DISCLAIMER: None of these wonderful characters belong to me, nor the settings, nor anything else. The only thing that is 100% mine is that plot. Everything Harry belongs to the goddess of Harryana- JK Rowling. (Cuts off other arm in sacrifice)

RATING: PG-13

THERE IS SOME SLASH! DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ! (ONE-SIDED SLASH)

VERY ANGSTY! THIS CHAPTER IS LONGER!

Chapter 2: Conversations

As Harry snuggled with his girlfriend, Ginny Weasley, at the Gryffindor table that night during dinner, he thought about how lucky he was. Gryffindor was beating Slytherin in Qudditch AND the run for the House Cup, Professor Trelawney was only predicting his death once a week (instead of the usual five), Snape was being less horrible to the Gryffindors, and he was with the greatest girl in the whole castle. Harry sighed with happiness.

"What's wrong, Harry?" whispered Ginny into his ear.

"I'm thinking about how lucky I am to be with you," Harry whispered back, pulling Ginny closer.

"I feel lucky, too," said Ginny, a mischievious grin crossing her face. She grasped Harry's Hand, got to her feet, and led Harry out into the Entrance Hall.

"Ginny, where are we going?" Harry asked amusedly.

"To our common room!" replied Ginny. "We have to hurry before everyone gets back!"

Harry got the message and grinned. Before he knew it, they were standing in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, and Ginny gave the password. ("Snidgets.") They entered the common room, which was lit only by the roaring fire. Ginny pulled Harry over to a dark corner, where the dancing flames just barely illuminated the walls. Her arms encircled Harry's neck, while he wrapped his arms about Ginny's waist. Their lips brushed together, and then their warm lips met. Their kiss was long, slow, and fiercely passionate, as Harry wrapped Ginny in his arms, and used his tongue to explore her mouth gently. Ginny responded with zeal as the world surrounded them- Ginny, and Harry, Harry and Ginny. Harry's hands had just sneaked up the back of Ginny's shirt when they heard footsteps outside the portrait hole.

Harry and Ginny had only just broken apart and straightened themselves up when a horde of Gryffindors burst into the common room. The large, bewitched tapers scattered around the room burst into life. The common room soon became filled with the babble of today's gossip. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry's best friends since they met on the Hogwarts Express in their first year, came in shortly after the initial wave of Gryffindors. Ron was tall, lanky, with the trademark red Weasley hair. His smattering of freckles were more intense than his sister's. Hermione had long, thick hair that she finally managed to get under control. She was tall, though definitely not as tall as Ron. Her honey-coloured eyes glinted in the candlelight. Their hands were intertwined, and they happened upon Ginny and Harry, who were sitting in respective armchairs, grinning at each other. All four knew what the others had been up to, yet they didn't say anything. Hermione and Ron released each other from their handhold and pulled up armchairs to join Harry and Ginny.

"Hi Harry, hi Ginny. What's up?" asked Ron in an innocent sort of way.

"Nothing......... you?" replied Ginny in the same manner, a glint in her chocolate eyes.

"I think there's something wrong with Colin Creevey," Hermione announced. The others looked at her with surprise. "I saw him run out of the Great Hall, looking like he was going to cry,"

"He hasn't really been looking like himself lately," added Ron slowly. "Has he not been following you around, Harry?" he added mischieviously.

"Ron! He hasn't done that for ages!" Harry retorted. "I hadn't really noticed," he added.

"Neither have I," said Ginny, turning sheepish.

"I guess we've been wrapped up in each other," said Harry, smiling awkwardly.

"Harry, maybe you should talk to Colin. You know how much he looks up to you," said Hermione matter-of-factly.

"Yeah........ yeah, I will. I just hope Colin won't follow me everywhere again with that godforsaken camera," Harry added jokingly.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to bed," yawned Ginny.

"I'll second that," Hermione said.

Ginny gave Harry a quick peck on the lips. Hermione and Ron did the same. The girls went up the stairs to their dormitory, leaving the boys staring into the crackling fire.

"Harry........................?" asked Ron uncertainly.

"Yeah?" answered Harry thoughtfully.

"You aren't, well, you and Ginny....... are you............. you know?" Ron trailed off hopelessly.

"You mean, am I bedding her?! RON!" Harry exclaimed.

"Well, you know, I've got to protect my little sis!" said Ron a bit defensively.

"I understand Ron, I really do," Harry replied seriously. "I love Ginny a lot, but we're too young for that. Those are responsibilities we aren't ready or willing to take on."

"I trust you, Harry. I've got to do the big-brother thing; I'm the only one Ginny has in Hogwarts. You don't want all of us Weasleys breathing down your neck!" said Ron jokingly, appeased by Harry's answer.

Both boys fell silent again, staring into the cheerful warmth of the fire. Ron's voice broke the silence again.

"I'm off to bed," said Ron, rising to his feet. "You coming?"

"Nah........ I'll be up in a few minutes," said Harry. He still had a few things to think about.

*Things are working out so great, Harry thought. What could possible go wrong? Now that Voldemort's gone, I don't have to worry about staying alive, Hermions being harmed by Death Eaters, that git Draco Malfoy, (too bad I wasn't the one to kill him... Ron had that pleasure.) And, I'm in love. What more could I want?*

And with that, Harry went on upstairs to his dormitory. As he walked down the hall to his dorm, he heard a pitiful noise behind the door that read SIXTH YEARS. Harry approached the door, listening intently to the sounds of someone in complete despair. He cautiously knocked on the door, and the crying came to an abrupt halt.

"Come...... *cough, sniffle* come in?" said the voice inside.