Prologue

This is a short chapter to introduce the setting. Everything you recognize belongs to the writer. Only the story idea's mine. With the disclaimer, let's get started.

Harry stared at Hermione's History of Magic notes. She had made two copies of her notes and given them to Ron and Harry. His eyes kept reading the same lines repeated without anything registering in his mind.

The circumstances that led to the formation of the International Confederation of Wizards were as follows. Pierre Bonaccond put forth the suggestion….

Harry found himself stretching and rubbing his eyes. He badly needed a break. He looked around. There was Neville hidden behind his Transfiguration notes. His eyes met Harry's, and he said, "Some Seventh Years were having a heated debate about the Protean Charm in the Common Room, so I came here since I needed some quiet." Harry gave Neville a thumbs up and smirked to himself, thinking of Hermione's knowledge of the Seventh Year Charm in their fifth year itself.

Just then, his two favorite redheads entered the Room of Requirement.

"Ron! Just this once." Ginny kept saying.

"Ginny, I've to get started on my Potions revision. This is why I left the Common Room – so I can study here! I told you. The spell is Depulso." Ron said.

"It wouldn't kill you to explain the definition once! What kind of older brother are you that you don't have time to explain a two-line definition to your sister!" Ginny demanded.

"Go ask Hermione…" Ron began, but Ginny cut him off, "She is buried behind two dozen books in the library, Ron!"

Ron spotted Harry just then. "Harry!"

Three minutes later, Harry found himself sitting to the left of Ginny, having no idea what he had agreed to. Why was it that whenever Ginny was around these days, he just found himself doing things he didn't remember agreeing to do?

Ginny cleared her throat and looked expectantly at Harry. So, he decided to brood over the how's later, and focus on the current task. Ron had already taken out his cauldron and was studying Moonstone Properties in his Potions textbook.

"As you know, Ginny, the Summoning Charm is Accio. And as Ron told you about five minutes ago, the Banishing Charm is Depulso. Now, watch me carefully." Harry took out his wand and pointed it at Ginny's copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

"Depulso!"

As the book flew, the door to the Room of Requirement opened, and in walked Cho Chang. Her Seeker reflexes prevented her from getting smacked in the face.

"Sorry, Cho." Harry said apologetically. "I was helping a friend with revision."

Cho shrugged, "Okay, Harry." Harry's stomach did a back flip as he watched Cho brush her long mane of black hair out of her eyes and smile back at him. But she continued watching as Harry took the book back and sat next to that Weasley girl. Something was going on between the duo.

Ginny thanked Harry for the definition and stood up. Cho was now staring at Cedric's photograph on the wall, and Harry saw her mouth form the words, "I miss doing our revisions together, Ced!" Tears poured down her face, and Harry turned away to see Ginny leaving for Herbology — her long mane of fiery red hair dancing behind her. He wondered why he had started staring at Ginny more often than even a few months back nowadays but decided to think about it later.

Harry approached Cho. "You okay?"

Wiping her eyes on her sleeve, Cho sniffed, "I-I'm getting used to this, I guess. Anyway, see you around, Harry." Cho walked away, and Harry realized he needed to return to Pierre Bonaccond.

The D.A. was in full swing. The Room of Requirement bustled with activity as scores of people kept chanting Expecto Patronum! Cho has just seen Marietta roll her eyes and walk away in a huff. Shaking her head, Cho looked around as she saw Harry teach some people to produce the Patronus Charm.

"Boot. Raise your wand, think of the happiest memory you can, and chant aloud." Harry instructed Terry Boot. He wasn't very successful, but Harry smiled encouragingly and looked over. Cho realized she was the next one. And she hadn't been practicing.

"Cho, think of the happiest memory." Harry cheerfully said, and Cho grinned. Just as her swan erupted, Hermione's shrill whistle caught the room's attention, and Cho watched her swan disappear into silvery mist.

Looking embarrassed, Hermione said, "Sorry for the interruption, guys. But it is ten minutes to ten and past curfew."

Cho watched all the D.A. members leave in pairs of twos and threes. As she was about to follow them, she looked behind at a frustrated voice. "I'm not leaving until I produce a Corporal Patronus!"

"Ginny, you're among the first in the entire D.A. to learn many things Harry taught you, including the Patronus Charm. Don't be so hard on yourself." Hermione kept her hand on Ginny's shoulder.

"Yeah, Ginny. We also have Quidditch practice tomorrow. You need your rest." Ron said, reminding Cho that tomorrow was Saturday.

"You guys carry on. EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Ginny stubbornly kept trying. But she suddenly let out a gasp and gripped her wand hand with her left hand.

Harry, seemingly surprising himself, went over to Ginny and said, "Gin, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I will show you how a Corporal Patronus is cast."

Harry put his right arm around Ginny and took hold of her wand hand. Ginny looked stunned, and Harry raised her wand.

"Now, think of the happiest memory." Harry whispered in Ginny's ears, and Cho saw Ginny shiver visibly.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A majestic, silver horse floated out of Ginny's wand and gracefully swept across the room before vanishing. Cho's eyes widened as she saw Ginny's Patronus. She felt shaken for some reason, and immediately exited the room.

"I-I did it!" Ginny whispered. "I DID IT! AFTER PRACTICING FOR SO LONG!"

She beamed at Harry, "Thank you, Harry!" And Harry felt elation in his chest as he rose to his full height and waved away her thanks. He and Ginny followed Ron and Hermione outside the Room of Requirement.

The March edition of The Quibbler was reprinting additional copies and minting several times more money than when it used to print stories on Stubby Boardman and The Crumple Horned Snorkack. At Hogwarts, it was no different. Wherever Harry went, he could see the title flashing - in the corridors, Common Room, Grounds, etc.

Harry Potter Speaks Out At Last:

The Truth About He Who Must Not Be Named And The Night I Saw Him Return.

He even met Cho Chang, who seemed to have understood why he met Hermione on the day of their date at Hogsmeade - it had been for this interview. Nevertheless, as Cho wiped her eyes and walked away, Harry felt sorry she cried.

Cho wasn't the only person that day Harry saw in tears. As he walked into the Gryffindor Common Room and was about to follow Ron into the boys dormitory (Hermione having just said good night and left to the girls dormitory), Harry spotted Ginny sitting by the window.

"Uh, Ron, I'll join you in some time." Harry said. Ron, whose mind was filled with his O.W.L. revision, just like every Fifth Year, grunted and went upstairs.

Ginny was sitting by the window, a faraway look in her eyes. As Harry approached, he saw her clutching Quidditch Through The Ages, and dragged a chair close.

"Hi, Ginny. How come you're all alone?"

"Harry?" Ginny turned. Harry noticed Ginny had a careful expression on her face. But as she looked at him, she removed the Charm on her book, which was revealed to be a copy of The Quibbler's March edition.

"You're so brave, Harry. You never stop amazing me." Ginny coolly said.

"Ginny, if it weren't for you, I'd probably still be under the impression that Voldemort is possessing me. Your words at Grimmauld Place were really helpful! If anything, you're braver." Harry told her.

Ginny shook her head, and as she did so, her hair caught the light coming from the fire, and for a moment, her hair looked like it was on fire. It was dazzling orange - almost blinding.

"Reading your interview only makes me scared... For you, Harry." Ginny said. "In fact, Micheal and I were discussing this last night. What if something happened to you?" She looked away.

Harry's heart sank. One - Ginny sounded upset. Two - Micheal, who Ginny was dating. Did Ginny really have feelings for Micheal Corner?

"I'll be fine. As long as I have Ron and Hermione. And Sirius, Lupin, Dumbledore..." Harry said. "Ginny, are you alright?"

"My nightmares from the Chamber of Secrets haven't stopped, Harry. If anything, Tom sometimes looks like the description of Voldemort from this interview in my nightmares." Ginny said, resolutely looking down.

"I-I'm sorry you still have nightmares, Ginny. I'd have asked you why you never told me about this earlier, but I won't. You had a nightmare last night, didn't you?" Harry asked. This earned a nod from Ginny.

"I am a strong, independent girl, Harry. I at least think I am. But the very thought of everyone I petrified, everybody including you I almost killed or got killed..." Ginny choked.

"It's not your fault, Ginny." Harry said. He couldn't help staring at the slightly wet brown eyes that were Ginny's, and feel upset and furious at Voldemort.

"You obviously have seen more horrors, Harry. And I put you in even more danger! And Riddle is back, and all this," she pointed at The Quibbler, "has happened, and people are still divided over it. Things could already be getting worse for all we know. I-I don't want anything to happen to you, Harry! N-None of us do!" Tears poured down her face, and she turned in an attempt to hide them.

Harry stared at her, not knowing what he was doing. His legs stood and moved closer to her. His hand wiped her cheeks. She looked as shocked as Harry when he put his arms around Ginny and held her close. Ginny recovered from her shock and started sobbing into his chest. Harry vaguely realized that his T-shirt was tight.

A minute later, Harry was still in a daze as they broke apart and muttered good night before heading to their dormitories.

"What took you so long, mate?" Ron rubbed his eyes and took a clear view of Harry. "And why is the front of your T-shirt so damp?"

Harry shook his head. Neither he nor Ginny had any clue why they had embraced.

"You okay, mate? Why are you smelling your hand?" Ron's voice shook him out of his reverie, and he realized that his hand still carried the flowery fragrance of Ginny's hair. He had run his fingers through her mane of gloriously red hair as he held her close with the other hand. Mumbling good night, Harry jumped into bed. He didn't hear Ron's sleepy voice ask him what was wrong. Nor did he see Ron shake his head sadly and go to sleep.

As he lay on his bed and closed his eyes, Harry remembered the feeling of Ginny in his arms. For a moment, it seemed like he was still in the Common Room, and Ginny's face was still buried in his chest. Although he was uncomfortable when Cho cried on his shoulder, Ginny sobbing into his shoulder did not make him uncomfortable. On the contrary, he felt strong - like he was protecting her. He looked down and saw Ginny's red hair in his arms, which turned into Cho's black hair. Then, everything went blank, and he was sliding through a corridor, moving forwards in anticipation.

The next morning, Harry awoke earlier than Ron, tired of that recurring dream. He had just gone to the Common Room when he met a cheerful Ginny.

"Harry, thank you so much for the hug last night! I really needed it, even though I was shocked and probably didn't thank you enough! I slept peacefully last night. First time since... The night that happened." Ginny looked apologetic at reminding Harry of the night Voldemort returned. Harry, however, didn't mind.

"I am glad you're doing better, Ginny. You don't have to worry about thanking me. Hey, how about we head to breakfast together?" Harry said.

Beaming, Ginny nodded, and the two went down for breakfast, where Ginny joined Micheal at the Ravenclaw Table, and Harry saw Cho sitting a few seats away from Micheal, looking at him and Ginny enter the Great Hall. Ignoring the sudden irritation at the sight of Ginny and Corner he had started to feel lately, Harry made his way towards Cho, feeling the familiar sensation of his stomach doing a back flip.

"Harry, that is the Weasley girl, am I right?" Cho asked him suspiciously.

"Yes. My best friend, Ron's sister. Ginny Weasley." Harry supplied, half distracted by the way Cho's shiny black hair was tied around the back today.

"You seem very happy whenever you're around her these days. That grin on your face... You had it even when you came in with her now." Cho said.

"Really?" said Harry, genuinely taken aback, "I have no idea why. In fact, I didn't even know that I look too happy around Ginny until you mentioned it, Cho. You know I like you, don't you? If you don't, I'm telling you again. I like you, Cho."

For a moment, Cho didn't look convinced, but she gave him a quick kiss and smiled at him before leaving for the day's classes. Harry turned around and saw her passing Ron and Hermione as they entered the Great Hall. Grinning at the sight of his two best friends, he went to join them.

Harry soon realized his feelings for Cho were limited, and they were not compatible. With the betrayal of the D.A. by Cho's best friend, Marietta Edgecombe, Harry and Cho's relationship ceased. Weeks later, Harry lost his dogfather (see what I did there?). During the summer, he met his true love. With this, we start the story right away.