A/N: Okay, here's ch. 6!! Well, I think you should know that this chapter may be a little different than the others, it's got more confused emotions flying around, and of course humor but probably not as much as I usually have packed in chapters. I also didn't include the Christmas dinner like I said I would...I just didn't find anything I really needed to put there, so it begins out right at the present opening. I hope you enjoy this - it is sooo long!!

And one super big thanks is in order! THANK YOU KRISTEN MICHELLE!! You are the best sub-beta ever! Hopefully by ch. 7 my real betas will have returned from their black hole, so I won't have to pester you! But thank you, I appreciate it, I'm sorry for keeping you up late on your work nights! And this chapter would not have existed with out you. I appreciate all the advice you gave me!! Now, you really should not have said this because now I'll never let you forget it!!:

Kristi3302: I'm e-mailing it back to you.  I didn't find anything major.  Of course, you need to put a note that I beta'd and that I suck and that you rule and if there are a few mistakes or anything that I was so caught up in the story that I may have missed some things although I did try my best. *lol* 

There we go! Living proof! Any mistakes...Kristi's fault!!! Just kidding. It's my duty as Princess of Fluff to take the blame for the Queen of Fluff since she is at higher power, and let's not forget older. Hehe!! And Kristi, the stuff you put in red helped me so much, you would not believe. I listened to just about everything. I especially like the part where you said you 'almost blew ice water out of your nose' hehe I feel honored!

I hope everyone enjoys reading this, and that it isn't too mushy for ya!

Disclaimer: Oh please. Check ch. 1

"Oooh thanks Percy!" I said faking excitement, as I un-wrapped the present that I already knew I was getting, as he had given the same gift to everyone. I widened my grin, straining my cheek muscles as I said, "101 Useful Things To Know About Cauldron Bottoms written by Percy Weasley...just what I've always wanted!"

Anyone else would have been able to see the sarcasm in that, but Percy swelled, as I was holding all his pride and joy in my very hands. "I thought it could be of some use to you, Ginny," Percy said with a grin, and a curt nod. I snorted. Like I would ever write a report on cauldron bottoms.

I tried not to roll my eyes, as I relaxed my mouth. At least he hadn't called me Virginia.

I caught Ron's eye, as he held up his matching copy, and pretended to chuck it in the fireplace. I desperately tried to cover my snickers, as Hermione gave Ron a disapproving look, as she seemed very interested in the book that Percy wrote.

I glanced over at Harry from a few feet away, and saw him urgently trying to hold back chuckles as Fred and George, who had Percy's book open wearing a face of intellect, and philosophy, would sift through the pages, and every so often, scratch their chins, quote something, and say how 'deep' it was.

I began to tune in their conversation.

"Why that bit, it was just...intriguing," Fred said, as he touched the bridge of his nose with his forefinger, pushing up invisible glasses.

"Profound," George agreed, as he paged through his own copy.

I laughed lightly, catching Harry's eye, as we watched the two. Percy, luckily, hadn't noticed this was going on, as he was too busy in admiring his own work. He was sitting on the sofa, his book open in his lap, and he would every so often mutter things like, "Inspiring," or "Brilliant."

I shook my head at this, and looked around the room. For once my entire family, and Harry and Hermione, were all together, at once in our tiny living room, scattered all around the sofa, chairs, and floor. At that moment nothing else mattered, because the fire was crackling, everyone was laughing, and it was just too happy to be...sad. I looked around, loving to hear six different conversations going on at once. It was wonderful.

I looked down at my gifts, smiling at the thought of how much work my family must have done to afford something like this for me. It was a muggle device, a VCR; I think is what Hermione told me it was called. I had tears pooling in my eyes, when I opened it from Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, and my Dad. They must have put weeks of salaries into it. My Dad built an outlet and everything then placed the spell on our house so we could get electrical devices to work in it, and Ron got me some movie called "The Matrix" which looked somewhat violent, but he assured me it would be good. Somehow I think he got it for himself rather than me, but I was thankful nonetheless. Ever since Hermione had told me about all the movies she had seen over the summer when Hogwarts began up again at the start of this year, I wanted one. Imagining how amazing that would be. We already had a television; my Dad got it from the same lady he bought the muggle music player thingy. Once everything was hooked up, I could watch my first movie...with Ron of course, since he would enjoy it more than I would.

"I can't wait until we watch the mooie on the Tevelelishun." Is what Ron had said, and I remember hearing Harry snort and Hermione scolding.

"It's called a movie, Ron," She had said, dragging out the word. "And it's television," She informed him, making sure every syllable was enunciated, so he would understand.

Ron had brushed her off impatiently. "That's what I said, isn't it? So anyway, Ginny, when we watch the Tevelelishun..." And he rambled on, while Hermione threw her head in her hands.

I grinned at that. I loved how Ron finally wanted to spend some time with me, and just me. Like old times - when we were best friends. How, I missed those times.

Of course, then there was my Dad, who when I opened it, was bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet.

"Do you like it Ginny? Do you?" He had asked giddily, peering over my shoulder.

I laughed, as I wiped my eyes. "It's perfect." Is what I had said, trying not to get sentimental while I secretly wanted to lurch forward and hug them all, and never let go until doomsday.

"Oh, this will be so much fun! Won't it Molly? Hooking it up! And then turning it on...I hear they have different buttons." My dad breathed in deeply, as he said the word dragging it out dramatically. "Buttons!" He squealed out, once more. "Can you believe that?! Clever these muggles, I'll say! Bless them, what will they think of next!?" Mum rolled her eyes, and Percy simply shook his head, as Charlie and Bill grinned. Ron looked equally excited, and Fred and George were shaking their heads in mock shame, as my Dad had bubbled on.

Suddenly I felt someone nudge my shoulder, shaking me out of my thoughts and I looked up. Harry had moved over to where I was seated on the floor, and he grabbed hold of my hand, dragging me out of the living room. No one seemed to notice our departure.

"What is it, Harry?" I asked as I was pulled into the kitchen, where the dirty dinner dishes were washing themselves in the sink.

"Isn't something missing?" Harry asked me, as he raised one eyebrow. God, how I loved that eyebrow.

"Er..." I began, oblivious. No...we had the dinner, opened the presents, the tree was lit, the fire was crackling, people were laughing...was I missing something?

"Aren't you missing a present?" Harry asked me, a twinge of a smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

"Well," I started. "I got the VCR from Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, and Dad," I said out-loud, ticking their names off my fingers. "Then Ron gave me a movie, Hermione gave me a new journal, Percy gave me his book...auto-graphed and all, and Mum got me a recipe book...well that's nine, there's eleven of us, I make ten and you..." I trailed off as Harry began grinning.

"I believe I haven't given you my present yet," Harry said taking my hand, ready to pull me up to his room.

"Harry," I protested. "No-"

Harry wouldn't hear it, and he dragged me up the stairs, with much whining on my part. Finally we had reached the room he was staying in and I was ordered to close my eyes.

"Harry-" I began, opening my eyes, about to state how ridiculous this was.

Harry glared at me, "No peeking!" He said. I rolled my eyes, and reluctantly put my hands over my face.

"This is so unbelievable, Harry," I mumbled. "You weren't supposed to get me anything."

Harry ignored me, as I heard him rummaging through his trunk, finally I heard the lid close.

"Well," I said. "Can I open my eyes now?"

I heard the floor creak, as Harry stepped closer to me. "Now I didn't get a chance to wrap it because, well let's just say my wrapping skills are...er, nonexistent." He coughed a little, and I giggled - he was so cute. "Right," He said suddenly. "Open your eyes."

My eyes fluttered open, and I gasped, as I took the present from Harry's hands. He immediately shoved his hands in his pockets, as he waited nervously for my reaction. "Harry..." I whispered.

"Do you...like it?" Harry asked, quietly.

I lightly ran my fingers over the movie box. "It's wonderful." I traced my index finger over the letters of the movie title, smiling as it spelled out 'Gone With The Wind'. "How did you know?" I asked, looking up at him, surprised to see his face was red.

"Ron had told me that your brothers and your dad were getting you the VCR and I knew how you liked the book, and, well, I thought maybe you would want to watch this."

"Would you watch it with me?" I asked, my voice sounding weird to me.

Harry laughed. "That's a given," He said. I felt my cheeks stain pink, and Harry grinned as he lightly brought his finger up to my face, running it over my cheek. "That's the Ginny I remember," He whispered.

I bit my lip, closing my eyes, as I felt his touch on my skin. My eyes fluttered open and I saw his face, descending upon mine, and my eyes fell closed again when I felt his lips softly brush mine. I didn't even have time to react, there wasn't even time for awkwardness, because the kiss ended so quickly it was as if it hadn't happened at all.

I swallowed, and said in a quavering voice, "Well, we better, get back down...they might wonder where we are..." I trailed off, uncertainly.

Harry nodded, as he laughed nervously, running a hand through his hair. "Right then," He said suddenly, and he moved towards the door, and allowed me through, as he followed. I was still clutching the movie, holding it to my chest.

As we made our way down the stairs, we began joking playfully, and laughing again, as if what happened just moments before was simply a dream.

But, it had happened. I touched a finger to my lips. Oh, it had definitely happened.

I yawned, just as I had settled under the covers in my bedroom. It was barely 9:30 yet I was exhausted from the day's events, and maybe I just wanted to sleep, to clear my head...my thoughts, which were, of course, only regarding one topic. Harry.

It was as if the kiss was a dream, in fact, with the way he was acting, I wondered if it was. Nothing changed about the way he was acting - and that was frustrating! He wasn't acting nervous...or like someone who had just kissed a girl; who had just kissed me. He acted like he had acted before the kiss. Like my friend, my best friend. Not my boyfriend. While I'm sure I must have made a fool of myself. But if I had, he sure was pretending he hadn't noticed. Maybe it was just on the inside, where my stomach was doing back-flips, and front-flips, and flips that made me want to throw up. But, I was pretty much doing a good job on pretending I hadn't noticed our little lip-action, I guess.

I groaned, so much for sleep actually clearing my thoughts. Irritably, I flopped over to the other side of my bed, hoping to find comfort there. I took a few calming breaths, and just as I started to doze off…

"Ginny?"

It was a small whisper, and light footsteps in the room, but to me it all sounded magnified twenty times, as it had me sitting up and awake in a matter of half a second. Of course, this may have had to do with the fact that the voice was Harry's.

I swallowed, and looked at him expectantly. "What is it Harry?!" I asked, trying to sound frustrated.

Harry walked closer to me, and from the crack of light coming through the door I could just make out his features. He looked slightly anxious, and for a split second…I had thought he looked just a little nervous, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. He had a smirk on his face, like he knew something I didn't. "Going to bed a bit early, aren't you? I hope I didn't wake you."

I raised my eyebrows. "Doesn't matter now," I said, but I brushed that off quickly. "Well…stop beating around the main topic! Why are you here?"

Harry laughed. "Well, thanks for welcoming me with open arms," He said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes, but blushed at the thought of open arms, because that made me think of the kiss…right at that moment I was thankful it was dark, and he couldn't see the lobster color I was becoming. "Harry!" I said annoyed. "Get to it! What are you doing here?"

I thought I heard Harry mutter something about 'typical Weasley's; no patience', but I had no chance to respond, because he continued right away. "You don't think that all I got you for Christmas was some silly movie, do you?" Harry said skeptically.

My breathing shallowed. "Harry," I said, trying to knock some sense into him. "One gift was enough, you don't have to get me anything more-"

Harry waved his hand in front of his face, impatiently. "You don't even know what it is yet!" He then took hold of my arm, and pulled me out of bed.

I felt like a little girl again in my nightgown, as I stood in front of Harry and he was easily a head taller than me, but he seemed not to notice any of that. "But…" I tried to think of something to make him stop and change his mind. He was being too nice, and I was feeling horrible. "I didn't even get you anything," I said weakly, I looked at my feet, realizing how horribly Ginny-ish I was acting, but this time I couldn't act like it was no big deal. It was a big deal.

Harry put a finger to my chin, making me tilt my head up to his. He carefully brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. "Ginny, you don't have to get me anything, I don't deserve anything." At those words I tried to speak, but he cut me off. "Because Ginny, when I was with Cho," He said the words with such hatred that it surprised me, "I acted like you weren't even there, it was such a change, we were best friends, and then best enemies. When I told you that it felt like you were slipping away…I meant it. But when I walked out your door, I hadn't realized that I was letting you slip away," He said forcefully. He hadn't said it loudly – that wasn't what made it forceful, it was just that his voice held so much feeling and it was that, which was boring into me. "And I'm not letting that happen again," He whispered.

I breathed deeply, almost wanting to pull him forward and kiss him senseless, but at the same time I didn't want to, because I was afraid that the events from a few hours ago would simply repeat themselves. "You don't have to…to make it up to me," I said, hoping my voice didn't sound as hoarse to him as it did to me.

"Yes I do."

The silence stretched between us for so long, I was sure I couldn't take it, and then finally he coughed, and then spoke.

"Now get on some muggle clothes, and meet me downstairs in ten minutes, okay?" He started heading for the door, without waiting for my response.

"W-wait." I called out, desperately.

He stopped and turned around looking at me, with concern. "Yeah?"

I wanted to shout out 'I love you!' right then and there, I wanted to tell him that I loved him since the first day I saw him get on that platform, I wanted to pour my soul out to him, I wanted to kiss him as if I would die tomorrow and never get the chance, but instead I swallowed it all, and lamely said, "Where are we going?"

Harry smirked. "You'll see." And with that, he left my room.

I collapsed on my bed, and took this opportunity to scream into my pillow.

"Harry what is that thing, anyway?" I asked after ten minutes, of trying to figure out what exactly Harry was hiding under his arms.

Harry stopped, and turned to look at me, his face was serious, but I thought I saw a gleam in his eye that reminded me of Fred and George. Harry held up some silvery material. "I'll show you. Hold out your arm."

I looked suspiciously down at the material, and sighed. I didn't like that look he was getting, but I decided that the mysterious cloak-like object looked harmless enough. However, suddenly my Dad's voice rang out in my ears, 'Never trust anything if you can't see where it keeps its brain!' I brushed that off and decided Harry would never let anything seriously harm me. I held out my arm for him, and he placed the material on it. At first I didn't realize anything, I was pretty much concentrating on when this thing was going to suck out my soul, rather than looking down, but Harry's voice cut through my concentration.

"Ginny look down," He said, and looked very much like he was trying awfully hard to cover up a smile.

I looked down, and screamed, jumping back in surprise as the cloak slipped off my arm. "What did you do?!" I yelled out. "Where did my arm go? What is that thing?"

Harry couldn't contain it anymore, and burst out laughing, holding on his stomach. He could barely form words. "You – should – have – seen – your – face!" He choked out.

I glared at him, as I inspected my arm, holding it up to the streetlight making sure everything that should have been there was there. I waited for Harry to be done while I tapped my foot very pointedly and obviously.

Harry finally was able to look up at me, with just a smirk, as he caught his breath. He picked up his cloak from the sidewalk, and held it out in front of him. "This is an invisibility cloak," He said, holding it out to me.

Suddenly the 'wretched thing' I had dropped just seconds ago, had new meaning. I gasped, as I took the cloak from his hand, letting the silvery material slide through my fingers. Harry stared at me contently as I admired every detail of the cloak. "Where did you get one?" I asked finally. I knew that they were really rare, and really expensive. Even with my entire family's money put together, I was pretty sure we wouldn't be able to buy one of those.

"It was my Dad's."

I nodded, as I looked at the cloak once more, before handing it back to him. "Why do we need it?"

Harry looked like he was choosing his words. Suddenly he turned around. "You see that building over there?" He asked pointing out where a tall building, with an illuminated sign was.

"Yeah," I said shrugging. "'Ice Rink'," I read from the sign, "what about it?"

He turned back to look at me, looking a cross between anxious and nervous. "That's where I'm taking you," He said. I didn't have the chance to say a word, because Harry hurried on. "The rink closes at ten, we're going to use this-" He held up the invisibility cloak, "- to sneak into the store, just as the manager, is leaving it to lock up. The timing has to be perfect though, so I suggest we put this on now, and just wait when we get there, for him to come out. It should be in about five minutes."

I licked my lips, as I nodded, and moved closer to Harry as he threw the cloak over both of us. Immediately I lost the ability to think, speak, or breathe, because of the fact that he was so close to me. No, actually close was an understatement. I mean, I was leaning into him. I could smell his after-shave, heck I could smell the shampoo he used from where I was. I had a newfound respect for that invisibility cloak.

"Ginny?" He asked, after a moment. "Er…want to start walking, now?"

I laughed nervously, as we slowly crept down the sidewalk. For all I cared we could skip the skating, whatever that was anyway, I just wanted to stay under that cloak with him until the end of time.

"Look there he comes!" Harry whispered, as he ran ahead, and I had to quickly scramble after him, desperately trying to make sure the cloak didn't fall off.

We stood right next to the door, and, though it was cut very close, managed through just as the rink owner was walking out. He must have heard our footsteps, because he did a double take, and looked right at the spot we were standing. Harry was obviously used to this because he kept walking like it was nothing, but I was certain the muggle could see us, until he shrugged and turned away.

Suddenly I felt very cold.

"H-Harry," I chattered, after he threw the invisibility cloak off us and turned on the lights, as I looked around at a huge white circular thing, with clear plastic surrounding it. "W-Where are we, and w-why is it s-so c-cold?" I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, and went back to the coat rack where I had hung my jacket, but Harry stopped me.

"You won't be able to skate in a winter jacket," He said. He pulled off his sweater (the one my Mum had given him for Christmas) revealing a plaid blue flannel shirt. It looked so soft, and I began to wonder what it would feel like being wrapped in his arms, and immediately shook the thought out of my head. "Here." He held out the sweater for me.

I looked down at it for a moment, before looking back up at him. "H-Harry," I began. "No, I d-don't need it, you k-keep it, I'm not that c-cold." Unfortunately at that moment, a shiver ran down my spine, and my teeth chattered more violently.

Harry gave me a knowing look, and held out the sweater farther in front of my face.

I sighed, and reluctantly took his sweater, pulling it over my long-sleeved t-shirt. For a second, I marveled at the warm feeling that suddenly came over me, and how cozy and comfortable the sweater was. Of course it went down past my thighs, and my hands got lost in the extra material from the arms…but, and this will sound way overly corny, I felt a feeling of comfort when I was there wrapped in his sweater, with the smell of his cologne still lingering on it. I breathed in deeply, not realizing Harry hadn't taken his eyes off me. "Are you sure you won't be cold?" I asked, quickly.

Harry shook his head. "I'm fine," He assured me. "I've still got my flannel shirt, and even another shirt under that."

"Well, you came prepared," I huffed. "Don't you think you could have told me to dress more warmly?"

Harry laughed. "I could have." He left me to glare at his back, as he turned around and headed over to a counter. I followed his retreating figure, still slightly annoyed, but at the same time mentally jumping for joy that I was wearing his sweater. I always wondered what that would be like.

He pulled out two boxes from behind the counter, and handed one to me. "Those should fit."

I opened the box, and saw two beige shoes, with a sharp silver blade attached to each one. "Fit on what?" I asked, still looking bewildered at the shoes. 

Harry had sat down on a bench, by the white circular thing I had seen before, taking off his sneakers, and at my question he looked up at me, shook his head, and continued what he was doing.

I stormed over to the bench, and plopped down next to him. "Well?" I asked impatiently.

"You really should take muggle studies," Was all he said.

I glared. "Stop sounding like Hermione."

He laughed. "Take off your shoes, and put those-" He gestured towards the box I was holding, "-on."

I stared at him blankly for a moment, before sighing and looking down at the shoes. I easily pulled mine off, and pulled on the slightly worn, deformed shoes Harry had given me. "They're messed up," I stated after a minute, of staring at my ridiculous looking feet.

Harry looked down as well, and then showed me his feet, which wore the same type of misshapen shoes. "They're called skates, they're supposed to be like that, the blade helps you on the ice."

"Huh?" I asked dumbly, still looking sadly down at my skates.

"This," Harry said, waving his hand in front of him towards the glimmering white circle. "Is called ice. You put on the ice-skates," He pointed at my feet, "and walk out onto the ice with them. Ice-skating," He said, enunciating the 'key words' for me.

I stared at him blankly – blinking. "Oh," I said. I coughed, "So, I just…walk out onto the ice?" Harry nodded as I stood up, and stumbled over to the rink. "All right, that's easy," I said as I placed one skate on the glassy surface.

Suddenly Harry jumped up, so fast that it startled me, and I stumbled backwards away from the rink. "Wait! Ginny!"

I looked up at him, "Yes?" I asked expectantly.

"See, I forgot to mention that ice-skating is a lot different than what you may expect, you should probably grab onto the wall, or at least let me help you. It's harder than it looks."

"Potter," I pretended to glare at him. "I know how to walk." I shook my head. Does he really think I'm that stupid?

"No," Harry tried again, looking panic-stricken, and started moving towards me. "Ginny, trust me the ice isn't like the ground you're used to and the shoes aren't like normal ones, I don't think you should--"

"OW, OW, OW, OW, OW, OW, OH BLOODY GREAT! OWWWWW!" I whined, as I brilliantly fell flat on my butt, not listening to a word of Harry's advice.

"--Ugh - do that," Harry finished, skating over and stretching a hand out to help me up.

I took his hand, and he steadied me, grabbing hold of my shoulders so that I wouldn't fall over again. I looked up sourly at him, and he rolled his eyes. "'Potter, I know how to walk,'" He mimicked, with a smirk on his face.

I pretended to glare at him, but couldn't hold it, and burst out laughing, as he joined in. "I do not talk like that!" I yelled out annoyed.

Harry laughed, "If only you heard yourself!" I shook my head at him, with a smile still on my face.

"Okay, fine," I said reluctantly, "You were right."

Harry looked pleased. "And?"

"I'll never doubt you ever, ever, again in my entire life," I said with very little enthusiasm.

Harry nodded, as if deciding whether or not that was good enough.       "And?"

I groaned. "What do you want from me? Blood?"

"Hey, it can be arranged," He joked, and I laughed, as I pushed into his shoulder with intentions of knocking him over, but he was too quick for me, and skated out of my reach.

I stumbled forward from loss of him holding me in place, and teetered, trying to steady myself. "Harry!" I called out, as I kept jiggling around, my legs stretching further apart, about to do a split I knew they couldn't handle. "Help!" I called out. Right now I really didn't care how many muscles I pulled, I was more concerned about whether or not my pants would end up ripping. I cringed at the thought. How embarrassing that would be.

Maybe Harry realized that too, that or he just felt like playing hero again, because he expertly glided up to me, and took hold of my upper arms steadying me.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "That's what you get," He shrugged.

I kicked at the ice, as little chunks flew in the air, and Harry had to tighten his grip on me because the effort made me teeter over more.

"Here," Harry said, turning me around so that my back was to him, but he still was gripping my upper arms. "Move your legs, don't worry, I've still got hold of you."

I nodded, not wanting to speak because I knew that it would show my fear. Okay, Ginny, you can do this .One foot after the other, it'll be okay. I moved a few millimeters. "Hey that wasn't so hard!"

I heard Harry sigh behind me. "Right, uh, Ginny maybe this time you could take longer strides."

"What are you trying to do? Kill me?!" I burst out suddenly. Harry looked startled, and let go of me as if he had touched something hot, and I stumbled, kicking my feet trying to maintain balance, as Harry caught me again.

"What?" Harry asked, both of us regaining composure. He suddenly moved way closer to me than he had ever before – too close in my opinion – and pushed the toe of his skates, into the heel of mine, and he kept pushing until suddenly I realized I was moving with him.

I for the first time in my life was walking on water. Well, frozen water but...still.  Ha! Wait 'til Ron hears about this! "Oh my God, Harry...this is wonderful," I whispered, "Just don't move away."

Harry laughed. "I only would if I had a camera around, that would be worth quite a few laughs...watching you fall over again and again and again..."

"Okay! Okay! Enough!" I laughed, swatting at his leg.

"Hey, remember what happened last time you tried to hurt me," He joked.

I glared, although he couldn't see my face anyway.

"But...I'm glad you like it," He said. "Happy Christmas, Ginny."

I leaned back into him, letting him guide me around the rink. So, it wasn't really like I was skating, it was more of Harry steering me...but that was why it was all the more incredible. "Happy Christmas, Harry."

"How did you learn how to skate anyway?" I asked, a while later as Harry and I had sat back down on the bench. I took the huge bulky skates off my feet, and suddenly felt like I lost 10 pounds.

Harry, too, tugged both of his off, before responding, "One of Dudley's parties...there was no one to take care of me, and I had to tag along. I basically learned, from the fact that Dudley and Piers kept making me skate, so they could have a good laugh watching me fall over and over again, and after awhile I just...learned."

I assumed Piers must have been one of Dudley's friends. I bit my lip. "Doesn't that bother you?" I asked suddenly.

"What?"

I sighed, "That...your whole childhood was being in the shadow, and that the only way you could learn things was because you were trying to get out of the way of embarrassment."

It took a while for Harry to respond, and I had the feeling that he was thinking about the answer. "I don't know...sometimes, I feel like I missed something, but I mean it was a way of life. I didn't know any other childhood. I only watched what the good side was like - I never experienced it. So, I guess...I never realized what I was missing."

I stared at him for a second before realizing what I was doing and tried to find something to say. I knew what I wanted to say. Of course it was the exact thing I had been wanting to say all night. That I loved him, even more than I had before – I mean, he was being so nice, and he really didn't have to be. It was times like this when I wished I was a kid again, where my only problems were when 'Ronnie was making fun of me' as I would say to my mother. That was when I figured out what to say to him. Here I was thinking about my carefree childhood while the person sitting right next to me didn't even have a childhood at all. "I'm sorry," I said in a small voice.

Harry, who had been looking down at his knees, now faced me in confusion, and then started to laugh. Not hysterically or anything, it was more of the type of laugh you give when you're in bewilderment. Like you can't believe what someone just said to you. "How many times are you going to say that? I've been nothing but horrible to you these days, and yet you seem to always find a way to apologize to me."

I then laughed a little, too. "Well," I said breathing deeply. "At least you can admit to being a jerk."

Harry chuckled. "I am sorry about that Ginny. I've never told anyone this before but..." He trailed as if even having second thoughts about telling me. "But the only reason I actually went out with Cho was because then the rumors about my love life would stop. The newspapers would stop pairing me with different girls. I had always been attracted to Cho...and then I asked her out, and she said 'yes'..." Though I didn't really want to hear about Harry and Cho I let him continue. "And – and the rumors stopped. Cho and I were 'a match made in heaven' according to everyone. 'That beautiful Ravenclaw, and the famous Harry Potter'. For once no one was bothering me, they all seemed content that we would last forever. So they stopped printing those stupid articles. And then I kind of...I don't know, fell for her. I know it's horrible, but Ginny, for what it's worth...if I had known then that dating her would ruin our friendship then I have never went out with her to begin with. She had changed me, and I was too blind to see any of it, and I'd give anything to do it all over again."

His voice held so much emotion and his words struck me in a way that no one else has ever been able to do before. "Harry you shouldn't be sorry-"

"Gin-" He protested.

"No. I know you said that all I've been doing is apologizing or not letting you apologize to me, but really, it's okay, because for the first time in my life someone understood me, someone knew me. No one's ever...paid attention before."

For a few minutes we both looked at the floor, unsure of what to say. So much had changed between us in a matter of hours.

"Ginny?"

I looked up at the sound of Harry's voice. It was a different tone than I had heard before, which surprised me. It was as if he sounded...pained. "Yeah?"

"Why did you change?"

I looked at him sharply, expecting him to say anything but that. For a few moments I looked down, fumbling with a loose piece of yarn on his sweater before meeting his eyes. "For once I just wanted someone to notice me for me, and not as Ron's little sister," I said quietly - emotion filling my tone.

Harry made sure his eyes never left mine. "Ginny," He said. "You don't have to change yourself, just to get people to notice you. I mean, because...if they could see what I see then...they're gonna love you."

Slowly, I rubbed my lips together, before closing my eyes trying to push back tears. He loved me. No, he didn't say it straight out, and no I'm sure he doesn't love me the same type of way I love him...but it was something. Something to keep my hopes up, something to dream on, something to build on. Something wonderful. I mustered up all my courage and leaned in, wrapping my arms around his neck, sitting up taller so I could lay my head down on his shoulder, as I hugged him - as he hugged me back.

I remembered how a few hours ago I wondered what it would be like to be wrapped up in his arms. I hadn't known then that the answer was simply one word.

Breathtaking.

 A/N: *giggles* How sweet. Did you like it? Think it was long enough, hehe, I do!! 14 pages on Word!! Christmas will be over by the time you reach next chapter. A problem I have is I'm not exactly sure when they all have to go back to Hogwarts...It's not right after Christmas is it? Because if it is...well I'll just have to think of something, and if you do happen to know when they are all suppose to head back to that jolly castle, please tell me in a review! It would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed...

StephanieCook, Kristen Michelle, OliverPhelpsLover, OliverPhelpsIsHOTT, ginas87, Kiriko Himura, Firedragonfly, C Jazz, AgiVega, dunken, Whiskers, HerbieWerbie, Lady Shinigami, emeraldstar, Gwen Potter, Walking Contradiction, linz

...You guys rock!!

And also, in response to a few reviews that I felt I had to respond to:

Walking Contradiction: Thank you! lol, I hate those type of stories also...the thought of Ginny 'bad-ass' blegh! Yes, Ginny is quite 'smitten' with Harry, isn't she? Hehe, I just loved how you used that word. It's a such a fun word! Hey, you were right! Things did get more personal...awkward, but personal. So...when are you updating 'Kid Down The Street' hmm..? hehe

Emeraldstar: Wow! Thank you so much! You're review was so unbelievably sweet and nice, that I just had to let you know that I appreciated that so much.

Dunken: I'm glad you didn't stop reading this story! Well, H/G are sort of...together. Aren't they? Hehe, kind of. It's very weird for them. But don't worry, this is very much an H/G story! When and how will Cho reappear you ask? Hm...I'm not sure...heh heh. I said she might reappear! You'll just have to keep reading!

Kristen Michelle: Oh stop! As if it wasn't enough that Hugh Grant is your husband but you also get cute guys to dance with! Sheesh! I am not jealous, I am not jealous, I am not jealous...hehe. How is Hugh these days? *lol* Anyway, Granny, (haha! I like that!) I guess I missed my one-day deadline, didn't I? I hope you can forgive me! And once more, thank you! You definitely do not suck as a beta! When I read the e-mail with all the corrections in red, I was just so...happy! You caught so many mistakes! By the way, if you're not the Queen of Grammar than I am def. not the Princess of Grammar, because if you noticed, it was you correcting my grammar mistakes. Don't pretend like you didn't enjoy that! Anyway...I think I'll stop. I've already got about a page written for you at the very beginning of this story!!

Wow...I think I should cut down my A/N's...*giggles*