Harry waited until Ginny was all the way through the portrait hall and by his side to start walking.

'So, what does a nice girl like you do for kicks?' Harry asked.

Ginny blushed slightly and turned her head to try and hide it. 'Oh, I guess what most people do,' she said. 'Hang out with friends, do work, follow Quidditch...'

'Hanging out with friends,' repeated Harry. 'Ah, such fun it is to be surrounded by pals.'

Ginny nodded and didn't say anything.

'I hardly see you around school. I mean, aside from the common room. Where do you and your friends stay?'

'Different places..' Ginny replied. 'Now that it's cold, we're usually in this one classroom... it's a deserted classroom on the fifth floor. It's by this statue of a really weird looking boar. We just found it one day, and walked in. Then it became our new place to hang out.'

'Ginny, hanging out in deserted classrooms, I don't know. Tsk, tsk.'

'It's not like you never do it, Harry,' Ginny retorted.

Harry grinned. 'I can't deny what you say.' Harry stopped walking and looked around. 'Where do you wanna go, Gin?' he asked.

Ginny's Alf slippers stopped their shuffle as she looked around too. 'Can we go to the Great Hall first, get some early breakfast, then go back somewhere?' She looked up at Harry, wondering if he'd like her idea but really not caring what she did, so long as she was by him.

'Yeah, let's do that. I'll race you.' Harry's features looked somewhat devilish.

'You're on, Potter.'

And with that, Harry and Ginny started dashing down the corridor, making quite a racket with their hollering, laughing, stomping, and trying to outdo each other. They arrived at the door to the Great Hall panting.

'I believe I beat you,' said Harry.

'You certainly did not!' Ginny hit Harry's arm.

'Miss Weasley, come to terms with yourself. It's not a bad thing to lose to me. After all, I'm the best.'

'You're sounding a bit like Lockhart now!' Ginny giggled.

'Well...' Harry began, but stopped. 'I think I won.'

'I think I won.'

'You think a lot of things with that overactive imagination of yours, don--'

Harry was cut off by Ginny diving at him playfully, wrestling him against the wall. They were both laughing hard when Snape walked by.

'Potter, Weasley,' he barked. Ginny instantly lowered her hands and jumped back, turning a deeper shade of red than before. 'Five points from Gryffindor for disorderly conduct in the corridors. I suggest that you don't let it happen again.' Snape walked past them and into the Great Hall.

Ginny looked embarrassed. Harry noticed this, and told her reassuringly, 'Don't mind him, Gin. He's just jealous that he doesn't have a Weasley tickling him.'

Ginny didn't feel like she could comment on this, so she just ran ahead to pick food off the table. She got some toast and bacon, and Harry followed her, getting toast and eggs.

They left the Great Hall quickly, because Snape had been following them with his eyes, making sure they didn't do anything.

Back out in the corridor, food in their hands, they now discussed where to go.

'D'you have the time, Harry?' Ginny asked.

'Nope, but the Great Hall's practically empty... it's still early. Or early for the holidays. Have any ideas where we could go?'

'Do you know...where the kitchen is? Hermione said that you'd been to the kitchens, but I'd never been and...'

'Yeah, we can go to the kitchens,' Harry said, smiling. 'I'm sure Dobby'd love to meet you.'

Harry directed his and Ginny's way to the kitchens while they talked about skunks, of all things. When they got there, Harry tickled the pear and the door swung open.

At once, the house elves were upon them, asking what food they'd like, if they'd fancy some tea, would they like some biscuits. Harry told them tea would be nice, and then said that that would be all, they were just visiting. The house elves shuffled around and got the tea as fast as they could.

Dobby was over making porridge. He heard Harry and at once dropped what he was doing. 'Harry Potter has come to see Dobby!' he squeaked.

'Yes, I have,' said Harry. 'And I brought someone for you to meet. You know Ron, right?'

'Yes, Ron is very good to Dobby, sir.'

'Well, this is his sister. Dobby, meet Ginny.'

Dobby bowed low. 'Any friend of Harry Potter's is welcome here. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am.'

Ginny laughed a bit and said, 'I've heard about you, Dobby. It's good to meet you.'

Dobby seemed excited, and smiled up at Ginny.

'Anyway, Dobby,' Harry said, 'we were just wandering the school, and decided to come and see the kitchens, and you.'

'It was very good of Harry Potter to come and see Dobby. Dobby is sorry he has only come to visit you three times, sir, it's just that Dobby has been very busy in the kitchens...'

'It's alright, Dobby. Seen anything of interest lately?'

'Dobby has not, sir, Dobby is sorry, sir. What would Harry Potter like to see?'

'Just wandering the castle with Ginny. We were wondering where we could go.'

'Good luck, sir.'

'Thanks,' said Harry. He told Dobby he'd see him later, and started walking back out towards the door, Ginny following. They exited to the bowing house elves and Harry started to pilot a course down a corridor leading closer to the dungeons.