A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed!! I've decided that this will be told from various viewpoints, but will be set during the same time frame, though each may progress a bit. You'll see what I mean soon enough - on with the story!

~*~

Ginny smiled at the display Ron had just caused. Poor Hermione, she looked embarrassed. Ginny noticed however, that as she settled herself down beside him she seemed to be glowing a bit. At this Ginny had to look away because she knew her smile would be too obvious. Thus, she looked back up - back up at the majestic beauty that was the night sky.

To her left, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry look from them, to her, and to the sky as well. The look on his face told Ginny that Harry knew something had just happened, but he was clueless as to what. Ginny's heart went out to him immediately. Harry was so entangled in his future that he had never gotten a real grip on what was going on in the present. Yes, he had wonderful friends, and yes he did have some fun, but his heart had never fully been in it, Ginny knew that. His heart had never been in it because always in the back of his mind he had been preoccupied with the return of Voldemort or, as of now, with the second war.

Ginny sighed aloud, but not for herself, for Harry. How he continued living Ginny couldn't understand. At only sixteen he had gone through more tragedy and peril then any person should endure in a lifetime. Growing up alone, without his parents - never feeling like anyone loved him - it must have been horrible. Then, to find out he was a wizard, and famous as well - the culture shock! If that wasn't enough, combine it with the fact that everyone expected him to save their lives, since he was lucky as a baby, and that everyday Harry had to deal with all of it. And now, this summer, Ginny knew it had all increased ten-fold, what with his losing Sirius. Thinking of him in such pain put a knife straight through Ginny's heart. It was all she could do to keep herself from hugging him and telling him she was here --

She looked over at him quickly, drinking in his exact pose. There was no denying it anymore; she still did like him. Ginny wanted to laugh at herself; she still did like him? When had she ever stopped? Though she had dated other people, and was currently involved with Dean, she knew in her heart that it didn't mean much. Sure, Dean adored her - he had told her so- and he was a wonderful guy but - he just wasn't Harry. Ginny had only "moved on" as a way of showing Harry that she wasn't a hopeless little lovesick girl. No, she was a strong young woman who could help him however he needed it. And she had helped him, back in June in the Department of Mysteries - she had gotten her ankle broken for him! Still, it was hard to play like she had gotten over him; to push her feelings aside daily and force herself to be comfortable around him. Yet she was doing it, and Harry was noticing that much was certain. He had begun talking to her more, as a friend - as an equal. And even though it wasn't everything Ginny wished for, being considered a friend was enough for now.

Ginny suddenly had an idea. She scanned the sky quickly until she found the biggest brightest star there was. Crossing her fingers lightly she wished silently, "Please help Harry to see that I am here for him. Please help him to see that he is not alone and that I can help him through all this - and please help him to just see me as I am."

Sighing again Ginny sent the star one final plea before standing up and stretching. She yawned and checked the time, 11:30, no wonder she was tired. On impulse she turned to Harry to say goodnight and found that he was all ready looking at her, "Going to bed?" he asked, yawning himself.

"Yeah, I'm tried, and my neck hurts." She said with a smile.

He laughed, rubbing the back of his own neck, "Me too, I think I'll turn in as well." He stood up and opened his mouth to tell Ron, but closed it at the last second.

He caught her eye and looking at the two of them, he rolled his eyes and walked away. Ginny laughed and followed him inside. Once in her own bed in the darkness of her room, she giggled again thinking of Harry's departing gesture and thought to herself that maybe Harry wasn't so clueless after all.

~*~

Ron and Hermione were the last two people outside, Mr. Weasley having just turned in. Even though it was late, and Hermione was extremely tired, she had no desire to move. She didn't want to leave this spot just yet.

Ron too, felt as she did, he was exhausted, yet he couldn't will himself to leave. He wanted to stay here next to her, underneath the silence of the stars. They had lain like this for nearly an hour or so now and Ron's mind had wandered considerably during that time. Most of his thoughts had been consumed with the coming year, and all the dangers that waited them. Glancing over at her, he wondered what she was thinking about. Was she too, afraid of the coming months? Was she thinking about the war that was coming at all? He had to know, he had to ask her-

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?" she responded in a drowsy way.

"What are you thinking about?" the minute the question was out in the open Ron knew it was stupid. It was much too broad, how could she possibly know what he had meant by it?

"Do you mean am I thinking about next year?" she asked him quietly, her eyes still on the stars.

Shocked he turned on his side to look at her, "How did you know that's what I meant?"

"How could you have meant anything else? What else is there to think of?" she said, still not looking at him.

Ron nodded, though he wasn't sure she saw, then without thinking he asked her, "Are you scared?"

At this Hermione did turn and face him, shock evident by the tone in her next question, " Yes, I am - how could you not be?" Then, her voice softened a bit as she asked him, "Are you?"

He looked up into her face and said seriously, "I've never been more afraid in all my life."

Hermione didn't say anything; instead she played with a piece of the grass between her fingers. Ron noticed that her hands were just inches away from his chest, though she didn't seem too. After a small lapse of silence he spoke again, " I can't believe it's really happening you know? I can't believe that we might have to fight in a real war - just like the other people did fifty years ago. I mean what if something goes wrong and something happens to one -"

Hermione abruptly cut him off, "Ron! Stop, please!"

"Sorry." He said dropping his gaze to the grass again, "I didn't mean -"

"I know." She said quietly, "I know you didn't. It's just; everything is such a mess! And you're right what if something does happen! Then what?"

He looked back up at her, into her eyes, "I don't know." He said quietly and calmly, "I don't think anyone does."

"Well I want to!" she said loudly, " I can't - we can't live like this. How does Harry do it?" She said with what sounded like a laugh mingled with a slight sob, "How does he do it, Ron?"

Again he said "I really don't know," but he continued with, "We can do it too, Hermione. We can be like Harry, and together we can all beat -you know - HIM."

Hermione sniffed and then laughed, saying, "You never will say it will you, Ron? It's OK really - I said it didn't I?"

"Well-well. I mean, it's just, he - you," Ron stuttered uselessly.

"Ron," she said, "Say the name, say Lord V-Voldemort. It really makes it seem more real, and it makes him seem less powerful, because saying the name makes him seem like an actual person, not some horrible god-like figure. Dumbledore always said that the fear of a name increases the fear of the thing itself."

Ron looked at her helplessly, sighed and said in a slightly shaky voice, "Fine. We can b-beat -we can b-beat L-l-lord V-V-V- I CAN'T SAY IT!"

"Yes you can! Ron, yes you can!" and on impulse, Hermione grabbed hold of his hands repeating that he could say it.

Glancing down at their clasped hands, Ron resolved to say it. If she could, and Harry could, then he damn well could, "We can beat Lord V-V-V" his voice had begun to shake again, but Hermione squeezed his hands gently, "V- Voldemort." he burst out, shaking and shocked at himself. He then covered his face with his hands and hers too, since she was still holding his. From beneath them he mumbled something, causing Hermione to lean forward and say, "What?"

He lowered their hands from his face slowly, " I said you're right, about the name thing.it really does make it seem like less of a threat.

"See! I told you. I knew you could say it Ron! All year you got on my nerves because you would flinch whenever I said it."

Ron was grinning, "Yeah every five seconds it was," He cleared his throat and went on in a high pitched tone, "Oh Ron honestly, Ron will you please, For goodness sake Ron!" switching back to a normal tone he continued, "I can't wait to shock Harry with this tomorrow."

Hermione laughed and threw her arms around him, "I'm so proud of you." She said in his ear. He hugged her back, enjoying the warm feeling that was spreading throughout his body as she hugged him. Turning his face back up to the sky he thought to himself that there had never been a more beautiful starry night than this.

~*~

A/N: Wow, I never planned for any of that! But you know what, I like how it turned out. I'm still confused though, as to whether I should leave it as it is.or add more on. Hmm.maybe Hermione's perspective?