Disclaimer--Still the property of JK Rowling, Steve Kloves, Scholastic and WB...darn it. Also still intended only as flattery...Trust me, I have NOTHING.

Author's Notes--

EEDOE--Thanks for the correction on Percy's full name. :-) I thought Ginny nicking Lee's socks was a nice touch. ;-) Good job picking up on Percy's comment about the Ministry Magic! I thought Ginny, Percy, and Draco on the stairs was hilarious...I'm glad you enjoyed it too!! (And that you enjoy the next bit as well) Getting rid of the diary is a lot like losing a friend, or even breaking up with a boyfriend...suddenly an intimate part of your life you relied on is missing. I'm glad you think I handled it realistically. Sometimes feelings like that are too powerful to do full justice to.

Bill--Awww!! You're so sweet! *hugs*

I'm amazed--and incredibly touched--you would be willing to share a personal connection to what's happening to Ginny. It sounds like you went through a horrible/painful experience of your own...but maybe that helped make you into the perceptive person you are today. *hugs* I think most of us do face similar experiences in our lives, but not all of us let them affect us as deeply...and those who do are never quite stop reliving the choice between what we love and what we need. I have a friend who's going through something similar right now, and sympathy for her made it easier to access my own memories of how Ginny might feel.

I agree with you about OotP, and was going to add something about Percy talking to Dumbledore about the point penalties, when I happened to run across a trivia point on Mugglenet.com that mentions Percy took points from Harry, Ron, and Hermione earlier in CoS (CH. 9)...so here's my BS explaination--Prefects can't take points, but Percy is power hungry, and counts on the fact the younger students don't know that to make himself more important and help exert his authority, which fits in nicely with the development of his tunnel-vision ambition? *grins and shrugs* Nice catch, though--I appreciate the heads-up! :-D

I know you've been looking forward to a specific moment between Ginny and Percy...I hope this doesn't disappoint! ;-)

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At the beginning of February lessons progressed-or regressed-to some of Hogwarts lesser known rooms and locations.



Ginny couldn't help doubting just how unknown some of them really were-especially after she crept into one such spot-an unused classroom-following Lee's instructions, only to find it being put to use after all. It took her several minutes to recover, but it didn't seem to be a problem, as the occupants were far too busy to notice she was there.



"Percy Ignatius Weasley," Ginny said, something she had been dying to do ever since October. She thought she had managed a fairly decent imitation of mum-better than his at any rate. Percy certainly thought so, he jumped at least a foot, nearly knocking the curly-haired girl he had been kissing off her feet.



"You must be the reason he was locked up with Hermes all summer," Ginny said by way of greeting.

The curly-haired girl made an awkward little gesture that still managed grace. Her cheeks were slightly pink, and she couldn't quite manage to look Ginny in the eye, but she was handling the embarrassment well.

Better than Ginny's darling brother, at any rate. Percy was a red so dark it almost looked like a lobster being boiled.

Ginny suppressed a grin.

"Hermes?" the girl ventured.

"His owl," Ginny explained.

The ghost of a smile touched the girl's lips, illuminating her face. At least Percy had good taste. "I suppose I am," she said, looking at Percy in a way that seemed to help him regain a little pride.

"I'm his little sister," Ginny said when it became obvious Percy wasn't ready to say anything. "Ginny Weasley."

The girl's smile deepened. "Penelope Clearwater."

"So is she your girlfriend?" Ginny demanded, staring at Percy.

"I...that is...well...I suppose..." Percy said.

Ginny watched his face change colors while she waited. Penelope watched him too. Like a hawk.

"It's really..." Percy tried again. "It's not as if..."

"Is she?" Penelope demanded.

"Yes!" Percy exploded with the air of someone persecuted into admitting their most shameful secret. Penelope beamed. Ginny giggled.

"So why haven't mentioned her to us?"

Penny pulled back slightly from the hug she'd rewarded him with. Percy looked like a rabbit cornered by a very hungry owl.

"Because....you'd have wanted to meet her," he said in a rush.

"Percy Weasley," Penelope said dangerously, "are you suggesting you're ashamed to introduce me to your family?"

"Yes!" Percy said, his eyes widening as he suddenly realized what he'd said. 'No...I mean I'm ashamed to introduce them to you...the twins..."

"They're...mischievous," Ginny offered, taking pity on him.

"For starters," Percy huffed. "They'd rather make trouble than learn anything useful. We'll never have a moment's peace and quiet if the twins find out."

Penelope looked at Ginny inquiringly. Ginny shrugged. "Probably true, I'm afraid," she said, without a hint of remorse.

"I just wanted to enjoy our time together without having to defend myself all the time," Percy said.

"Really?" Penelope asked hopefully.

"You'd make any man proud," Percy elaborated. "That's why I don't want you to be embarrassed by the twins."

Ginny rolled her eyes, but luckily, Penelope was so caught up in Percy she didn't notice.

"That's so sweet," Penelope trilled.

Percy fixed Ginny with a look. "You won't tell, will you?"

Ginny thought of the joy of torturing her brothers-particularly the twins-with the knowledge she knew a useful piece of information for making mischief and they didn't, and released it with a sigh. "Of course not."

'Promise?" Percy asked, and the look in his eyes was so pleading, Ginny couldn't even find it in her to begrudge him.

"Promise."

Percy nearly crumpled with relief. Then, his own problems out of the way, the Prefect took over again. "What are you doing in here anyway?"

"Nothing," Ginny said blankly. "I must have gotten lost."

"You'd have to be really lost to end up down here," Penelope said, but Ginny could tell she didn't mean anything by it. "Maybe we should take you-where were you going?"

Ginny thought fast. "Potions. Snape gave me detention." He certainly threatens to enough. "I probably just took a wrong turn. I should be able to find it."

"She's not that far off," Percy added, his attention already on Penelope again.

"Well," Penelope said, obviously torn, "if you're sure..."

"Absolutely." Ginny said, backing out of the room. "Have fun."

She'd have to head Lee off if she wanted to keep Percy's little secret. She was tempted to consider embarrassing him in the hopes it would take his ego down a peg or two, but Penelope probably didn't deserve it. Besides, like him or not, he was family.

She didn't have to wait long. She'd barely started away from the door when she met him. "Found it, I see," he greeted, his face splitting into a wide grin.

Ginny's own grin emerged in immediate response, making it harder to concentrate on distracting him. "Not much to look at," she said dismissively.

"Course not," Lee said. "Point isn't what it looks like...it's what you can do with it."

"Maybe," Ginny said, "but I can't think of any good mischief right now, Lee."

Lee looked mightily taken aback. "Why not?"

"Too hungry," Ginny replied at once. Since she really hadn't eaten all day, her stomach rumbled immediate agreement.

"Well, in that case," Lee said thoughtfully, "maybe it's time we found the entrance to the kitchens..."

Not only was Percy's secret safe, but they had quite a nice late tea as well, surrounded by jovial and doting house elves. Even Lee didn't really mind the switch.