Round Two

Ginny sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall when Edgar soared into the hall. Edgar was the first of many owls arriving. It was Valentines Day and many students were expecting post, Ginny was certain she would be getting an owl, there was no way Harry would forget. Edgar landed on the bench next to her with an envelope and a box tied to his left talon.

"Thanks buddy," she cooed to the owl as she untied the items and set both on the table. "Go get some food, then get to the owlry. I'll be sending a letter back to Harry tonight." The owl hopped to her shoulder then jumped to the air flying gracefully out the window.

Ginny, open this first.

Harry's writing on the envelope instructed. 'Hmmm,' Ginny thought. Knowing Harry she was sure the envelope would pop, or explode or something similar. She set down the envelope and picked up the box. The white, rectangular box measured fourteen inches long by four inches by four inches; it was tied with a red silk ribbon. She looked at the tag.

Please go back and open the envelope first!

Love Harry.

She giggled to herself. Maybe he knew her better than she thought. She opened the envelope.

Dear Ginny,

Happy Valentines Day. I know you miss me, and I miss you tremendously as well. I was trying to figure a way for us to see each other today but with the wards on the school, there's no way. Don't open the gift until you're alone in your dorm.

I love you more every day.

Harry

Ginny rushed to her dorm and ripped open the box to find a single perfect red rose. She picked the rose from the box. The explosion of flowers was immediate. As soon as Ginny lifted the rose from the box, dozens of bouquets of roses were materializing from the small box settling on the floor, her bed or the dresser, anywhere they could land gently. She stood in awe as the room was engulfed in roses. She laughed. Harry indeed loved her very much.

Harry was pulling on his practice robes getting ready for the early practice when Ellie, Ginny's owl, landed on his shoulder. "Hi there what have we got?" He untied the letter.

Dearest Harry,

How I wish we could spend the day (and night) together. I've been distracted thinking about today. Here's something to help distract you from practice. Lavender took it for me. I'm sure you'll like it. Do NOT show it to Ron!

All my love,

Ginny

He took a blank photo from the envelope. He touched his wand to it saying, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." The photo appeared. Harry felt his temperature rise as he saw the picture materialize. It was Ginny sitting in her bed, obviously completely naked. Her left leg was curled underneath her. Her right leg was pulled up in front of her and her arms were wrapped around her leg. Her chin rested on her knee, she had a very inviting smile on her face. As the picture moved she would mouth 'I love you' and toss her hair back over her shoulder. Even though her leg and arms kept her from showing anything really risqué it was one of the sexiest photo's Harry had ever seen. He was going to need some time before he headed out to practice. And there was no way anyone would be seeing this picture but him.

Winter started turning into spring; snow thawed into slush, the slush became mud. The sun was out more and the weather was getting milder.

Dear Harry,

Professor McGonagall let it slip that you passed your Transfiguration N.E.W.T. with a grade of 'Exceeds Expectation'. I don't know if I'm allowed to pick my detention date, but if possible I'd like to see the rematch between you and Viktor next week. McGonagall has also done a great job of keeping the press off school grounds. All the papers want to interview me. I see the first installment of the book all over school. Everyone's reading it. Luna says the proceeds are more than enough to keep The Quibbler going. Students ask me to sign their copies. I don't know why, I'm hardly in the first part at all except for being the 'damsel in distress' in the Chamber of Secrets.

Classes are tougher than ever, they are really on us with extra homework. Part of the pressure is that we'll be judged as the first graduating class since Dumbledore died. I'm holding up I guess, it's so hard but I'm doing better than Lavender, she's stressed out completely.

Quidditch is going great we thrashed Hufflepuff by four hundred ten points. Slytherin doesn't stand a chance. I haven't done the math yet but the rumor is that with a good win we could set the school record for points scored in a season. Slughorn brought Gwenog Jones to the last Slug Club meeting, I don't like the meetings that much, but it is good networking. I GOT TO MEET GWENOG JONES!! Can you believe it?

Lots of students are wearing Cannons stuff, even McGonagall wears a pin, and she's an Edinburgh fan. I'm so impressed how well you, Ron, and the team are doing. Chudley really could win it all. So STAY FOCUSED! Tell Marcus and Andre hello.

Have you seen Doug and Randall recently? It was good that they found the front wheel and other pieces for you. Tell them 'hi' for me as well.

Well, as usual, I miss you much, and love you completely.

Ginny

Harry folded the parchment neatly and retuned it to its envelope. He placed the letter in a simple wooden box along with all the other letters she had written to him. He was sure anyone else would think it was corny, but not Harry. Everything of any real importance to him he kept in the box. His life was in the box. Thanks to the Dursleys he didn't have any mementos of his childhood. All the items were much more recent. He sifted through the papers and found the picture of Ginny and the team after the Ravenclaw victory and compared it to the picture from the Hufflepuff victory. She looked so much more confident in the second picture, not that she ever lacked confidence. She was changing, maturing with each month. He missed her. More so each time they parted ways, especially since the vacation in Miami.

Ginny finished her essay and tossed it on Slughorn's desk as she bolted from class. As she flew past Lavender she arched her eyebrows and mouthed 'Detention'. Lavender smiled and winked at her. She took two different shortcuts to get to the Headmistress' office as quickly as she could.

Ginny was doing well in class, and was excelling as Quidditch captain which was making Professor McGonagall very happy. Officially as Headmistress she was to be neutral during sporting competitions, but Ginny knew she still pulled for Gryffindor. The byproduct of the professor's happiness was that she was letting Ginny leave on Friday night instead of Saturday morning for detention. As promised the note was on the door.

Miss Weasley,

Your detention assignment is in the envelope on my desk. You know the routine.

Professor McGonagall

Ginny threw the door open and hurried to the desk. She found the envelope quickly and ripped open the flap to get to the port key.

Hermione jumped as Ginny port keyed into the main room of the tent. "Hi 'Mione." she tossed her bag on the couch and gave her best friend a hug. "Where are the guys?"

"Still at practice. It'll be a short one since they have a game tomorrow. They should be back in about fifteen minutes," Hermione responded. "You're way early. That'll make Mr. Potter happy. He wasn't expecting you till in the morning, you can tell by his room."

Ginny peered into the room. Dirty clothes and practice jerseys were piled on chairs and hanging off the end of the bed. "Ughhh, I'm no neat freak, but that's gross. What am I doing? Is he ever going to be neat?" she groaned.

"Doubt it, but Ron's doing better at it so there might be hope for Harry as well." Hermione laughed handing her friend a cup. "Here have some tea."

Hermione looked back out the tent door. "They're about here. If you want to surprise him hide." Ginny grabbed the invisibility cloak from her bag and stood in the corner.

"Hey," the guys said as they came into the tent, "we'll grab showers then we'll figure out dinner."

"I've got the press thing at five," Harry reminded them. Ron headed for his bath. Harry went through his room towards his bath looking forward to a nice warm shower.

Hermione waited for the inevitable. It didn't take long. "Ahhhh!" She heard Harry scream.

Harry stripped his sweaty clothes off in the bedroom. 'Still gotta clean this mess before Gin gets here,' passed through his mind. He started the shower and stepped in. He had the spray turned up full blast and the steam soon overtook the room. The pounding water felt so good on his shoulder, like a massage. He felt movement, but couldn't see a thing through the fog, especially without his glasses. The air glistened somehow but he couldn't decide if he really saw anything.

"Ahhhh!" he screamed, nearly jumping out of his skin when Ginny appeared in front of him nude. She hung the soaking wet invisibility cloak on a towel hook, and then focused her attention on Harry. 'Luckily magical showers don't run out of hot water,' he thought thankfully. He spent the better part of an hour with her in the shower before finally turning it off and getting them each clean clothes.

When they walked into the kitchen Ron and Hermione were enjoying some snacks. "Harry you're late, eat later." Hermione pointed to the clock. He only had ten minutes to get to the press conference.

"Come on." He grabbed Ginny's hand and they left for the stadium.

Viktor was seated in his place at the table waiting for Harry.

"Sorry Viktor, got distracted," Harry apologized.

"Its okay, I hate these things." Viktor popped him on the back. "It's like feeding time at the zoo. Let's get it over with."

"Got it," said Harry

The press leading up to the second game was even worse than the previous meeting between them. Viktor and Harry were by far the most popular players in the league, and the press demands seemed to grow exponentially the better their respective teams did. The part that bothered the friends was the press constantly speculating on how much they hated each other. Controversy sold papers and most of the journals were trying to create all the controversy they could.

Viktor and Harry started owling each other pretty regularly while healing from the last incident. It helped that they wrote so each of them knew the truth, not the Prophet's bastardized version of the truth.

Ginny stood off to the side of the room behind a set of curtains separating this section of the room from the rest. A tall dark complexioned woman was already there.

"… so I think the beaters are pretty evenly matched," Harry finished the answer to what had to be the tenth stupid question in a row.

"Mr. Potter when is the next book coming out?" was shouted from the press pool.

Viktor looked at Harry. "I'm not talking about books. Same answer as last time, whenever Quibbler Publishing has it ready. Quidditch questions please," Harry reminded them.

A couple of game related questions were tossed out which Viktor and Harry answered.

"Did you and Miss Granger ever have personal relations!" the question yelled from the back of the room. Harry winced at the question. Viktor scowled.

"Look, I'm not doing this. Any more non-quidditch questions and I leave," Harry ordered.

Rita Skeeter for the Prophet. "Is it true that Miss Weasley cheated on you with one of your classmates while you were gone on your quest?"

Before Harry could answer Viktor did it for him. Viktor stood with such force the table tipped over spilling papers and water glasses to the floor. "Damn interview's over!" he growled, his temper barely contained. He and Harry stalked from the stage and behind the curtain.

Ginny was looking down at the floor with a disgusted look on her face, listening to the questions. She looked up as Harry came towards her. Viktor went to the other woman, giving her a brief hug. He took her hand and brought her over. "Harry, Ginny, this is Anastasia."

They shook hands. "Nice to meet you Anastasia." Harry continued, "This is nuts, thanks Viktor. If I'd opened my mouth I'm sure it would have been worse. That Skeeter woman is vile."

"This press stuff is bad enough, and the book thing, that's all you, but when they get personal... It makes my blood boil," Viktor fumed.

Wendell Sikes, the Cannons press agent, stepped into the room. "Harry, we…"

"Stop, I don't want to hear it Wendell." Harry cut him off. "Skeeter isn't allowed any more passes to my press conferences. Block the other Prophet reporters as well. See how well their damn paper sells without any news of the match tomorrow. They can sod off. It's not open for debate."

Viktor and Anastasia led the way out, Harry and Ginny followed.

Soon Harry and Ginny were back in the tent. "Wonder where Ron and Hermione are?" Ginny questioned.

"Out I guess. I'm starved. I know a great place for dinner." He nodded towards the kitchen.

Harry started by pulling ingredients for sauce from the cabinets, Ginny gathered the pots and utensils. Harry brought in his muggle radio so they could listen to music while they cooked. Harry and Ginny half danced as they prepared the food, 'accidentally' bumping or rubbing against one another and blaming it all on the 'small' kitchen. By the time the pasta and sauce was ready to eat Harry could barely keep his hands off her and vice versa.

It was times like this that Harry cherished; simple tasks or events that when combined with having Ginny near him became special. Usually he'd notice but stop staring or thinking about it before Ginny noticed him. However, just as many times she would catch the look on his face and realize he was experiencing something new. Tonight he was caught; she rubbed his shoulder and kissed his forehead letting him know that she understood, but that he didn't have to explain if he didn't want to. Some days he offered an explanation, other days he just explained by saying he was happy, like tonight.

"Red or White?" Ginny asked holding up two bottles of wine.

"Water, I'm going against Viktor tomorrow remember?" he replied. "But you can have either one."

She chose the white and set the last of dinner on the table. Dinner passed by quickly and soon, Harry was sprawled on the sofa with Ginny stretched out next to him. Harry had a television and DVD player set up and they were watching muggle movies. Introducing Ginny to muggle movies was something Harry was happy he'd done. During the summer it was the movies that became their standard Friday night date. Ginny really seemed to enjoy them. Now they rested calmly, snacking on popcorn till they were tired enough to head into bed.

Harry was already sitting on the bed wearing only a pair of training shorts when Ginny came from the bath wearing just her jersey. Harry was rotating his shoulder.

"Shoulder still stiff?" Ginny asked concerned.

"Yeah, sometimes." He winced as he rotated it a bit wrong. Ginny sat behind him and started to massage his shoulder and arm. His head lulled back as he relaxed.

"You've not been doing the rehab exercises I told you to do," she pointed out gruffly. "On your stomach," she ordered.

Harry lay down on his stomach, arms out to his sides. "Honey if you don't do the exercises the muscles won't ever get healed all the way," She lectured in a softer voice while still massaging his shoulder and back.

"Let's get some sleep." She nestled him under the covers.

"Hmmm, if you insist, but I was hoping the whole massage thing would pan out for me." He smiled at Ginny mischievously.

She giggled and started escalating the massage.

When Ginny awoke Harry was already awake brushing hair away from her neck watching her as she stirred.

"When'd you get this?" he asked tracing a very faint scar just under her jaw line.

"Goyle, caught me in the hall after curfew one night and cursed me. It was a pretty weak spell. I was able to heal it on my own."

"Why haven't you mentioned it before? It wasn't in your journal that I remember," he queried.

"Wasn't a big deal, besides, I left him in a full body bind, then set my batty friends on him." She laughed a little at the memory. "The important ones I mentioned," she explained.

"Like this one?" he traced a scar than ran just under her right breast.

"Amycus Carrow." Her voice became serious. "Carrow did this one too." She guided his hand to a spot on her left hip which would be just above the waist line of her jeans. "Cruciatus curse, both times. Lucky for me I got to Madam Pompfrey right away both times, that's why the scars are so light. Lots of times I had to hide from the Carrows, they didn't like me. This one…" she pulled his hand back to the scar on her chest "was the last straw. Mum pulled me from school that day. It was the Friday before Easter. Dad came and got me from the infirmary at the school, sent me to Aunt Muriels."

"I'm sorry Gin," Harry whispered as he tightened his hold on her.

"Mum called them marks of valor. She was upset of course, but proud of me fighting back. I am glad they don't really show."

"Me too," Harry agreed. "You're too beautiful to have scars. It wouldn't be fair for you to end up with ugly scars like me."

"You might think I'm nuts, but I think your scars make you more masculine. They show your most prominent traits; honor, truth, bravery and love." She roughed his hair. "Come on let's make breakfast."

Harry and Ginny dressed and headed to the kitchen to start breakfast.

Soon other family members were milling about, snacking joking and relaxing before the game.

At ten Ron and Harry left for the locker room.

Viktor and Harry met in the tunnel on the way into the stadium. "You ready to get spanked Viktor?" Harry jibed him.

"Yea, yea, we'll see Mr. Chosen One," Viktor shot back. They both laughed and turned towards their respective benches in the stadium.

By the time they met again at the center of the pitch they were game ready. The whistle blew. Both launched into their game plans. It was cool, but bright sunshine bathed the stadium in brightness. The snitch would shine today. It would be a fast game. Like the last game versus Bulgaria the plan was simply for Harry to get the snitch as fast as possible.

This game was probably going to be tougher, neither team was distracted. Harry and Victor were completely absorbed in finding the snitch. They flew across the pitch and circled each other, now and again leaning on each other fiercely as they competed. They separated and were opposite each other a good eighty feet in the air. Harry saw it. He broke towards the snitch. Victor saw it too, maybe a half second after Harry did. Harry was a couple feet closer.

The glittering gold snitch was hiding near a food wrapper that had blown onto the field near the center of the pitch. Harry streaked towards it from the north side, Viktor from the south. Both seekers gained speed as they dove. Harry could feel his Firebolt strain under the stresses of the dive, but there was no way he was letting up. Chudley won the game last time, but Viktor had grabbed the snitch. As he looked forward he could see Viktor coming at him. It was now a ninety mile an hour game of chicken, with the snitch in the middle.

Fans in the stands screamed with excitement, until it became obvious that neither seeker was letting up. The crowd silenced themselves as seekers Krum and Potter passed the point where they would avoid a collision. Harry's gloved hand wrapped up the snitch at the time of impact. His left knee, chest and shoulder crushed against Viktor's as their body's met with a sickening crunch just north of center field. Both spun wildly off their brooms falling the last few feet to the ground landing in broken heaps. The crowd erupted, half in cheers, half in cries, all worried.

Harry came to as a salty potion was being poured down his throat. He gagged it back up and opened his eyes. The world was blurry. He could make out Ginny's fuzzy form at his bed side. She put his glasses on him. He looked up to her. 'Uh oh, she's pissed off,' he knew it from her look.

She rubbed his bandaged head comforting him and spoke in a tone that didn't convey much comfort. "Do NOT keep doing this. It's beyond idiocy. You and Viktor in this stupid pissing match." She took a breath and reloaded. "Damn! Harry, sooner or later you'll do something the healers can't fix. I'm sick and damn tired of always having to fight my way into the emergency ward to see how you've managed to mangle yourself again," she railed on him.

"I got it though, right? We won?" Harry asked. He knew immediately he'd said the wrong thing.

"Screw it! You're worried about the damn score? You ought to be worried about whether you can walk!" She half hollered back at him.

"Miss if you don't calm yourself we will make you leave." The head healer directed her gaze at Ginny. "It's time for his potion." The healer checked Harry over quickly and gave him the sour tasting potion that would make him sleep.

"Sorry, I'll settle out," Ginny replied to the healer.

"Gin, I'm sorry if I scared you. I didn't mean to." He enveloped her hand in his and squeezed it gently.

"Officially, you have a compound fracture of the left shoulder and collarbone, a concussion, and you hyper-extended your knee," she gave Harry the healer-speak version.

"In your world it means all the therapy we did on your shoulder you get to do again. Only this time there will be twice as much since you'll have to work through the scar tissue from last time. You slightly scrambled your noggin although I'm not sure it was functioning well to begin with. Your left knee got bent backwards," she said condescendingly.

"No flying or seeking for at least a week. You might want to get a brace for the shoulder to wear the next few games to protect it," her voice was now much more caring.

Harry rested his head back into the pillow. "I'm tired. I'm sorry Gin, but I had to win." He nodded off.

Harry woke the next morning to shouts and commotion coming from the doors to the infirmary. The hollering in the hallway cascaded into the room as Bill pushed Ginny and her Mum, into the room followed by Mr. Weasley, Ron, Hermione and George. George took a swing at a reporter as he went by, knocking the man's camera to the floor destroying it. Ginny was holding a copy of The Daily Prophet, her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

"Hey, what's got everyone in such a bother?" Harry asked as the family crushed in. Bill was livid, as was Ron, in fact they were as mad as Harry had ever seen them; worse than the day of the fight at the Burrow.

Harry focused on Ginny, he didn't know how but she appeared to be furious and crestfallen at the same time, if that was humanly possible. He took her hand when she got to him in an attempt to comfort her. She sat next to him on the bed. Twice she tried to talk, but the words didn't come, she just cried more.

"Gin, its okay, its okay." He caressed her hand, then her hair, trying to calm her. It wasn't helping much, however her breathing was getting back to a regular rhythm leaving behind the gasps for air. In the background the Weasley men still fumed, making rude comments about the prophet and Rita Skeeter. Hermione and Molly had her other hand and arm rubbing her softly. Molly was the person who showed him the paper. The prophet didn't have very good coverage of the game since their reporters had not been allowed in. But Rita and the prophet got their revenge anyways.

In the third section under Social Events and Entertainment was Rita's scathing article.

International Quidditch Hero Betrayed by Underage Lover

According to the most reliable sources this reporter has learned that Harry Potter, once known as 'The Chosen One', who recently defeated You-Know-Who, and is now arguably the best Seeker in the QWC league has become the victim of the ultimate betrayal. His underage lover, one Ginevra Weasley…'

Ginny trembled as he read the article; she slid down next to him seeking comfort. Ginny cried as he read, Harry's temper was rising to the point of explosion. 'Stupid Bitch! I'll squish that damn bug like the pest she is. I'm calling Shacklebolt too. He can get the Ministry to come down on…"

"Mr. Potter, calm down or I will force a sleeping potion down your throat," the Lead Healer reprimanded him.

"Somebody get Sikes in here!" he screamed. "Wendell better do something about this or I'll stuff his head through the third ring of the pitch." Harry's anger wasn't helping Ginny, her Mum was trying to calm her but Harry's antics were making her more distraught. The Healer coming towards him with a sleeping potion finally made him realize he had to calm down.

"Molly, everyone, can you leave us alone, give us some space please?" Harry asked in a strained voice. Molly stood, kissed them both and left the room, Hermione and the rest of the family followed her lead.

Harry used his good arm to pull Ginny tightly to him. She was still crying into his chest furious that Rita had plastered her personal life all over the leading magical newspaper for all to see. Harry held her and comforted her for half an hour, he silently seethed in anger.

"Gin, I'll find a way to fix this. Wendell can go from this end, and I can have Kingsley go after the paper and its editors. I'll go after Rita on my own, and if I see Dean Thomas he'll eat my fist." Harry was still livid, but was trying to be calm for Ginny's sake. "I want to see if we can stop them with a slander hearing as well. Make them print a retraction."

Ginny sat up and wiped her tears, she was done crying. "Harry calm down, I don't think we can do that, we need to talk alone for a second." She was very serious. She wouldn't look him in the eye either. Ginny cast a silencing charm over the area so they would not be heard.

"Harry we need to talk," she said in a hushed tone. Her face conveyed the unpleasant confession she was going to have to make

Harry's mind started a rapid dark plunge as the feelings of betrayal washed over him. "Did you cheat on me?" Harry said in a broken voice.

White stars danced in his vision, the slap cracked loud, leaving a ringing in his ear. The blood rushing to his face burned with heat. "No, Harry! No I didn't!" Her voice cracked as she spoke.

He didn't hear her response. His mind clouded over, thinking back to all the times in his youth that somebody hurt him or betrayed him. He looked at her sadly, totally defeated. "You shagged Dean while…"

She slapped him again catching the exact same spot. His cheek exploded in pain. Having not recovered from the first slap the second was ten times worse.

"NO!" she screamed.

She breathed heavily trying not to scream at him. "Number one, you do not EVER, I repeat EVER accuse me of cheating. I deserve respect from you and that behavior is completely unacceptable. Number two. I am not perfect. I will I never be perfect. I… I…" She sighed heavily. "Oh, I slapped you so hard, and you're already hurt. I'm so sorry Harry." She kissed the swollen hand print on his cheek, unsure of what to say next.

She looked at him, searching for a way to move the conversation along. "Harry, do you honestly, deep in your heart, think I would ever cheat on you?"

Harry gazed into her brown eyes. Eyes he'd looked into so many times before. "No, no I don't Gin. I'm so sorry. I don't know why it happened, but my mind took this dismal downward spiral. All my fears of never being happy flooded back into my head, making me believe that I was stupid to trust anyone. Before I knew it, I'd said it. I'm sorry. I was stupid for saying it." He swallowed nervously. "I trust you implicitly."

"Good answer," she replied. "This is secret I hoped I would never need to reveal. A secret only two people knew about until today." Her eyes locked on his before she continued her explanation. "I was never unfaithful to you, never. But, as you can guess by now, you aren't the first person I had sex with. I probably should have told you long ago, but I don't like thinking about it. And there isn't ever a good time to bring this type of topic up."

She went on. "When Dean and I were dating I got it in my head to prove I was grown up. I was tired of being Fred's, and George's, and Ron's little sister. So one night Dean and I were snogging in an empty classroom, you know, fooling around, and I was mad because we had to hide from Ron and well… Dean tried to and I didn't stop him. So we had sex. We did it several more times before we broke up."

"I'm sorry, Harry, I should have told you." She looked down at her feet. "Unfortunately, the story has the basics about me and Dean correct, just the timing is wrong so a slander hearing would be a waste. And while I am of age now, I wasn't then, so technically the headline is correct about me being underage. Besides, if we make a fight of it then they'll start chasing after my other boyfriends and probably anyone you dated as well."

"Other boyfriends Gin? How many others did you…?" Harry tried to ask politely, but couldn't get the words out.

Ginny rubbed her eyes in frustration and regret. "All the way? Just Dean. Michael Corner and I kissed a lot. With Roger, we groped a lot…" She stopped the explanation in frustration.

"I'm not running down the details of my love life, it's not your business. It was all before we dated, before you knew I existed, so I'm not going to apologize for any of it." Ginny stopped that particular thread of discussion.

"Ginny, lay back down, come here." He used his good arm to guide her back down next to him and looked into her eyes.

"Gin, I'm not judging you. I'm not. It does bother me to hear it. It makes me jealous, and it reminds me of time I could have had with you and lost out on. It doesn't change my deepest feelings for you. I can't imagine the number of times I've disappointed you, so for me to pass judgment on any part of your life would be completely wrong."

She snuggled closer to his injured body again. "I have regrets about it, I do, but it makes me value our relationship more."

"So we can't really do anything about The Daily Prophet or Rita can we?" he surmised.

"No, I'll just have to live it down," she said dejectedly.

"If I see Dean he's gonna need to have his food put through a blender so he can eat through a straw," Harry promised her. "I'm going to feed him this." He tore the article from the paper and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Harry, it was more me than him, every guy tries, that's what they do. It's up to the girl to stop it and I didn't."

"It's not really the sex part that bothers me, well that part bothers me but there isn't anything I can do about it. I'm angrier that he dished out such intimate details of your relationship," he explained. "He should have kept his trap shut."

Ginny got up from the hospital bed. "Settle out. I'll be back in a second," Ginny ordered. With a 'pop' she disappeared.

'Pop' she returned a few minutes later holding a small, leather bound, book. She climbed back onto the bed next to Harry and settled next to him again. She mumbled a charm and opened the book.

Harry recognized the book as her journal. "Ginny, you…"

She put her index finger across his lips to shush him. "I need to do this for me." She turned to the page she wanted him to read. "Start here." She covered the lower portion of the page with her hand so he couldn't see it.

I've done it. I lost my virginity to Dean. It hurt a little more than I thought. When I heard the other girls talk they didn't make it sound that bad. Maybe it really didn't hurt that much. It felt fine after a bit. It didn't take too long. I don't know, it didn't feel like it took a long time. As I think back it's all just a blur.

But, I feel more grown up, at least now I'm not anyone's 'baby sister' anymore. I'm a woman.

Her hand covered the rest of the page stopping his eyes.

She took the journal, flipped a few more pages and set it back in Harry's hands to read.

Dean and I got together again tonight. It was better this time. It only hurt a little. Dean was happy he had this silly smile on his face. It made me feel good to make him happy. It feels good I think, but still not like I heard it would be. It doesn't feel romantic since we have to hide and then leave as soon as we're done.

When we're done Dean tries to be all polite and everything, it annoys me some. I wish he'd figure out I'm not some dainty thing that needs protecting.

She took the book from his hand and turned to another page.

We did it again today, out back of the castle behind the tree line. For Dean it was good, I finished for the first time, much better! I like how it feels to be so close to someone. Somehow, it's still not right. Physically I like it, but emotionally it doesn't feel special like I think it should. I wonder if I should talk to Hermione about it. I don't think I will.

Even though this part is better, it's all he thinks of now. We never talk, it's maddening. Thinking it over, I should break up with Dean, it doesn't feel like I think it should. I want Harry, I always have. I've noticed him watching me lately. I wonder if I'm imagining it. I hate to get my hopes up, but I keep catching him watching me. I wish he knew how my stomach jumps when I see him. I'll have to work on Harry, but it isn't fair to stretch Dean along.

Ginny took the book from him and looked to Harry for his reaction. "When you read those, what was missing?" she asked.

"You never wrote about loving him," he answered looking back at her. She nodded her head in agreement.

"I never told him so either, he told me, but I never told him. Now read this part." She turned back to the first page and let him read the lower portion of the page.

I'm entering this here because I think it belongs here.

This time I really did lose my virginity. It was with Harry, the boy I love like no other. I call him a boy, but he's more man than boy. His touch makes my skin tingle. His warm breath makes me shiver in pleasure. When we kissed I lost control, all I ever wanted was for him to love me and he does. He tells me all the time. He could tell me a hundred times and I wouldn't get tired of hearing it.

He caressed me with his hands, touching me so softly, like he was afraid he would hurt me. I've never felt a touch so gentle. His body enveloped mine, we moved as one. He took longer than Dean, but it went by too fast. As we lay in bed with his arms around me I can't think of any place I would rather have been. After resting we made love again. The second time was incredible, now I know what it's supposed to feel like. It was great. We drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. It was perfect. The next morning was better yet. I'm afraid it's all I'll think of from now on. I love him so much. Two wishes down, two to go.

This time Harry closed the book, setting it on the end table. He pulled Ginny, his Ginny, into a soul searching kiss. She spoke to him gently after pulling from the kiss. "I had sex with Dean, I wish I didn't, and I can't take that back. But you, Harry, are the only person I ever made love with and the only person I ever want to make love to."

Ginny stayed most of the day with Harry. Professor McGonagall allowed her to port key back later in the day due to Harry's condition and the newspaper article.

"Welcome back Miss Weasley," the Headmistress offered as Ginny arrived in her office. "I'll have you know that the school has cancelled its subscription to The Daily Prophet in light of recent editorial comments. As a matter of record, the school will not comment on the article…"

"It's a lie," Ginny said emphatically. "I didn't."

"Ginny dear, I have no doubt it's a lie, as do evidently almost all your classmates," Professor McGonagall explained with a smile. "Now go ahead to the Great Hall, dinner is just now starting."

When Ginny entered the hall nearly everyone turned to face her, the clanking of silverware stopped and voices fell silent. Her face flushed at the attention, and her palms started to sweat, she could swear the temperature of the room climbed twenty degrees. She was about to turn and leave when Luna came up to her.

"Here, you need one of these too." Luna smiled and pressed an object into her palm.

Ginny looked at the button in her grasp It was black with bright red glowing letters showing:

'The Prophet Lied' the lettering then magically transformed into green lettering that stated 'Dean's a Prat'

When she looked up she realized nearly every student was wearing one. She hugged Luna and started making her way to her table. As she passed by the Slytherin table a light haired boy commented "There goes Weasley, the Gryffindor house sl…"

The sentence was never finished. Denis Creevey swung his camera by the strap connecting with the Slytherin's jaw. Two distinct 'crack' sounds were heard, the first was the camera case breaking, and the second was the boy's jawbone.

It was the first and last time any person in the school commented unfavorably to Ginny about the article.

The next morning at breakfast Ginny was once again surprised by a news story, this time from The Quibbler. Harry granted them an exclusive interview late the previous evening, just in time to make the morning press. It was on the front page. In his interview he let slip that Rita was an unregistered animagus, offering a personal five thousand Galleon reward to whichever citizen turned her in to the Ministry. He blasted the prophet's editorial department, and ended the story with the following quote:

'Ginevra Weasley is by far one of the most trustworthy people you could ever hope to meet, I trust her completely. She has more integrity than anyone I know, and any person that believes differently is just plain wrong. I love her and she has my complete support.'

Edgar swooped in landing near her pancakes. She took the note from his leg.

Dear Ginny,

Hope you read the Quibbler already today. I figured what good is it to be famous if I can't call a news conference or two. I expect with the reward Rita will be in custody soon.

I meant the last part of the article by the way, I do love you.

Professor McGonagall told me about the buttons, I'm glad others are supporting you. Out here it's about the same, once I came out against the article public opinion went your way.

Love always,

Harry