Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me.

Hold You Until I Die
Chapter two: There's So Much That You Just Don't See

Ginny dizzily stumbled down the stairs to breakfast. As if she had not slept a second the night before, Ginny felt exhausted. Incredibly so that she didn't bother to fix her hair or get dressed. What was the point really? Ginny was convinced that a little oatmeal would wake her, then she would proceed to fix herself up for Harry's arrival that afternoon.

As she entered the kitchen and to Ginny's surprised, there sat Harry Potter at the table, already eating and all. Harry stuck out perfectly, his black hair against the family of redheads.

Ginny, being wholly shocked, stood for a moment and stared. Finally, Harry looked up and Ginny was forced to flee the scene. This was very much like the time before Ginny's first year at Hogwarts, when she came down to find Harry Potter in her kitchen. Much embarrassment followed.

Ginny dressed in a jean skirt and white blouse as fast as she was able. She put up her hair attractively and dabbed on some make-up. Hurriedly, she ran down stairs to make her second impression. Ginny stopped just before she reached the kitchen. It had occurred to her that re- entering all dressed up would show how desperate she was to get Harry's approval. No guy wants a desperate girl. Though she was very much so, Ginny didn't want to seem it. So, instead of entering the kitchen, Ginny decided to go for a walk.

It was a short walk, just around the garden. She made her way back to the house, dawdling to pass time. As she entered, Ginny found the family now seated in the living room. Harry was explaining another nonsense muggle item to Mr. Weasley. Ginny cleared her throat to get attention. They stared at her.

"Good morning, all, Harry," Ginny greeted pleasantly as she made her way to a seat by the hearth.

"And so a CD is..." Mr. Weasley began, racking his brain for any information he would have on whatever object it was.

Harry kept his focus on Ginny, though. She didn't know why. Self-consciousness took over and Ginny began to fidget uncontrollably. Harry smiled wryly. Ginny couldn't take it. Her heart was beating so loudly she could hear it, and her head was filling with strange notions, like "my hair must look awful" and "do I have dirt on my nose?" Quickly, Ginny went out the front door and stared at the chickens. What else could she do? She needed air.

"You've changed," came a voice just after the sound of the door closing.

She recognized the voice instantly as Harry's. Ginny wanted to look at him, but couldn't bring herself to turn around.

"A girl can't wander about in her night dress, can she?" Ginny replied over her shoulder.

"I don't mean your clothes," Harry told her, his voice coming closer. "You've grown, I think."

Harry came around to Ginny's front and looked in her eyes. Ginny was avoiding his. When she looked into his eyes, this strange feeling would come over her. She'd be dizzy and clumsy. To spare herself embarrassment, Ginny looked everywhere but his eyes.

"How old are you now?" Harry asked.

"Fifteen," Ginny replied quietly.

"I guess that was a stupid question," Harry said, itching his neck. "You're just a year younger that I am."

Ginny smiled slightly and nodded.

"Dang," Harry began in a you-know-what's-funny sort of way. "In second year at Hogwarts, a year seemed like forever apart. Now, it doesn't seem like anything at all."

Ginny looked into Harry's bright green eyes for the first time. Was he trying to convey what she was getting? Was Harry saying he was interested in her?

"Oh, Harry," Ginny swooned, unable to stop herself.

"Up for a game of Quidditch, Harry?" came Ron's voice from the front door.

Harry and Ginny broke eye contact and both looked at Ron. He held out his new Zephyr 100 broomstick and smiled widely. Harry laughed for a moment.

"Be right with you, Ron," Harry called.

Ron nodded and headed inside. Harry turned back to Ginny.

"Looking forward to school?" Harry asked.

"Are you kidding?" Ginny blurted. "Who really likes school?"

"I do," Harry muttered.

Ginny didn't know what to say. Should she apologize, let it alone, or simply change the subject?

"What's the best thing about school?" Ginny asked, saying the first thing to pop into her head.

"Being away from the Dursleys," Harry began, "learning fantastic things, Quidditch, my friends, and, well, everything."

"I see why you like it so much," Ginny said empathetically.

Harry stared into Ginny's eyes again. She couldn't help but smile.

"Another thing about school is," Harry began, smiling thoughtfully, "I can't wait to see Cho again."

Ginny's smile faded. Then she turned and walked away.


A/N: Mega short chapter, I know. Why does everything seem longer on a paper?