A/N:
I'm writing this first, because I like the mood in the end and my rubbish would only destroy that.. But I need to say this... I never really thought about WHY Ginny's patronus is a phoenix, but while writing the end, I realized why...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So?" asked Ron the next week.
"So what?" asked Harry in surprise.
"Soooo, what are you planning for Gin's birthday?"
"I'm not telling you" responded Harry in a sing-sang voice.
"Oh come on! It's not like I'm telling her" argued Ron.
"No, but you will tell Hermione and she will give me advice about the evening"
"Aha! So you're planning something for the evening! Besides, what could it hurt when Hermione gives you some advice? I'd certainly need it"
"It's not like I wouldn't need any, but I'm scared enough as it is, Ron"
"You do remember facing Voldemort more than once without even quailing, don't you?"
"Yeah, but I won't face him in two days, will I?"
"No, you'll just face my baby sister to tell her that you love her"
"Exactly!" exclaimed Harry, slightly shuddering.
"It's only three words, mate" said Ron cooly.
"Then you go and tell Hermione!" argued Harry.
"No!" said Ron instantly "I mean, I will, but not just yet!"
"Why not?" asked Harry as though proving his point.
"Because! And stop changing the subject! What will you two be doing?"
"Told you, I won't tell you"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The day before her birthday, Ginny was etremely excited. In some hours she would be overage and finally be able to do magic, would no longer be a child. Although, of course, she knew that for her mother, she'd always be a little girl.
The morning greeting for Harry was a pillow thrown into his face while he slept and Ginny's excited voice, proclaiming "One more day! Come on, wake up!" Harry's groaning wasn't helping the situation, he quickly felt another pillow being thrown at at him. "Wake up, sleepyhead!"
Harry's anxiety for Ginny's birthday had not become better over the day. Tomorrow he'd tell her that he loved her. Everytime he thought about it, his breath became heavy and his heart nearly stopped. What if she didn't love him back? What if she didn't say it back? What if… Stop it! This isn't going to help the situa…
"Harry?" a broadly smiling Ginny interrupted his thoughts "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing" Harry said immediately.
"Is it something about tomorrow evening?" she asked excited.
"Tomo… Who told you?" asked Harry, shocked.
"I promised Ron not to tell you who told me" she said flatly, folding her arms.
Harry shot an angry look at Ron, who shot it right back at Ginny, who looked expectingly at Harry. Hermione looked up from her book, gazed at each one of her friends, shook her head and continued reading.
"So?" pushed Ginny, prickling Harry.
"It's a surprise, Ginny" he smiled at her. His heart was sinking, the moment came closer and closer. It already was getting dark outside.
"I'm going to bed" said Ginny, standing up.
"Already?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah, I figure it's best going to sleep early… that way it'll be tomorrow faster"
"It doesn't" said Hermione flatly "The same time will pass… whether you are sleeping or not"
"But you won't feel it, since you're sleeping" explained Ginny and went off.
Harry fell back into his thoughts and fears. He sat on the couch well beyond Hermione and Ron who went sleeping only two hours after Ginny. Harry watched the the grandfather's clock and its hands. Midnight. Ginny's birthday.
The sound of the clock seemed to give him new determination. Ginny's been excited about this moment all day, she went to bed early so it wouldn't seem so long anymore. So Harry went upstairs.
When he entered Ginny's room he saw Hermione still reading her book. Harry gazed and its title, reading "Wizard – Magical Creatures Relations". When she noticed Harry in the door, she looked and her watch and smiled at him. Harry smiled back, nodding and looked over to where Ginny slept.
Her red hair was spread all over her face and her mouth slightly ajar. Harry could not miss the beauty of her and imagined him waking up to look at this picture. Kneeing down in front of her, he stroke her hair out of her face and noticed a silent groan coming from her. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her awake.
Ginny groaned again, but slightly opened her eyes, whispering "Morning"
"Not quite" grinned Harry.
"Hm? What time is it?"
"Midnight…" whispered Harry.
"You woke me up at midnight?" asked Ginny grunting and closing her eyes again.
Harry looked bewildered and slightly disappointed.
"Wait a minute" said Ginny, quickly reopening her eyes again, sitting up and grabbing for her wand. "I'm seventeen!" she squeeked.
"Yeah" said Harry, relieved.
"You know what that means, don't you, Harry?" said Ginny, grinning innocently.
"You tell me" said Harry.
"It means, dear, that I can hex you for waking me up!"
The grin on Ginny's face widened even more as she pointed her wand at Harry. She wouldn't! …. Would she? thought Harry.
Ginny muttered something and Harry was knocked back down at the ground. She would!
Ginny stood up and sat down on Harry and smiled down at him, finding the look on his face utterly amusing. She leaned down and kissed him pationately.
"Thanks for waking me, dear" she whispered.
"An… Anytime" muttered Harry, trying to understand what just happened.
Ginny got up and helped Harry back on his feet again. Harry looked at Hermione, who still held the book in her hand, but apparently fell asleep since he last looked.
"Going to tell me what your big plans for me are, Mr. Potter?" asked Ginny, raising an eyebrow. He lead her out of the room, so Hermione wouldn't be woken up.
"Well, there's a lovely italian restaurant in Plymouth, so I figured we'd use your new magical abilities to put some Disillusionment charms on us, mount our brooms and fly there", said Harry, embarrassed how stupid the idea suddenly sounded. "Of course, if you'd rather do something else, …"
"Love it!" smiled Ginny, kissing Harry again "Can I ask a favour, Harry?" She suddenly looked very uncertain.
"Sure" said Harry, wondering what it could be.
"Do you mind sleeping in my bed tonight? I just… want to wake up with you by my side tomorrow…"
Harry liked that idea, nodded and they reentered Ginny's room.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry was happy that Ron overslept that morning. He didn't want to know how Ron would react, should he find out that Harry never slept in his own bed that night. Hermione however did and looked very curious as she stood up.
Everyone was there for breakfast. Bill and Fleur, Charlie and Percy and Philine stopped by to congratulate their little sister and give her their presents. Since it was a working day, however, they had to leave pretty quickly again, leaving the Quartet and Mrs. Weasley behind. The latter had to pull herself together to release Ginny from her hugs everytime Ginny used her wand. "My big girl!"
Shortly afterwards a bunch of owls flew in through the window, carrying letters for Ron, Hermione and Harry, wearing the Hogwarts emblem.
For a few minutes everyone fell silent, reading their letters, not noticing that Ginny had not received one.
Seventh-year students will require:
The Standard Book of Speels, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
An Experts' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs anf Fungi by Phyllida Spore
N.E.W.T. Potions and their basics by Selene Prickle
Standard Spells for Aurors by Kingsley Shacklebolt
Further you will require
Prophecies and their Predicament by Iris Forsee
European Muggle History by Jack Summer
"Why didn't Ginny get one?" asked Hermione suddenly looking at Ginny.
"Maybe it's just for seventh-years today… You'll get your letter among with the sixth-years" explained Ron.
Ginny's mood seemed to sink even lower as she heard this and Harry knew why. Ginny didn't want to be a sixth-year just because no one finished their last year at Hogwarts unless they took their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. Harry took her into a deep embrace, caressed her cheek and whispered "Maybe Professor McGonogall is still trying to get you in our year… I'm sure that's all" Ginny forced a smile and sighed silently.
"Look! Hermione and I are Headboy and –girl again!" announced Ron happily.
The afternoon's gone by as quickly as breakfast and Harry found himself confronted with his' date. His fear seemed so much more real now. He tried to breath smoothly to calm himself down while changing into his best suit. Ginny's mood still hadn't become better since the Trio received their Hogwarts letters. Why hadn't she become hers?
Maybe her date with Harry would lighten her up again, she thought. She and Hermione had been in Ginny's room for nearly two hours now, still trying to find a good dress, but nothing seemed good enough for the occasion. The worst part was that she must still be able to ride a broom wearing it.
Meanwhile, Ron and Harry sat down in the living room, waiting for the girls to finish.
"You look lovely, Harry, dear!" said Mrs. Weasley happily as she saw him. "Take good care of my little, Ginny, will you?"
"Always, Mrs. Weasley" said Harry assuringly.
"It's Molly, dear" she smiled.
A light shone down the stairs while Mrs. Weasley left the boys alone again. A figure walked down, blending Ron and Harry. Slowly Ginny's shape formed in the middle of the light and Harry's heart raced.
"Put that light out!" yelled Ron, still not able to see. Harry elbowed him in the ribs.
"Charming, Ronald," said Hermione putting the light of her wand out. The stairs fell dark again, allowing Harry to fully see what Ginny looked like. Her shoulder long red hair has been pinned up, she wore a red dress that fitted her hair, but the middle was ripped apart along her legs.
"What happened to your dress?" asked Harry.
"Since we're flying, we needed to rip a hole in it… I'll just have to repair it once we landed" smiled Ginny. "So… What do you think?"
Harry, who was still taking in the sight Ginny gave him, opened his mouth to explain ever little detail he liked, but has only been able to say "You look beautiful, Ginny", making her blush heavily.
Harry offered her his hand to escort her to the freshly polished brooms at the front door.
"Enjoy your evening, my dears" said Mrs. Weasley with a tear in her eyes.
"And bring her home by ten o'clock, Harry!" said Ron, who suddenly lost the bones of his arm again. "Oi!" he yelled in shock.
"They'll be back by ten, Ronald" said Ginny, grinning from ear to ear.
"That's not funny!" yelled Ron.
"Yes it is," grinned Hermione "Besides, you don't need your arms for this". She seized him by the collar, winked at Ginny and closed the door behind her.
Harry and Ginny mounted their brooms and were about to leave for Plymouth when they heard a woman's voice calling Ginny's name.
"Ah, good, Mrs. Weasley," said Professor McGonogall "I was afraid I might miss you…"
"Professor, is everything okay?" asked Ginny.
"More than that, Mrs. Weasley" the new Headmistress of Hogwarts said "I wanted to give you this in person"
Professor McGonogall handed a letter with Hogwart's emblem upon it to Ginny, who immediately opened it and got of her broom to hug the professor who was taken aback by this surprising move.
"Thank you!" squeeked Ginny.
"Well, I am delighted that you like it. But I better leave you now, given that you two have somewhere else to be" said Prof. McGonogall and left again.
"What was that about?" asked Harry curiously. Ginny merely smiled at him and remounted her broom. "I'll tell you later"
They headed for Plymouth, enjoying the outview they had en route. Harry was happy, that it was a clear day and that the sun was still high above them. On midway a group of birds joined their flight and they were gasping as they saw that a phoenix was amongst them. When Ginny tried to touch him, however, the phoenix flew away again.
They had a beautiful view from their table in the restaurant. They could see a park in which a fountain stood.
"Erm" started Harry "Can you tell me now what that letter said?"
"No" Ginny said flatly "But you can read it…" she said with a smile, handing him the letter.
Seventh-year students will require:
The Standard Book of Speels, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk
Harry didn't need to read more. Ginny was now a fellow seventh-year! He lay the letter on the table, stood up and kissed her.
"It will be a lot harder listening when you're sitting next to me in classes" said Harry.
"Who says I will be sitting next to YOU?" teased Ginny him.
"Who else would you want to sit next to?" answered Harry, trying to sound hurt.
"Hermione…" Ginny said flatly.
"Naa… That's my spot… Eyes for you, while listening to Hermione whispering me answers should a teacher ask me something" explained Harry.
"So you don't trust my answers, do you?" she continued teasing him, raising an eyebrow towards him.
Harry tried to argue, but had to admit his defeat "Alright, but I'll take your other side"
"We'll see about that" said Ginny, lowered her eyebrow and smiled at him.
"Fair enough" said Harry and sat back down on his chair, just in time for the food to be served.
Harry had never eaten real italian food and was delighted to hear that Ginny hadn't either. And it was really delicious, you could compare it to a Hogwarts feast, to be honest.
The sun set when they left the restaurant, holding hands, and made themselves invisible to Muggles again. Harry could see the lake he had seen when he planned the evening, pointed at it and landed there with Ginny.
He laid a blanket on the strand, from where they could see the water reflecting the red-orange horizon. It was amazing, thought Harry, as he watched the reflection and the girl next to him.
"Ginny… There's something I wanted to tell you", said Harry, putting his hand on hers.
"Mhm?" voiced Ginny while she watched the sun's reflection and rested her head on Harry's shoulder.
Okay, Harry! Moment of truth… he thought, breathing heavily again.
"I can still remember the little girl, wishing me luck for my trip through the Barrier at King's Cross…" he paused to breath again "You didn't know who I was, but knew me better than I knew myself… A lost boy with no idea where he was heading off to, where it would lead him… And you wished him luck… And I had it… I found a great friend in your brother, a great family with yours… and… in time, the best girlfriend I could hope for in you…"
Ginny moved her head to look in Harry's eyes, not willing to blink. Harry took another deep breath.
"When I left for the forest that night, I went past you, but didn't stop to say goodbye… I already told you that… But, what I didn't tell you is why… When I broke up with you the summer before I told you, the last months were like the life of someone else…" Harry stopped again to regain some air.
Ginny blinked. She remembered it. It was one of the saddest things she ever heard.
"But it was my life afterall… It was the life I longed to have… And had I spoken to you, I couldn't have given that life away again…"
"I wasn't afraid of dying then… But I was afraid of you… I still am… And… I love that feeling, I love being afraid of you, it makes me know I am alive!"
Right now Harry truely was alive. He was petrified, even lost control over what he's saying. It's just coming out of his mouth, but he knew that every single word was true.
"But I feel more than just that… In the same moment that I am scared, I also know I couldn't be safer… am I making sense to you?" asked Harry, in a desperate need for a vocal response.
"Perfectly" she said with watery eyes, squeezing Harry's hand. He smiled with relieve in his expression.
"It's these contradictions why I bought you this…" he said and pulled out a small, black box.
Ginny swallowed and looked at the box, taking it in her own hand. Her breath was now as heavy as Harry's. She slowly opened it and found a necklace within. She took it out of the box and saw that it had the form of a bird…
"It's a phoenix…" explained Harry, scanning Ginny's face.
"It's beautiful…" she whispered.
"Since I literally had to die", swallowed Harry "to be reborn into this beautiful life with you… I figured you'd like it… And it's supposed to protect you like your patronus…"
"Harry, I…" said Ginny, searching for words to say. But she couldn't find any.
"May I?" asked Harry with a fast beating heart against his chest. Ginny simply nodded still unable to speak. He took the necklace and put it around Ginny's neck.
His face was so close to Ginny's he felt the warmth of her skin in the air. He swallowed once again, opening his mouth, taking a deep breath.
"I love you… Ginny".
Harry's heart was racing, waiting for her response. They both sat on the ground, looking like they've just been petrified. The only sign of life was their pounding hearts, their blinking every two seconds.
Harry could feel the fear return in his stomach. Ginny still hadn't said anything or given a hint to her response. Then, all out of a sudden, she started blinking again rapidly.
"I… er…" she said finally.
Harry's heart acted like it was about to jump out of his chest and his mouth has gone dry.
"I… love you, too" she said. Ginny still blinked swiftly.
Relieve, sweet relieve spread across Harry's body and before he knew it, he kissed Ginny so intensely, releasing all the emotions he had just seconds ago.
She loves me he thought, smiling inside She… LOVES me!
And his kiss grew even more passionately than before. He felt like he had to shout it out loud, announcing his feelings to the whole world. He loved Ginny Weasley! And she loved him!