Chapter 7

Hola, amigos! I would have had this chapter posted yesterday, but as most of you know, the site's been having issues, so. . . If this ever happens again, and you're just DYING to read the next chapter *snort* I've started to post this on SIYE as well (under my pen name there, LaArpista). To answer a reviewer's question (I could swear I already said this, but I'm too lazy to go back and look) you can expect a new chapter every 3 days, unless I say otherwise. Maybe 2 if I've been feeling creative or 4 if I've been extremely busy. Anyway, I'll let you read now(=

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was two days before students were to arrive for the start of term, and most of the teachers had already returned from their summer breaks. The foursome sat by the lake, eating lunch outside for a change, enjoying one of the last days of solitude before the grounds would be swamped with hordes of students. Harry especially enjoyed times like this; he held out little hope that people would have gotten over what happened at the end of term last year. With the arrival of the students would also come whispers behind his back and gawking stares. And he was REALLY looking forward to a new wave of first years to gape at his forehead. But, surprisingly, the thing that made him most uncomfortable about term starting up was the return of Dean Thomas.

He leaned back against the tree they were sitting under and looked over at Ginny now. She had finished eating and was laying on her stomach, her knees bent and her feet up in the air, her chin resting on her folded arms. She was smiling and listening attentively as Hermione spoke animatedly about the benefits of a career in medicine.

"There's really so much room for discovery and improvement. And it's all so interesting, even though it isn't anything like muggle medicine, which is a fascinating subject in and of itself. I haven't decided what branch I want to go into, though."

"Maybe you should just go into all of them," Ron said jokingly, looking down at Hermione, who sat between his spread legs, her back resting against his chest.

Hermione seemed to consider this seriously for a second, then shook her head. "An interesting idea, but I think I'll just specialize in one or two fields."

"You're a freak," Ron said in exasperation, and Hermione pinched his thigh rather hard, to let him know that she wouldn't be putting up with any name calling. "Ow! I didn't mean that in a bad way, it's just that I wish that I could find something that I knew I loved to do. I mean, I'm just okay at everything. I'm okay at quidditch, I'm okay in class, I'm an okay prefect. There just doesn't seem to be anything I'm really good at. I'll probably just end up with some desk job at the ministry."

"I thought you were interested in becoming an Auror," Harry said.

"Well, I was, but I failed potions, so now that's shot, isn't it?"

Harry looked away uncomfortably, "I didn't do too well in potions, myself. If McGonagall hadn't sworn that she would make me an Auror, I wouldn't stand a chance of making the program after school ends."

"Maybe. But it's so obvious that you were meant to be an Auror. I mean, come on, who are you kidding? And even if you didn't want to do that, you could always fall back on quidditch, or you could become a Defense teacher. You were really excellent at the DA meetings last year. But I don't have anything," Ron said sulkily, and Hermione patted his leg consolingly. Wanting to change the subject, Hermione asked, "What about you, Ginny, what do you want to do when you leave Hogwarts?"

Ginny hesitated and glanced out the side of her eye at Harry, who was looking at her curiously. "Well, I'm not really sure, but lately I've been thinking more and more about. . .well, don't laugh, but. . . I was also thinking I might want to become an auror."

There was a shocked silence, from which Ron was the first to recover. "Are you serious?" he asked incredulously.

Ginny gave him a hurt look. He really didn't know all that much about her, for being her closest brother. "For your in formation, Ron, I've got the best grades in Defense out of anyone in my year. And my other marks aren't bad, either. I mean, Snape has always sort of had it out for me in potions, but despite that I'm not even close to failing his class."

"Yeah, but you haven't told mum, have you? I mean, her only daughter chasing after dark wizards, she'll have a conniption fit!"

"Ron's right, Ginny. Being an Auror is really dangerous, are you sure that you want to go into a career like that?" Hermione inquired.

"How come neither of you reacted like this when Harry said that he wanted to be an Auror?" Ginny asked, becoming angry. Harry still hadn't said anything.

"Well, I don't know. . . because he. . .because he's Harry Potter, for crying out loud! It's a logical thing for him to do. But you, you're. . ."

"I'm what," Ginny said, gritting her teeth.

"Well, you're Ginny! You shouldn't be going into anything that dangerous! You might get hurt."

Ginny was about to say that she could take care of herself, thank you very much, when Harry finally decided to speak up.

"Well, I think it's an excellent idea, Ginny," he declared, and Ginny was taken aback by the confidence with which he said this. "I remember our DA meetings, and you always did catch on quickly. If that's what you want to do, then you should go for it."

Ginny positively beamed at him, "Why thank you, Harry, its nice to know that SOMEONE supports me," she glared at Ron and Hermione.

"We support you, that was just a little unexpected, is all," Ron shrugged, and Hermione nodded in agreement. She got up and stretched. "Well, I need to start moving my stuff up to the sixth years' room today, so I think I'll get going."

Ginny's face fell. "You're leaving me alone in there? Wouldn't it be just as easy to start moving everything tomorrow?"

"I'm only going to move up my books today, but that should take quite a while. Do you think you could come and help me Ron?"

"Are you really asking me, or did you just put that in the form of a question so that you could sound nice?"

"What do you think?" Hermione asked, smiling at him charmingly.

Ron sighed and got up, "I guess I'm coming, then. Are you two going to stay down here?"

"I am," Ginny said, taking a deep breath, "it's so nice out, it'd be a pity to waste time inside."

"I'll stay outside with Ginny, I think. We'll see you later."

"Bye," Hermione called, smiling, her hand linked with Ron's as they walked back to the castle.

Ginny watched them go, a little envious. "They are adorable together, don't you think?" she asked dreamily.

"Hmm. . ." Harry muttered, but he didn't glance at the happy couple, he was too busy looking at Ginny, thinking, as he so often did, about how much he would like to kiss her.

There had been no close calls since the night that they had pulled off their plan, and he didn't know what he should think about that. He didn't even catch Ginny watching him when she thought he wasn't looking any more, something that had given him hope that there might be some kind of bond forming between them. They still spent a lot of time together, especially now that Ron and Hermione were so involved with each other. The pair would often go off alone and leave Harry and Ginny to their own devices.

His thoughts turned back to their near kiss the other night. He wasn't even entirely sure why he had held back. Maybe it had felt too much like he was taking advantage of her. And the fact that Ginny was still seeing Dean had definitely been on his mind a lot lately.

She never talked about him, though, and that in itself was a little encouraging. He wasn't exactly sure how long they had been seeing each other before term had ended last year, but he found himself hoping that it hadn't been long. It would be easier for her to break it off if they weren't that involved. He felt a little guilty that he had every intention of getting in between Ginny and Dean once term started. He actually liked Dean very much, had always gotten along well with him. But he knew that Dean's feelings for Ginny couldn't possibly be as strong as his were.

"What are you thinking about?" Harry was jolted from his thoughts by Ginny's voice. She had sat up and was looking at him in that patient, curious way of hers.

Harry cleared his throat and brought up the other topic that had been on his mind ever since they had executed their plan two nights ago. "Just how lonely this year is going to be now that I've lost Ron and Hermione."

"What do you mean," Ginny looked concerned.

"Well I'll still see them of course, but haven't you noticed? They're all over each other. I almost prefer their arguing. And they're always going off to be alone together. It's only the beginning, and I'm already starting to feel like I'm the odd person out. After all, you know what they say, three's a crowd."

"Who says that?"

"Oh, sorry, muggle thing," he smiled at her.

She gave him a lopsided grin, "Well, if you ever feel out of place, you just come see me, Harry."

"Will do, but. . ." Harry stopped himself. He really didn't want to bring this up.

"What?"

"It's just that, aren't you going with Dean?" Harry asked uneasily.

Ginny's grin vanished, "Sort of. Why would that matter?"

What did she mean, 'sort of'? "I don't know, I wouldn't want to encroach on your time with him or anything."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Are you kidding me? Besides, Dean and I aren't like that."

"Aren't like what?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Well. I don't know," Ginny blushed. She couldn't believe she was talking about this to Harry. "We just haven't, well, gotten that far, I guess."

Harry felt as if a huge weight was being lifted off of his shoulders. "That's good," he said before he could stop himself, and then turned beet red when her eyes widened in surprise.

Ginny was sure she had misheard him. "Did you just say 'that's good'?" she asked, trying to look him in the eye, but he dodged her gaze and covered, "Well, I just meant that, err, it's good that you aren't rushing things. You're too young."

"Excuse me, I'm not that young. I know plenty of girls in my year who have already done the deed."

"What!?" Harry shouted, in shock at what had just come out of her mouth.

Ginny got a thoughtful look on her face and it appeared as if she was about to start counting people off on her fingers, "Well, there's-"

"I don't need to know," Harry said quickly, looking horrified.

"Oh, come on, Harry, it's the '90s. People just don't want to wait anymore."

"Well, I hope that YOU will," Harry glowered at her.

Ginny turned scarlet, "What kind of girl do you think I am, Harry? Don't you worry," she hesitated and her voice lowered unintentionally, "I'm waiting for someone really special."

'You're waiting for me,' Harry thought, and then stilled at the thought that had just run through his mind. This girl was driving him crazy, he had to get away before he actually slipped and said something that he would later regret. He stood up quickly, "Well then, umm, I think I'll head back now. You coming?"

Ginny looked at him curiously. That had been very sudden. "No, I think I'll take a walk."

Harry, relieved, let go of the breath he had been holding. "All right. I'll see you later." And then he turned and left. Ginny thought that if he had gone any faster he would have been running.

Ginny got up and smiled to herself as she walked leisurely to the edge of the lake. If she didn't know better, Harry had just been acting jealous.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Holy smokes! How many books do you own, Hermione!" Ron asked, staring in disbelief at the pile that nearly obscured her bed from sight.

"Well, I don't actually own all of them, some of them are from the library," she volunteered defensively.

"Oh, well then," Ron said sarcastically, and Hermione hit his shoulder.

"Stop whining. Listen, we're going to do it tonight."

"You want to DO IT tonight!?" Ron exclaimed, looking rather like he had just won the lottery.

"NO! Not IT, you pervert!" Hermione scowled at him as she began lifting books, but then laughed at the crestfallen expression on his face. "We're going to get Harry and Ginny together."

"Oh," Ron scratched his head, "Maybe we shouldn't do this Hermione."

"We're just giving back as good as we got, no more."

"That's exactly what worries me. Are you forgetting how, um, busy we got when we were alone up there? I mean, I don't like the thought of leaving Ginny alone with a guy in a, err, romantic situation, even if the guy is Harry."

"Oh, Ginny's a big girl, she can take care of herself. Besides, Harry wouldn't do anything to take advantage of her."

"I don't know, sometimes girls can drive guys to act as they normally wouldn't." He looked at her pointedly. It struck him as funny that he was the voice of reason for a change.

Hermione pouted, and set down the books she had been organizing, "Fine, Ron, we'll just let them get away with what they did," her lower lip began to quiver.

'Oh no, not the pout,' Ron thought, feeling his resolve crumbling. "Oh, all right, but if this goes wrong, it's on your head, not mine," he conceded, and Hermione smiled hugely at him and threw her arms around his neck, giving him a smacking kiss on the lips.

"It's a simple plan, Ron, what could possibly go wrong?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later that night Ginny sat alone in the common room, reading. Or, to put it more accurately, staring blankly at the pages of a book as she thought of Harry. She looked up as Hermione came clattering down the stairs from their room, clutching a small piece of paper in her hand. Before Ginny could say anything, Hermione had run over to her and was shoving the piece of paper into her hands. "What's this?" Ginny asked.

"A letter from Harry. I don't know why he wouldn't give it to you himself, but he said that it was really important that I give it to you as soon as possible," Hermione said excitedly. When Ginny just stared at the note in her hand, Hermione grew impatient and urged, "Go on, open it."

Ginny opened the letter carefully, and saw Harry's messy scrawl looping across the paper. As she read her eyes widened.

~

Dearest Ginny,

I can't stand it any longer. I've been pretending for this past week that nothing between us has changed, and yet I can feel in my very soul that everything has. I can't stop thinking about you. You're on my mind every waking moment, and you haunt my very dreams. I can't stop wondering if you feel the same way about me, and I can't stop hoping that you'll come to me and say that you do. I can't stop feeling jealous towards Dean, or my thoughts of how lucky he is to call you his. I can't stop longing for you to be mine. I can't stop the rush I get from just being in the same room as you, from having you near me. But most of all, Ginny, I can't stop loving you, and I'm tired of trying to fight it. Do you feel the same way, could you possibly? If you do, please, Ginny, put an end to my misery and uncertainty, now. I'm waiting for you in the Room of Requirement as you read this, praying that you'll come, that you'll tell me you want me too. Please, Ginny, come. Don't even let me speak, because if I go one second longer then I have to living in this limbo, I might very well go mad.

Yours Forever, Harry

~

Ginny's hand shook as she read the letter over again, still not quite believing that it could be real. This was just such an un-Harry-ish thing for him to do, a little more flowery then she knew him to be. And yet, still, she felt as if she was in a dream, a wonderful dream from which she never wanted to wake up. She looked at Hermione now and smiled at her brilliantly. "I need to go," she said breathlessly, and shot off the couch before Hermione could get a word out edgewise.

Hermione watched her leave, and for the first time felt her conscience start to nag her. Ginny had looked so happy as she read that note, and she would be crushed when she found out that Harry hadn't written it at all, that it had been Hermione with the aid of a forgery charm who had composed the words which had so moved Ginny. But if this went according to plan, then Harry and Ginny would be together anyway. Hermione swallowed her guilt and went to find Ron.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harry stood outside the Room of Requirement, looking around in confusion. Ron had said to meet him here, that he needed to talk to him about something. Harry hadn't even had to think about the door for it to appear there, and Ron was nowhere to be seen, which was what was leading to Harry's befuddlement. Harry shrugged and opened the door curiously, assuming that Ron was already inside. But the room was empty, and-

Harry looked around in shock. The room looked like it had been set up to host a romantic rendezvous. There was a fire crackling merrily in the hearth, and some romantic music was playing softly, though where it was coming from, Harry couldn't tell. The room was aglow with the light of what had to be a hundred flickering candles, set high in sconces on the walls. Rose petals littered the floor, and their aroma was heavy in the air. There was a couch the size of a small bed, upholstered in rich, soft fabrics, with dozens of pillows and throw blankets scattered over it. Harry left the door open behind him as he walked farther in to the room, looking around cautiously, as if he were expecting someone to jump out from behind the tapestries and yell, "boo!" He was still standing in the middle of the room, thinking how this didn't feel right, scratching his head and wondering if he should keep waiting or not, when he heard approaching footsteps running down the hallway. He looked up to see Ginny rush in, out of breath, her face flushed, and smiling so dazzlingly that she took his breath away.

Ginny stopped and stared at Harry, who was looking very unsure of himself, then closed the door and leaned back against it, still trying to get her breathing under control. After a few moments, Harry opened his mouth to ask what was going on, but before he could Ginny was running towards him, throwing her arms around his neck and scattering kisses all over his face. Harry's arms came up automatically to hold her to him, and she began to speak in a rush of words.

"Oh Harry, Harry! I've dreamt that you would tell me you felt this way, but I had stopped letting myself hope. There've been so many signs that you feel the same way about me as I do about you, but I just couldn't believe that it was possible," she laughed and held him tighter to her, "Harry, I'm so happy, you've made me so happy! Reading that note, it was like a dream come true, you have no idea Harry!"

No, he didn't have any idea, and he was about to ask her what on earth she was talking about when she said, "How can you have any doubt, that the one person in the world who I love more then any other, is you?" She let go of him and stepped back, looking intensely into his eyes.

Harry found himself getting lost in her eyes and forgot everything else she had said, "You love me?" he asked, needing confirmation of what she had just said, yet knowing that he had heard her right. She shook her head yes and laughed, and kissed him with more passion then either of them had known was possible.

Ginny lost herself in the kiss, feeling as if it was not just their mouths that were melding together, but their souls as well. She felt intoxicated by love, felt it drenching her, seeping into her bloodstream and making her limbs heavy with it. She was so weak in the knees that she was sure, had Harry's arms not been around her, holding her tightly against him, she would have fallen heavily to the floor.

They made their way to the couch and Harry sat Ginny down on it, his lips never leaving hers as he leaned over her, one arm bracing himself on the couch as the other cupped her head. She leaned up into him and dragged him down to her, and soon they were laying down, Harry's hands running over her curving, slender body as she pressed him to her. She wanted to be closer, couldn't get close enough, but there were too many clothes between them, keeping them apart. Ginny tore at the offending garments, and soon Harry's shirt was off, and she pushed him away, looking at his firm chest and lean stomach as she fumbled with the buttons to her blouse, needing to feel his skin pressed against hers.

Harry tried to calm his heavy breathing and think clearly, but his mind went blank at the sight of Ginny opening her shirt to him. She wore a lacy, sheer bra and he nearly swallowed his tongue at the sight of her young, pert breasts straining against the see-through material. She lifted her shoulders to help Harry as he wrestled the blouse the rest of the way off her, and her arms were soon free of the encumbering fabric. Ginny pulled him down to kiss her again, and uttered a startled gasp at the feel of his bare stomach coming in contact with hers. She felt the clasp of her bra let go at her back, and Harry was lowering the straps off her shoulders. She stilled, suddenly nervous, and he leaned back, looking into her eyes as he drew the bra the rest of the way off her. For a few seconds, neither of them moved, and then slowly Harry's eyes inched down until they were resting on the perfection he had just revealed. He looked up again and Ginny smiled at him shyly as he reverently lifted his hand to one of her small, perfect breasts, and Ginny moaned his name as his thumb brushed gently over its center. She threw back her head wantonly and arched her back, pushing herself up against him, and he lowered his head to kiss the soft, giving flesh.

"You're so beautiful," he said as he returned his lips to her mouth. He pulled away, however, when he felt her fumbling with the fly on his jeans and he lowered his hand to still hers. She stopped kissing him and looked at him in confusion. He took a deep breath and asked, "Ginny, are you sure?" looking searchingly into her eyes. She hesitated.

Was she sure? Was she ready? Had she been asked this just a week ago, she would have said no, but that was before she had known it was possible to have such desire raging through her. And why should they wait? They were young, yes, but she was so in love with him, had been for so long, that she didn't know how she could handle having to go without him any longer. She looked up at him, into his concerned, questioning emerald eyes, and knew that she didn't have it in her to say no. She took the hand that had stilled hers, brought it to her lips, and looked deep into his eyes, "Please Harry," she whispered, "I want to be with you."

Harry was struggling with himself. He wanted to be with her. No, there was no doubt about that. But there was a voice at the back of his head that was screaming 'She's fifteen! How can you do this and still live with yourself afterward?' Harry stared into her eyes, and neither of them moved as Harry wrestled with his conscience. And as sure as Ginny knew that she couldn't deny him, Harry knew that he couldn't take what she was offering. His conscience won.

"Ginny, we can't do this," he said regretfully and pulled away from her, sitting up on the edge of the couch. It took Ginny a second to understand what he was saying. Harry glanced over at her and saw the hurt look in her eyes. She crossed her arms over her breasts protectively, shielding herself from his view as she reached for her discarded blouse. There was an awkward silence as she buttoned up the front of her shirt. When she was properly covered, she sat stiffly next to Harry as he said, "Ginny, its not that I don't want to, it's just that-"

"No need to explain. I understand perfectly," Ginny spoke in a polite, formal way, and Harry knew that she didn't understand at all. She was smarting at what she believed to be his rejection.

"Well let me explain anyway," Harry said, and took her hand. It felt so much colder then it had before, and he could feel it tensing in his own. "Ginny, we're doing this all wrong. It's too soon. I don't want this to be a mistake that you later regret." She still wouldn't look at him. "Ginny, there's nothing I'd like to do more then take you in my arms and continue where we were heading, but what kind of person would I be if I took advantage of the way you feel about me like that? I care about you more then I can say, and I don't want to do anything to hurt you. You're so young Gin. . .well, we're so young, really, and I want this to happen when the time is right, when we're both thinking clearly and make a conscious decision to move to the next step. Do you understand?"

Ginny took a shaky breath. Harry was right. Everything he had said was absolutely right, "It's just that. . ." her voice trailed off and she blushed.

"What?" Harry asked, and tilted her chin to look at him.

"Nothing," Ginny said. "I just. . .I just hope that you know that I really love you Harry. I'd do anything for you."

Harry pulled her to him for a gentle kiss. "I know," he said, and smiled at her in that particular way of his.

She felt her heart swell, and cleared her throat. She asked half-jokingly, "So, are we a couple now?"

"That all depends," Harry grinned, "are you still seeing Dean?"

"Who?" She asked, making her expression blank, but Harry saw the twinkle in her eye and laughed.

"Then, yeah, I guess we're a couple," he whispered, and kissed her again sweetly on the lips. He could feel the passion building between them once again, and he let her go reluctantly. "Should we leave?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, lets just lay here for a little while. I don't want to leave you yet," she said, and ran a hand lovingly through his messy hair.

"Okay," Harry said, and they settled themselves on the couch, Harry's arm around Ginny, murmuring to each other every once and a while about nothing important, just enjoying the feeling of being together.

Much later, they still lay on the couch. Harry had moved one of the blankets to cover them, and he lay on his back with Ginny cuddled up next to him, her hair spread across his chest where her head lay. He looked down at her and saw that her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow and even in sleep.

Now that his mind wasn't clouded by passion, he thought back to what Ginny had said when she had first come into the room. He frowned. Something just wasn't right. What note had she been talking about? Why had she all of a sudden decided that she wanted to tell him that she loved him? And why had she even come to the room in the first place when he was supposed to meet Ron?

How the HELL had all this happened?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thank you, come again(=

Oh, and you know what to do! (hint: 6 letters, starts with r. . .)