor.

She pressed kisses frantically over his face, along his jaw and over to his ear. When she sucked his earlobe into her mouth, he hissed and laid her down on the bed, her bum resting on the very edge as he lifted himself off of her, his weight resting on his arms.

"Ginny," he gasped, as her head fell back on the bed, letting go of his ear with a pop. "Are you sure this is okay? Because I might still be able to stop." He sounded more confident than he felt; he was desperately trying to keep his magic from escaping.

"Yes Harry," she breathed. "Please. Make love to me. I've wanted you for so long." She curled her pelvis into his, brushing up and down against his erection. "Besides," she added wickedly, "I don't think you'll be able to stop."

Harry pushed himself completely off of her with another groan. Stepping back, he let her legs fall down from his waist and he reached out to grasp the garter belt with both hands.

"How do you get this thing off?" he panted. "I need it off…now."

For an answer, Ginny reached down and unfastened the snaps connecting her stockings to the belt. "Just pull," she said breathlessly.

Harry yanked the belt down her hips and over her legs, stopping to remove her shoes before tossing the belt to the floor. He ran his hands up her left leg and slipped his fingers underneath the edge of the stocking on her thigh. He peeled the fabric down her leg and repeated the motion with the other leg before discarding both stockings to the floor.

Beginning with her left ankle, Harry kissed his way slowly up her leg, stopping to delve his tongue behind her knee, smirking when she gasped and arched her back. He didn't stop when moving his kisses to her hip and up her side until he reached her shoulder. With a deep breath, he buried his face in her neck, alternatingly sucking and licking her flesh.

With a groan, Ginny shoved him up and arched her back again, reaching behind her to unclasp her bra. She slid the straps down her arms and then looked at him expectantly.

Shifting his weight to one hand, Harry reached out and slid the fabric from her chest, inhaling sharply when he saw what lay underneath. "You are so beautiful," he whispered reverently and lowered his head to her. She cried out, when his mouth touched her, threading her fingers through his hair, holding him to her.

He spent the next several minutes worshipping her breasts with his mouth and his hands. His fingers caressed one nipple as his mouth closed over the other. He sucked the tip of her breast in his mouth, tugging gently at her nipple with his teeth until Ginny cried out. Letting her breast go with a pop, he leisurely kissed his way over to the other mound, stopping to inhale the smell of her between her breasts. He ran his tongue on the underside of the creamy flesh, working his way to the tip with small laps of his tongue until he was circling the nipple but not touching it. He chuckled when she growled at him and finally took her breast into his mouth, flicking his tongue over the tip as she purred in satisfaction.

Ginny felt like her body was a taut string, waiting to be snapped. "Harry," she gasped, "Please…"

Harry lifted himself off of her again and Ginny sat up, taking the opportunity to unbutton his shirt with shaky fingers. He stood still, watching her.

"Are you positive this is okay Nix?" he asked quietly. "I don't want to rush you."

She slid her hands up the chest she had just exposed and slipped the shirt off his shoulders, tugging it past his wrists and dropping it to the ground. She stood up and pressed herself against his bare torso, her hands reaching between them to undo his belt buckle.

"I love you," she said in a low voice. "And I am never going to want to share this with anyone but you."

Her hands reached for his zipper but Harry stopped her movements with his hand. "Let me," he said hoarsely. He was so hard it was nearly painful and he was afraid that one touch from Ginny would set him off. He definitely did NOT want to come in his pants this time.

He made quick work of his pants and boxers, his eyes fastened on Ginny's while she scooted backwards up to the headboard, laying herself in the center of the bed. When he stood before her naked, she gulped.

"Is that…is that going to fit?" she asked.

Harry threw back his head and laughed at the look on her face. "You're really good for my ego."

He climbed up on the bed. "I think we'll do just fine Nix," he said, his eyes darkening as he looked at her lounging on his bed waiting for him.

Harry crawled towards her, coming to a stop at her bent knees. She looked up at him nervously as he grasped her knees and gently opened her legs. He groaned when he saw her lacy underwear, still covering her. He could tell her body was already preparing to receive him by the dark wet spot on the crotch of her panties.

"Ginny," he said anxiously, looking back up at her. "The thing is…well, it's supposed to hurt…the first time…I've heard. I don't want to hurt you."

"I know Harry," she said, now smiling at him. "It'll just be for a moment. Just…go slow."

"I promise," he vowed. He hooked his thumbs on the straps of her thong and slowly peeled it off, keeping his eyes on hers as she lifted her hips so he could remove the underwear. When he had tossed the underwear to the floor, he sat back on his heels and let his gaze travel up and down her naked form.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered. He had never seen a naked woman before but he was pretty sure that Ginny put them all to shame. "Look at you, it's beyond anything I could have imagined. Well…beyond anything I HAVE been imagining."

Ginny flushed but stopped herself from instinctively covering her body with her hands. She was his and she wanted him to know it. He could look at her anytime he wanted. She took a deep breath, looking at his erection again. Yeah, that was going to hurt.

She tentatively reached out a hand towards him. "Can I touch you?"

Harry inhaled sharply, grabbing her wrist before her hand closed around him. "I don't think that's a good idea Ginny," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm already too close and the only place I want to come right now is buried deep inside of you."

His words sent a wave of heat through her but she drew back her hand. "Sorry," she said sheepishly. "Maybe next time?"

"Definitely," he swore. He put his hands on her knees and ran them up her thighs, palming her hips and up her torso as Ginny instinctively spread her knees further apart to allow him to move closer to her. Soon he was nestled between her thighs, the heat rolling off of her in waves.

With a feral grin, he leaned over, putting his weight on his arms as he ran his tongue over her breasts again. He moved his mouth down her stomach, stopping to swirl his tongue into her belly button. The sounds of pleasure she was making for him urged him further on and he skimmed his mouth over to her left hipbone, kissing his way across the top of the nest of curls between her thighs.

The scent coming off of her was driving him crazy. Harry's animagus form was a lion and in the back of his distracted mind, he realized that his lion was recognizing his mate by her smell.

Ginny clutched Harry's upper arms, her fingers biting into his flesh. He was driving her crazy. The magic inside of her was swelling and the heat was pooling in her lower body as he ran his mouth over her hips. Gods, she wanted to touch him too. To run her hands over his muscles and-

Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt and her body arched automatically as Harry lifted his head from where he had been nibbling on her flesh and cupped her with his hand. No one had ever touched her there. And now that Harry had, no else ever would. She gasped when he tentatively ran his index finger down her swollen lips to find the center of her. Cautiously, he inserted the finger inside of her, dropping his head down to nuzzle the top of her thigh as he shifted his weight to his left forearm. He let her adjust to the feel of his finger and then began slowly moving the finger in and out eventually adding another finger and stretching her.

"Harry!" Ginny cried out. "Please!"

"Please what baby?" Harry panted. He looked up at her, his eyes glowing a dark green. His eyes slid shut as he felt her muscles contract around his fingers. "Merlin Ginny, you're so tight…and wet."

"For you," she gasped out, her head twisting on the pillow. "I'm wet for you."

Harry's plans to bring her to unbridled passion before he joined her vanished with her words. He withdrew his fingers causing her to whimper. He pushed himself up and over her, lowering himself onto her body. They both groaned at the skin-to-skin contact and Ginny's arms slid around him, holding him tight to her and stroking up and down his back.

Harry lowered his head to her shoulder, breathing deeply to keep his magic inside of him. He wanted to share magic with her so much, but he couldn't be sure he wouldn't hurt her if he let himself go like that.

Reaching between them, he positioned himself at her entrance and looked up at her. Her face was flushed and her pupils were almost completely gold. She met his gaze and reached up to kiss him, sucking his bottom lip between her own before tracing his lips with her tongue. He opened his mouth to accommodate her and she kissed him hard and thoroughly. He would swear later that he could feel her love for him in that kiss, that moment of contact before they finally joined their bodies.

"Ginny," he panted, when she had stopped the kiss. "Are you sure?"

"Harry," she growled at him, "if you stop now, I'm going to kill you." She arched her hips up towards him invitingly and he could do nothing but answer her invitation.

Ginny felt the head of him slowly penetrate her, sliding into her, stretching her muscles for his entry. When he reached her barrier, he took a deep breath and looking into her eyes, thrust through, entering the rest of her until he was all the way in. He stopped moving to let her adjust to feel of him. She looked up at him with wide eyes but didn't show any other signs of pain except for the lip she was biting on and the tenseness he felt in her body.

"Relax," he whispered to her, nuzzling her nose with his. "I think it will be better if you relax. I won't move until you tell me to."

In truth, Harry had no idea how he was controlling his actions. Every cell in his brain was shouting at him to get a bloody move on and his instinct wanted him to slam his hips into hers, bringing them both to completion as quickly as possible. Three words kept flashing in his mind in rapid succession: "hot, wet, tight."

"So tight," he groaned out loud, shutting his eyes.

Ginny forced herself to relax, realizing that Harry was demonstrating superpowers of self-control as he waited for her to adjust to him. As she relaxed her muscles the pain was ebbing away until she was filled the feeling of Harry inside of her. It felt…wonderful, she realized now with a shock. This was what Hermione and Tonks had been talking about. She felt complete, like she would never be whole again unless her body was molded around him. They fit together lit a puzzle piece.

"Harry," she breathed, opening her eyes to look at him. The strain of his stillness was showing on his face. "It's okay, you can move."

Trusting her to tell him the truth, Harry slowly withdrew himself until he was barely inside and then thrust slowly back into her. He repeated this motion until Ginny began moving with him, thrusting back against him, forcing him to speed up.

"Faster," she moaned, her eyes sliding shut. "More." Goddess, he was driving her crazy.

"I won't break," she told him through gritted teeth.

Harry quickened the pace, thrusting in and out of her until he was no longer sure where he ended and where Ginny began. His body began to glow with a faint green light and Harry abruptly stilled his movements.

"Sorry," he ground out, "just give me a minute." He shut his eyes tightly, trying to stop the magic from escaping.

Ginny noticed his body glowing and wrapped her legs around his waist, hooking her ankles together behind his back. "Don't stop Harry," she panted. "Let go, share magic with me."

"I don't want to hurt you," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself."

"I feel it too," she gasped, arching into him. "This is us Harry. This is how we are supposed to be. Please, share with me."

She sent her magic reaching for him and he couldn't stop himself from answering. Their auras burst into color around them and Harry was lost. There was only Ginny and the way she felt moving beneath him. The fire inside of her ran through his body, surrounding them and he met her mouth with his lips. The link between them intensified the pleasure in a continuous loop. He could feel the heat gathering itself inside of her… could feel how his movements brought her closer to the edge each time. He knew she could feel how bloody fantastic it felt being surrounded by her, how well she enveloped him—as if she was made just for him.

"I was," she gasped again, her hips meeting his now-frantic thrusts. "I was made for you, only for you."

"Mine," he panted, looking into her eyes. "Only mine."

"Yours," she agreed. "Always."

Her orgasm came with her declaration and her chest arched into him, letting her head fall back on the pillow as she cried out his name, the pleasure washing over the connection in waves. Harry let himself go, not being able to stop himself when he felt her muscles rippling around him. With a final thrust and a hoarse cry in her ear, he spilled into her and their auras turned from a swirling mass of red and green to a combined golden color that washed over their quaking bodies.

Ginny lay panting, welcoming Harry's weight on top of her after he had collapsed onto her. They were silent for several moments until Harry kissed her one final time and made a move as if to roll off.

"No," she pleaded, hugging him tighter to her. "Stay."

"Aren't I crushing you?" he asked quietly, pressing a kiss on her sweaty brow.

"Yes, but it feels nice," she said, running her hands over his back. She was quiet for another moment, letting the joy of their union wash through her. They were still connected—she could feel his energy moving through her.

"Harry," she said tentatively. "Is that offer still open?"

"What offer?" He asked blankly, lifting his head from her shoulder where he had been pressing kisses to look at her.

"The one where I move in here with you." Ginny held her breath waiting for his answer. How could she not move in and spend every waking moment with him, after what they had just shared?

"Do you mean it?" Harry said, his eyes lighting up with hope. "You really want to? What happened to it being too soon?"

Ginny shrugged, smiling at him. "You were right. It's silly to wait. I love you and we're going to be together forever. I don't want to wait for our lives to start anymore."

"Then move in," Harry pleaded shakily, pressing urgent kisses along her jaw. "Live with me, be with me, share with me."

"Okay," She whispered, her eyes welling up with tears at his tenderness. "I will.

Harry kissed her hard then, his lips forcing hers open to allow his tongue to sweep inside her mouth. His hands moved up to tangle in her hair as he poured love into the connection that linked them. "I love you so much…forever," he said fiercely, lifting his head to look at her.

"Mo chuisle," she whispered, smiling at him through her tears. She reached up a hand to caress his cheek. "Mo chuisle," she repeated.

"What does that mean," he asked, nuzzling her neck. He could feel himself hardening inside of her. Again?, his brain asked. Yes, he insisted. Again. In fact, as many times as possible.

"It can mean many things," she answered. "But the most common is 'my love.'"

"I love it when you speak Gaelic," Harry groaned, his hips starting to move again. "I don't understand a bloody word you're saying but the words sort of move over my skin. It's sexy."

Ginny laughed breathlessly, wrapping her arms around him again and mimicing the movement of his hips. "I'll move in with you on one condition," she said.

"Name it," Harry panted.

"Promise me we will never stop doing this."

"Done," he agreed. "Ginny, how do you say 'forever' in Gaelic?"

"Go síoraí," she answered, her fingernails curling into his shoulders.

"Go síoraí," he chanted over and over again into her ear.

She shut her eyes to enjoy the pleasure building between them again and he stopped his chanting for a moment to whisper to her. "No, look at me, only at me." She opened her eyes. He was looking down at her with fierce concentration on his face, the goldeness of their aura shining around him.

"Eyes on me," he commanded. "Only on me."

She obeyed, even when he quickened the pace and she thought she would explode. With one final thrust, the love exploded between them, their auras bursting into an even brighter gold as they hung suspended in the moment. They came back down slowly, Harry letting them both catch their breath before finally withdrawing from her. They both immediately felt the loss and their aura separated again into green and red.

"Gods I love you," he finally whispered into her ear before moving off of her to lay at her side. She murmured back to him, so sleepy she wasn't sure she made sense but he only curled his body protectively around her, tucking her into his chest and pulling the covers up over them.

"Go síoraí," he whispered in her ear one last time before they both drifted off into sleep.