Chapter Two

"Dreaming"

The fire was dwindling when she heard them stomp in, giggling and sharing jokes, or recounting their Quidditch feats. She had a few scant moments before they burst in on her. She grasped her wand and whispered quietly, "Accio book!" The book on "Dream Spells" that she had left sitting on the table across from her, zoomed silently into her hands. Opening it demurely, she plastered a look of concentration on her face.

"Hey Ginny! What're you doing up so late?" Ron's boisterous voice boomed at her from her elbow. Looking up, she raised an eyebrow sardonically before answering, "So if I'm not on a broom with various balls being slammed about I've no excuse for being awake late at night? Never mind, don't answer that."

Ron's eyes began to take on a familiar sparkle, just as they always did when anyone mentioned Quidditch. "It's not often that the teachers let us have night practices… If Harry hadn't brought up the fact that practicing in the dark could be beneficial to us during games when it's hard to see, we probably NEVER could have done it! Besides, the game lights were turned on low after it got really dark so it's not like we were flying blind!"

Hermione leaned over Ginny's armrest and whispered confidentially, "It's quite like him to entirely miss the point isn't it?" Giggling, Ginny took in Hermione's rosy cheeks and wide smile. "Did you get in a little playing yourself Hermione?" She asked innocently, knowing the phrase held a double meaning that Hermione was sure to understand even if a certain brother couldn't.

Ron slung his arm around Hermione's shoulder, "Yep, we had her up there dodging bludgers like a regular!"

"Honestly Ron!" Hermione rolled her eyes, but her smile seemed to brighten several watts. It was obvious to everyone but Ron that the reason behind Hermione's giddiness was that casual show of affection. Her brother was so dense sometimes. Looking at the completely oblivious look in Ron's light brown eyes, she amended herself silently. Ok. MOST of the time.

Shaking her head slightly, she returned her attention to her book.

"Are you interested in Dreamwork?" His deep, clear voice was alarmingly close to her ear. Enough that alarm bells were being set off in her brain, and her palms began to heat up.

Shrugging nonchalantly, she responded honestly, "I don't really know. It's pretty fascinating, but I've never had a really complex dream like this." She gestured at the page she had been scanning.

Harry leaned down next to her and read the title aloud, "Recreating Dreams. You begin this spell by saying the incantation listed below and then thinking hard about a particularly detailed dream. If done correctly, you should not only be able to see your dreams but the parts of importance will shimmer gold. You must take note of these objects or events to look up in the 'Dream Dictionary' once the dream sequence is completed."

His breath was warm and tingly against her exposed neck and shoulder. Don't blush!! Don't you DARE blush! "Hmmm, that sort of reminds me of Dumbledore's Pensieve... Do you mind if I have a look at this?"

"No, not at all." She handed the book to him, expecting that he was going to accept it and leave… So it surprised her entirely when he instead sat on the armrest and began to thumb through her book right there.

Ginny was aware of their close proximity, and also of the fact that everyone else in Gryffindor had already gone up to bed- leaving she and Harry quite alone.

"This one looks interesting." He began, pointing to a page near the back of the book.

"I don't think I've gotten that far," She admitted while craning her neck to see the page he was referring to. He bent down so that she could see better, but it must have been uncomfortable because he sat up again with a sigh and then began to look around the room searchingly. "Harry?" she began.

He stood up, "Let's sit on the couch, there's more room over there." He walked over to it and plopped down, leaving space on his right side. Leaving space, for HER.

Ginny got up and stretched her stiff muscles. After sighing contentedly and giving a little "Mmm." of satisfaction once they relaxed, she realized that her actions were being observed. Grinning sheepishly at Harry's steady gaze, she walked over to the couch and sat down.

She could feel the heat of his body like a line of warmth all down her left side. So, understandably her attention was quite divided until she realized that he was waiting to see what she thought of the spell that had caught his attention.

Dream Visiting. It is quite possible, among two willing parties, to enter the dreams of another. Trust is key in this spell, because the traveler must put their absolute faith in the one leading the spell. If there is any disruption then both of the people attempting the spell can be seriously harmed.

To go into a specific dream, the dreamer (Or person bringing the visitor into their dreams) must say the incantation: "Dreamis Interius" and hold onto the person you wish to take with you firmly. (It is recommended that you hold hands, this forms a stronger anchor with your partner.) Remember that while it will feel like you are really going into another place entirely, you are in fact, going into the spellcaster's subconscious. Holding firmly to the visitor will ensure that they are not lost within the spellcaster's dreams or memories. Your bodies will be where you left them- only your minds will be affected. You must ensure that when you begin this spell, your bodies are either in a safe place or inside a diamond of protection. Otherwise you will be left utterly helpless.

Ginny's eyes widened. "That's definitely interesting… I wonder if any of the Professors will be teaching that one… Oh wait. It said that you had to have complete trust in each other AND have no interruptions. That's a "No" then- it'd be a disaster waiting to happen." She let out a tiny sigh of disappointment. "Oh well, I can still try it out and tell you how it goes… Maybe Hermione will be up to it tomorrow."

Ginny had been staring into the distance with her brows furrowed, trying to think of when she and Hermione would be able to make time to do such a delicate spell, when Harry touched her on the shoulder. Deliberately.

Her head snapped to face him, and she was horrified that he'd have a glazed look in his eyes, like Colin Creevy did whenever she started to sit in silence for too long and he was about to politely leave.

But no, Harry had a mischievous twinkle in his bright eyes followed by a slight smile before he spoke, "I figured that you and I could do it. In case you hadn't noticed everyone's been upstairs for ages… so I don't think we'd be interrupted. Plus it's only during the actual spell that we would have to worry about interruptions, once it's cast it wouldn't matter if someone came down. And we wouldn't have to bother with any protection spells because Hogwarts is the safest place you could ever be… Well, at least for NOW." The last was said with a smile, though it looked a little forced, and his expression took on the shadow of painful memory. Harry's past experiences would always be with him- that was the price of seeing so much darkness… it never completely left.

Ginny was in a state of shock. Harry wanted try out a spell with HER? But why? He has Ron and Hermione if he really does want to try out the spell… Even if we ARE alone, why would he want to do this with me?

The twinkle in his eyes slowly dulled, but the smile remained fixed in place. She realized that she had taken too long to respond when he quickly said, "Of course it's fine if you don't want to do it… It was just a thought."

"No! I want to!" burst from her lips and she mentally berated herself for sounding so eager. Harry didn't seem to mind.

"Okay, well whose dream do you want to go into?" The question meant more than one would think, but Ginny understood that. Harry's 'dreams' were usually nightmares of Voldemort, or what memories he had (thanks to dementors) of his parents' deaths.

"Let's go into mine."

"Okay, sure." The relief in his voice may not have been evident to anyone else- but it was apparent to Ginny, and it made her feel a certain protective happiness that she was the one to cause it.

Staring down at the book, she held her wand in her right hand and began to re-read the incantation- her lips moving silently as she repeated it over and over again.

Dreamis Interius, Dreamis Interius, Dreamis Inter-

Warm fingers clasped her own in a firm, yet gentle grip. Ginny stared at their linked hands mutely, before looking up at him. He squeezed her hand once and then sat still, his expression unreadable. It was time. She focused on a dream that she had always wanted to recreate. "Dreamis Interius!"

At first nothing happened. Ginny looked over at Harry and was about to apologize and suggest that they try again when she felt a peculiar tug. It wasn't unlike the normal tug that a Portkey doles out before travel, but this time instead of a jerk at the stomach, Ginny felt a strange pull at her mind- her awareness. Now everything was falling away into a rushing black void. Her last comfort was the solidness of Harry's hand against hers. She wasn't alone.

AUTHOR'S NOTE~ Everything from the first Author's note at the bottom of Chapter 1 applies. So far… no takers :::sniffle:::

But thanks to my THREE reviewers! (It's so strange to all ready have chapters done and waiting to post that I'm not entirely sure when I should update! =) I know the beginning was kinda slow though- so I figured I'd just update any ways.

Darcel (lucias dream)~ Glad you think so… On a side note- things are about to get VERY interesting. =)

Bandy~ Ah thanks! =) (I think your style of 'encouragement' really did the trick!) Hope you like this! =)

Auroa M~ Will do, and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you think!

PLEASE REVIEW! *And just as a warning- I'm don't think the next chapter will be updated so quickly… but who knows? Maybe I'll find the time! ;)*

~Ellie