Ginny got an answer back from Anon. after classes the next day. Clutching the letter to her chest, she went up to her room, flung herself on her bed and read the message.

Dear Ginny,
Thankyou for the pendant, I used it last night and it did work, no bad dreams at all (yes I get bad dreams too). I'm glad to see that you look happy still and that I'll be looking out for you. By the way, I saw you trying to catch me in the act. It's not going to work, I'll always be one step ahead of you…
About Harry Potter and your brother, I'm sure they'll be all right, they're probably a lot tougher than they look. I heard about the accident though, that was supposed to be a mighty big fall, but Harry really should have been watching where he was going.
I want to know, are you going away for the Christmas holidays? It's just that I'm not and if your not here then I don't want to leave a pile up of letters. So do you know what you want for Christmas? I am going to get you something, so no use complaining.

Anyway, let me know ok?
Anon.

Ginny ran to her desk and wrote a note back very quickly.

Anon.
No, I'm not going away for Christmas, and I'm glad you're not because then we can write to each other over the hols. I'm glad that you liked the pendant and that it worked for you. And as for Harry, he was watching where he was going. It was my brother who wasn't watching where he was going.

Talk to you later,
Ginny.

Ginny went down to the common room, and checking no one was there, she put the note in the usual spot before going down to dinner.

She was about to go into the great hall when someone yelled out to her. "Ginny!" It was Harry, and he was running towards her.

"Hey, I thought it was you. I wanted to thank you for visiting me in the hospital wing, even Ron and Hermione didn't come in."

Ginny blushed. "It's ok, where did you come from?" (AN: Well when two people love each other very much…[hee hee]).

"Oh I was just visiting Dobby in the kitchens. The house elves have cooked up a storm tonight," said Harry.

"Why, what's so special about tonight?" asked Ginny. "Dumbledore's going to announce something".
"Do you know what it is?" said Ginny as she entered the hall. "No, Dobby wouldn't tell me, but it's supposed to be huge," said Harry as they sat down at the table.

Through dinner, Ginny talked to Harry as if they were the best of friends, chatting about Snape, homework, Snape, Quidditch, Snape… and she didn't blush once! At the start of desert, Dumbledore stood to address the school.

"As you are aware, we had the yule ball last year to welcome our friends from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang. This year we have decided to hold the yule ball again, but only for the students of Hogwarts. All years will be invited this time, and it will be held on Christmas Eve. That is all, I hope to see you all there."

Dumbledore sat back down and the hall buzzed with excitement. "Oh another ball, what am I going to wear?" said Lavender to Parvati.

"What I'm worried about is a date, I need a good date this year, not like last time," said Parvati, her eyes flickering towards Harry.

Ginny looked down at her food and started to play with it. "Another ball? I really don't feel like going to another one," thought Ginny, remembering back to last years ball.
Ginny grimaced. She could still feel the sores on her feet from Neville's dancing.

Not really feeling like eating anymore, Ginny went back to the common room.She got out her book of sonnets and sat in front of the fireplace, curled up in the armchair.

She heard the portrait open as the Gryffindors came into the room. It got noisy, and Ginny found it hard to concentrate.

Ginny sighed at put the book down. "What's wrong Gin?" said a male voice. It was Harry. He sat down next to her in the other armchair.

"Nothing," she said.

"Yes there is, I can tell," replied Harry.

Ginny looked over at him and saw concern on his face.

"Really, it's nothing," she said.

"C'mon Gin," said Harry, seriousness in his voice.

"Oh all right, it the ball, I really don't want to go" she said.

Harry looked at her with amusement on his face. " Don't worry, you're not the only one who doesn't want to go. Yours truly doesn't want to go, but he will, because he's going to enjoy himself."

Ginny was puzzled. "But Harry, you hated the Yule ball," said Ginny.

"Yes, but I'm going to enjoy myself this year, because I want to have as much time with my friends as possible," said Harry.

Ginny replied. "But you're going to have heaps of time with your friends. Aren't you?"

Ginny looked at Harry's face and saw so much sadness that it worried her very much. She reached out and put, her hand on his shoulder. Harry looked up at her. All the emotion disappeared, his wall back up.

"Tell you what, I'll go if you go. It won't be that bad, you'll only see Ron and Hermione snogging, maybe, in the first 3 hours."

Ginny laughed. "Ok you've got yourself a deal". They shook hands and laughed.

Then Ron and Hermione came over looking slightly dishevelled. "What's so funny?" said Ron.
Harry and Ginny then exchanged looks and continued to laugh. "Weird, absolutely weird," said Ron.
After Ron and Hermione walked off, Ginny and Harry started talking again. "So what are your reading," said Harry.

"Trying to read you mean," she replied. Ginny showed him the front cover.

"Oh, poetry, you like that stuff?" said Harry. "Stuff? Stuff! Poetry isn't stuff, its beautifully written artwork, it's food for the soul, it's.."

Harry laughed. "Whoa, I was joking, I was joking, poetry is nice. There's this one poem that I really like. How does it go again? His eyes are a green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair as dark as a blackboard..."

Ginny buried her head in her hands. "Great, the worst piece of poetry I've written comes back to bite me today," said Ginny. Then she had a great idea.

"I know a better piece. How about, 'Oh potter you rotter, what have you done…"

Harry gripped his head. "Ok you won". He flashed a smile at Ginny. She smiled back shyly.

"Ah, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow then" said Harry uncomfortably. He stopped at the stairs before he went up. He gave Ginny a shy smile and went up to bed.

When Harry was out of sight, Ginny raced up to her room and fell on the her bed.

That night Ginny slept with a smile in her lips.