Disclaimer: See chapter 1

In the Woods

            Slowly, Harry awoke.  For a moment he lay in peace, relishing the familiar comfort of his situation. He was back at the Burrow for the rest of the summer. Glancing over, Harry saw that Ron's bed was empty. He reached for his watch. It was definitely time to get up. Harry proceeded to get up and dressed. He smiled openly as he pulled on his new jeans that were a birthday present from the Weasleys. They fit perfectly and he could no longer look down and see his socks anymore. Yep, to quote Fred, he had grown. He wasn't caught up with Ron, who resembled a young sapling, but he had shot up several inches over the summer. He probably would never equal Sirius in height, though. Harry's godfather was several inches over six feet.

            His mind pleasantly occupied, Harry was almost to the door when the events of the previous night hit home. Ginny, he breathed. What do I say to her? he wondered. Harry began to feel a bit uncomfortable. He had absolutely no idea of what he was going to do when he saw the youngest Weasley. After unburdening her heart to him, Harry couldn't just ignore her. Saying "you're welcome" smacked of arrogance and a casual disregard over what she had done. Harry wavered in indecision. Finally tired of his vacillating attitude, Harry made the decision to wait and see what happened when he did run into Ginny. He opened the door and was quickly brought up short.

            As soon as the door opened, both Fred and George seized his arms and marched him back into Ron's room. Harry didn't even try to fight. He had learned a long time ago that fighting with the twins never got you anywhere. Besides, his curiosity was stirred by their covert behavior.

            "What's going on guys?" he asked as he watched George go to obvious measures to make sure that the door was locked behind them.

            "It's time for your present, Harry" Fred responded.

            George straightened up after jamming a chair in front of the door. "This would be so much easier if mum hadn't grounded us from using any magic this summer," he complained.

            Harry grinned. "What did you do this time?"

            "Oh nothing," Fred airily said. "She just caught us working on a few Wheezes that she didn't completely approve of."

            "They were nothing particularly objectionable. Just the ordinary run of the mill exploding wands, dissolving cauldrons, enchanted mirrors…"

            Fred broke back in. "It was the Ton Tongue Toffees that really got her going, though. And that's enough about us. Are you ready for your present?"

            Harry was grinning, but was still a bit cautious. This was the twins after all.

            George drew out a small box from behind his back where it was resting in the waistband of his jeans. Harry eyed the box. It was awfully small, but he had been around the twins enough to be careful whenever they offered anyone anything.

            "In this small box, Mr. Potter, lays our greatest achievement to date," Fred stated melodramatically as George solemnly passed the box to Harry. Taking it, Harry continued to listen.

            "Inspired by the marvelous precedent set by the ultimate pranksters, we have designed this newest Weasleys' Wizard Wheeze with you in mind. This box contains something that we think will be indispensable to you, especially given your habit of disregarding the rules." By this time, George was motioning for Harry to open the present. Slowly opening it, Harry spied an ordinary Muggle pocket knife. Eyes full of questions, he looked at Fred.

            "That's not just a pocket knife Harry. We've made a few modifications. It has the normal blades, but we've added a direction charm, an unbreakable charm, and a concealment charm. With that knife, you can open any door, never lose your direction, cut through anything and even sever enchantments. It will only work if you know the spell. It's bespelled to remain invisible, so you can even carry it at Hogwarts."

            Harry was impressed. A knife like this one could really come in handy sometimes. "Thanks guys. This is great!"

            "But of course," Fred said, puffing up his chest and staring over his nose at Harry. "It is a Weasley creation!" he declared in a highly accented French voice.

            Harry laughed. "What's the spell to work it?"

            George grinned. "Just say 'Swiss-miss."

            Harry stared. "Are you serious?"

 "Ingenious, wot?" By now both twins were snickering.

He shook his head. Harry supposed he should have figured that it would be something like that. He let out a snicker of his own. It made sense, especially when you considered the off the wall way the twins thought. 'Swiss-miss' indeed.

"Come on, Fred. Let's get Harry down to breakfast before mum comes and grounds us again for starving 'the poor dear.'" Reaching out, both the twins grabbed Harry again and frog marched him down to the kitchen.

At the bottom of the stairs, they released Harry and made a beeline to the table where Mrs. Weasley had set out a feast. Harry hung back a bit. He quickly scanned the kitchen. Mr. Weasley was missing, presumably already at work. Percy was polishing off his plate while Ron and Hermione sat at the other end of the table. Harry looked around, but didn't see Ginny. He was a bit relieved. He still had no idea of what he was going to do when he did run into her. Caught up in his thoughts, Harry found himself being hustled into the kitchen by Mrs. Weasley. Harry quickly walked over to Ron and sat in the empty chair beside him.

"There you are Harry. We thought you were going to sleep all day," Hermione said as she was finishing up her glass of orange juice.

"Sorry," Harry replied as he watched Mrs. Weasley place another heaping plate in front of him. "Fred and George caught me."

Ron looked over curiously. "So, just what did they give you?"

"I'll show you later," he told him as he dug into his own mountain of sausages.

"Didn't hear you come to bed last night," Ron stated. "Get lost?" he teased.

Harry put his glass down with a thunk. He could feel his face beginning to heat up. Ron was watching him, obviously amused that Harry was blushing, but Hermione had a suspicious look on her face. Laughing weakly, he prayed that Ron would drop the subject. Thankfully, the twins soon had gotten Ron's attention by starting a conversation about Quidditch. Harry breathed a little easier, unconsciously reaching up to pull at his collar, which felt awfully tight all the sudden. He met Hermione's eyes. She was doing her McGonagall impression; one eyebrow was imperially arched and that knowing look was back on her face. Harry felt himself very nearly go up in flames. Hermione stared just long enough to make her point that clearly, she knew that something was up, but she was going to let it lie for the time being.  Harry ducked his burning face down and concentrated on his breakfast, overcome by an unexplainable desire to sink through the floor in embarrassment. The rest of the meal passed in relative calm, broken only by the twins' boisterous laughs.

Harry finished his breakfast and both he and Ron walked back upstairs. Once in Ron's room, Harry steeled himself. This was not going to be pleasant.

"Ron?"

"Yeah," Ron called back absentmindedly. He was currently rifling through his trunk looking for his stack of cards for a game of Exploding Snap.

"Do you know where Ginny is?" Harry fervently wished that Ron would stay face down in his trunk. He was sure that Ron would know immediately that something was going on. Face flaming, he waited for Ron's reply.

"Probably outside somewhere. I think mum said that she had eaten breakfast early and went to the woods." He paused. "Why do you want to know, Harry?"

Turning around, Ron looked back for Harry's answer. But the room was empty. Hearing the answer, Harry had beaten a hasty retreat.  That's odd, Ron thought. He was puzzled, but he brushed it off. Probably wanted to know so he could avoid her, he said to himself as he found the cards and set out to find the twins. I know I would be avoiding her if she followed me around like that when I was here. Ron left the room and quickly forgot about the whole situation.

Harry was nervous. He was walking slowly towards the woods, trying to gather his thoughts along the way. He felt slightly guilty over the relief he had felt this morning at breakfast when he had realized that Ginny wasn't there. He continued on his way and was nearly in the woods when a red headed whirlwind knocked him off his feet. Harry was surprised. His arms closed instinctively around a person that let out a squeal as they fell to the ground. Harry laid there, the wind knocked out of him. He opened his eyes. There in front of him was a pair of startled, brown eyes. "Hey Ginny," he wheezed as his eyes closed again.

Ginny stared at Harry in horror. She had fled into the woods around the Burrow with the purpose of avoiding Harry, but here she was, lying on top of him after very nearly running him over. Oh no, she thought. I am on top of Harry Potter. I am on top of Harry Potter! That was enough to snap her out of her frozen state. She shot to her feet and continued to stare down in horror at the boy that was still on the ground.

Harry laid there. He had felt when Ginny had clambered off him. Catching his breath, Harry slowly sat up. "Hello to you too."

"Oh Harry! I am so sorry!" Ginny watched as he opened his green eyes and looked up at her.

"That's okay, Ginny. You were the person I was looking for. I just didn't expect you to come flying into me."

Ginny could feel herself beginning to blush. "I guess I was in a bit of a hurry," she apologized.

"That's okay. Don't worry about it." Harry stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes. He paused in his movements. Now that he had found her, he was uncertain as to how to proceed. The two teens stood there; Harry with his brow knit in concentration and Ginny shifting nervously on her feet.

"Listen, Ginny. About your letter," Harry began but Ginny cut him off.

"Don't worry about it Harry. I just wanted you to know and understand, not feel as if you have to do anything about it."

"But I need to do something about it." Harry's eyes met hers. Earnestly, he continued. "I am glad that you have worked things out for yourself and that you can be happy and free again. But this idea you have of me, it's wrong. I'm not strong. I've struggled too. Everyone I am close to is in danger because of me. Cedric Diggory died because of me. The guilt and fears haunt me still, Ginny, and I don't think they will ever stop. I've met Voldemort, but I don't ever triumph over him. I escape. I haven't thrived in spite of anything. I live with every doubt and fear. The only reason I am not dead yet is because I am too stubborn or stupid to run away when any normal person would turn tail and run."

Ginny shook her head. "Don't you see, Harry? That's why you are strong. You have these doubts and fears, but you still hold your ground and refuse to run away. That's the strength I see in you. You've got this determination to meet life head on and on your terms. I was hiding from life, but not anymore, thanks to you."

"How can you thank me? I can honestly say that I didn't even consider how you must have felt after the Chamber of Secrets. I assumed everything was fine, Ginny. I didn't even make an effort to make sure that you were alright."

"You were supposed to think I was fine, remember? Everyone was fooled, not just you."

He shook his head. "It doesn't change anything. I should have noticed."

"It's not your job to save the world, you know," Ginny said gently.

"I have to. It's my fault that Voldemort is back. All my fault!"

Ginny was surprised as his vehement statement. She opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off. In the distance, they heard Ron bellowing for Harry. Ginny quietly shut her mouth. Now was not the time to argue with him. Silently she stood there, watching Harry lock his emotions away again. "Let's head back."

Harry nodded. Together they walked back towards the Burrow. Suddenly, he stopped. "Can we try to be friends, Ginny?"

"Of course. I think we already are almost there."

"How's this?" Harry asked. "I promise to be friendlier and not to ignore you any more."

"And I promise not to follow you around and give you screeching get-well cards."

Harry looked at Ginny. There was a mischievous glint in her eye even though her words were solemn. He grinned.  "It's a deal." He reached out his hand. Ginny shook it earnestly. As they were walking back to the Burrow, Harry felt better about things and was even a bit surprised. He had just had a serious conversation with Ginny Weasley. But the amazing thing was that neither of them blushed even once. Harry amended that thought. Well, she did when she decided to use me as her personal chair, he thought to himself. Absently rubbing his tender ribs, Harry thought about how much Ginny had changed since he had known her. Harry suddenly turned beet red. He did not want to think about just how much Ginny Weasley had changed. He had a feeling it could be bad for his health.