Chapter 8
Okay, here we go:
First of all, why do people keep asking about Dean? I KNOW that I've addressed this, especially in the last chapter. Am I being too subtle? Cause I thought I was being pretty clear. Wait for the next few chapters: Dean's coming back, and term is finally starting, sooo. . .well, you know(=
Evie: I didn't think the review was rude at all and I appreciate the constructive criticism. When I started this I was just aiming for a 10-15 chapter Harry/Ginny piece of fluff. I was tentative to address the Voldemort/Sirius issues, because they require a lot more. . . thought(= But then I say to myself, 'what the hay, I can use a challenge' so now I'm thinking about drawing this out a little more and addressing some of the not-so-fun issues. I wish I could go back and change a few things, give the story a little more depth, but oh well. It's still going to be full of fluff and corniness, though (:
As to the love scene in the last chapter. In the original draft I had Harry and Ginny, um, going all the way, but then I changed it. Why, you ask? Because I think Harry holding back was a greater act of love then the actual act itself, if you know what I mean;) And for some reason, the thought of Harry and Ginny 'getting it on' at such a young age really turned my stomach. So, as enjoyable as a full fledged love scene would have been, I decided to give Harry some moral fiber by having him convince Ginny, whose good judgment was 'clouded by passion' (hehe), to wait.
Jagon: Get over yourself :-p I'm assuming you're referring to Harry and Ginny hooking up. Well, there were 20-something other people who didn't have a problem with it, so if you don't like the way I handled that situation then don't read the story- I really couldn't care less. . .
Sorry the revenge wasn't as evil as some of you might have hoped for. . .uh, I mean, expected(=
Thank you to all my reviewers, especially the faithful ones (you know who you are^_^). Your opinions mean a lot to me.
Please, people, remember that this is my first story! I've been doing this for, what, two weeks now, and I'm trying to be really good with updating(= I've never written anything this long in my life, so be patient with me. I'm posting as soon as I can.
Now go and read yourself silly =D
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ginny sat alone in the library, smiling to herself and twirling her hair dreamily. Her neglected text book sat open in front of her, and try as she might, she couldn't make herself focus on the pages. Thoughts of that morning kept interrupting.
She had woken up groggily, and the feel of a masculine chest under her cheek had at first quite disturbed her. Then the events of the night before had come rushing back, and she had smiled and stretched languorously against him. The movement woke him, and she had picked up her head, crossing her arms on his chest and resting her chin there to watch him wake up. He had opened his eyes and blinked several times, having taken his glasses off some time during the night. He saw her watching him, and smiled at her in a sleepy, very sexy way and said "hello."
Ginny had giggled and covered her nose and mouth with her hand. "Mourning," she said, her eyes smiling, and he had laughed as he covered his own mouth.
"Sleep well?" he asked her, and she had nodded. They just stared at each other for a while, Ginny in a euphoric mood at the thought that she was waking up with Harry, they were a couple, and in love, and soon everyone would know. . .Suddenly her eyes widened.
"Oh no, Hermione and Ron!" She squeaked, sitting up hurriedly, taking her hand away from her mouth and covering her face. "Oh, what are they going to think! They'll know that we slept together! Oh, God!"
"Hey, calm down," Harry said, sitting up lazily and rubbing her back consolingly, "I'm sure they won't just jump to that conclusion without some kind of explanation. We didn't really 'sleep' together, anyway."
"But Hermione gave me your note, and I'm sure she knew that I was running off to meet you," Ginny said, and Harry's eyes had darkened. For a second, he didn't say anything, and though Ginny didn't know it, his suspicions had just been confirmed.
"You let me worry about Ron and Hermione," he said grimly, but grinned at her when he noticed the strange look she was giving him. "You know, you shouldn't be allowed to look so beautiful this early in the morning," he said, and she had smiled as he leaned in to kiss her, but without his glasses his aim was dismal, and he missed her mouth by a few good inches. She had giggled as he continued to search for her lips, scattering light, pecking kisses all over her face, until finally she had caught his head and planted her lips firmly on his, both keeping their mouths tightly closed (morning breath really was a killer).
Thinking back to the carefree mood Harry had been in that morning, Ginny laughed out loud to herself, and then jumped when Harry suddenly sat down next to her and asked, "What's so funny?"
Ginny's face flushed and she kissed him on the cheek, still chuckling to herself slightly, "Nothing."
Harry looked at her somberly, "Gin, if your sitting here laughing at nothing, then I think we have problems."
Ginny laughed harder and rolled her eyes, "Well, if you must know, I was thinking about how adorable you were this morning."
Now she had him blushing. "Adorable, huh? Not incredibly sexy and manly?"
"No, adorable," she smiled and gave him a kiss on the lips. She loved kissing him. It seemed as if he would like to continue, but he looked around to find Madam Pince staring at them disapprovingly from where she was stocking the bookshelves.
"Umm, right then. I was wondering if you'd seen Hermione or Ron today," Harry said, taking her hand and measuring it against his absentmindedly. He had never noticed how small and delicate her hands were before.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't," Ginny frowned. "When I went back to the room this morning, Hermione was already gone. I'm assuming she and Ron went off somewhere together. It surprises me, though; I would have thought she would want an explanation for where we were last night."
"Hmm. . ." Harry looked thoughtful, but didn't tell Ginny what he suspected. He still hadn't told her that he didn't know what note she kept talking about. He had a feeling that it wouldn't go over well. "I'm off to get the Marauder's Map, then."
"The Marauder's Map?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Oh, it's a map of the castle that shows the location of everyone in it. It also shows all the secret passages into Hogwarts," he smiled, "Fred and George gave it to me three years ago. You've seen it, remember? I used it the night we, umm. . ." he looked at her with meaning.
"Had our first kiss," she finished for him, smiling, and he leaned over to kiss her again.
"Ahem!" they jumped apart and looked over to see that the librarian had moved closer, and was shaking her head at them solicitously. Harry smiled and said, "I'm going to leave before I get us in trouble. I'll come find you later and we'll do something, alright?"
"Okay. If you find Hermione, tell her I'd like to talk to her." Harry nodded and kissed her cheek before he left. Ginny watched him go. She felt like an idiot, smiling stupidly after him, but she just couldn't make herself stop.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hiding, are you?" Harry said, making Hermione jump when he walked up behind her.
"Oh, Harry! Don't do that, you scared me half to death!" Hermione turned, but her startled expression quickly turned to one of wariness. "You know, don't you?" she said apprehensively. The question was rhetorical.
"Well, what did you think, Hermione, that she would just not mention this note I supposedly wrote?"
"Umm, yes?" Hermione said, avoiding Harry's glare by turning back to the odd looking plant she was pruning. Harry had tracked her to one of the herbology greenhouses.
"What did the note say, Hermione?" Harry grabbed her shoulder and turned her back to him, not hurting her but not taking any pains to be gentle.
"Watch it, Harry," Hermione warned, and he let her go, but continued to glare at her. She cleared her throat and looked away uncertainly, "Well, I might have written that. . .I can't be entirely sure. . .but I think I might have put somewhere in there that you. . .that you loved her," Hermione got the last out in a rush, and then closed her eyes tightly as she tensed up, seemingly to shield herself from the explosion she believed to be coming.
It came. "You WHAT!" Harry nearly shouted. Hermione cringed. "How could you do this, Hermione! Do you know how hurt she's going to be when she finds out I didn't write that note?"
"You didn't tell her?" Hermione asked, surprised.
Harry looked away a little guiltily. "Well, I was about to say something when she first mentioned it, but then she said she loved me," Hermione smiled, "and things got a little out of hand, if you catch my drift."
Hermione's smile disappeared, and she gasped, "You didn't!"
"No, but it was a close thing!" Harry shouted. Hermione looked a little taken aback by this news, and Harry saw a flash of guilt in her eyes. He sighed. "Look, Hermione, I'm assuming you did this to get back at us-"
"Well, yes, but I didn't want anything bad to happen! I mean, I was mad, but I don't hate you or anything. . ."
"I know. I just wish that you hadn't done this. The first time I said I loved Ginny should have been special, Hermione. It should have been real." Hermione hung her head dejectedly, and seemed to be nearly drowning in guilt. Harry asked, "How did you even know that I loved her, anyway?"
She picked up her head at that. "Well, its completely obvious isn't it? I mean, the way you two act around each other. . .besides," she said defensively, "how did you know that Ron and I were in love before you tricked us into admitting our feelings?"
"Don't even try to compare the two situations, Hermione. You and Ron have been in love for ages. Everyone knew it but the two of you. But I didn't even realize that I could have feelings for Ginny until two weeks ago. You and Ron had plenty of time to figure out that you liked each other, but you weren't getting anywhere. The situation called for outside intervention. Ginny and I never even had a chance to find our own way."
Hermione bit her lip. What Harry said made sense. Why hadn't she thought about all of this before? Usually she was the one with the level head. Being in love with Ron was making her scatterbrained. "Well, you do love her, don't you?"
Harry thought of telling her no, just to make her feel worse, but he couldn't make himself say it. "Yeah," he admitted. Hermione looked very relieved, and her spirits picked back up.
"Well, just tell her that you didn't write the note, she can be properly mad with Ron and me, and then we'll be even and can get on with our happy little lives."
Harry couldn't stop himself from smiling. If only everything were that easy. But then he shook his head, and his smile faded. "You didn't see how happy that thing made her, Hermione. I just can't hurt her like that. And she won't just be mad at you, she'll feel like I betrayed her too, for not telling her immediately that I didn't write the note," Harry rubbed his temple, "as much as I hate keeping this from her, I think that telling her would hurt her more."
"I don't know, Harry, if it were me I'd want to be told," Hermione said doubtfully.
"Yes, well you're no Ginny, are you?" Hermione looked hurt, "That came out the wrong way. All I mean is that you're two completely different people."
"We have more in common then you might think," Hermione said. "And you were right before; you've only really been paying attention to her for two weeks. I've been her friend for four years, and I'm telling you that she would want to know."
"You won't tell her," Harry said forcefully. For a few seconds they butted heads, staring each other down, until finally Hermione sighed and looked away. "Fine," she conceded, "But if she finds out that you were hiding this from her, she's going to be ten times more hurt then if you had just told her yourself. So don't say I didn't warn you."
"Don't you worry about that," Harry said. He looked up when he heard whistling coming from the entrance of the greenhouse, and could see Ron approaching them, the top of his head just visible over a very leafy plant he was holding. "Well, aren't we in a chipper mood this morning?" Harry said as Ron drew closer, and the happy whistling ceased abruptly.
Ron set down the plant and looked at Harry apprehensively. Harry didn't know if he was going to apologize or offer an explanation, but Harry found that either way, he didn't want to hear it. "Never mind, Ron, Hermione's explained everything, and I really don't want to go into this anymore. Let's just drop it, okay?"
Ron looked relieved. "So Ginny isn't mad?" he asked.
Hermione gave him a look, "Harry, here, has decided not to tell Ginny that he didn't write the letter."
Ron raised his eyebrows and turned to Harry, and Harry nodded at him. Ron stared at Harry for a few seconds, and then sighed, "Do you really think that's the best idea? I mean, I really think that Ginny would want to know."
Hermione beamed at him. "I knew that I was dating you for a reason." She then turned to Harry, "Why won't you listen to us? When it comes down to it, both of us know Ginny better then you do, and we're telling you that she would want to know!"
"Look, I don't want to mess this up, okay!" Harry yelled in exasperation, "Almost everything good that happens to me somehow gets screwed up, and I don't want this to be one of those things. If I told her. . .I don't even want to think of how she'd react," he sighed and ran his hand through his messy hair. "I love her, all right? Why can't we just let it be at that?"
Hermione still didn't look convinced, "I already told you that we wouldn't tell her, but I still say you should think twice about this."
"I've been warned," Harry said dryly. "I don't want to talk about this again, understood?"
"Fine with me," Ron said, patting Harry's back roughly. He smiled, "Hurt her and I'll kill you, okay?"
Harry laughed and shook his head, deciding not to answer. He looked around as Hermione turned back to her pruning. "What are you two doing in here, anyway?"
"Professor Sprout cornered us in the Great Hall this morning. She's nervous because the some of the greenhouses aren't ready and the students are coming tomorrow, so she asked us to come help."
"I had forgotten that the Hogwarts Express was arriving tomorrow," Harry said, thinking about who would be coming with it. "I'm going to go find Ginny. Oh, and by the way, she said that she would like to talk to you later, Hermione." Unable to resist the dig at Ron, he added, "I think she wants to explain why she, uh, slept with me last night."
"What do you mean, 'slept with you'," Ron asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Harry joked, but jumped back when Ron moved toward him menacingly. "Relax! Nothing happened!" He laughed, but Ron still looked at Harry distrustfully. "I am curious about something though," Harry said when Ron had uncurled his fists. "How did you know the Room of Requirement would just appear to Ginny and me like that, without us even having to think about it?"
"Oh, easy. I just thought of a romantic room that only you and Ginny could find." Hermione said matter of factly.
"Without a bed," Ron added hastily, and Hermione smiled as she nodded.
"Ron was worried that the room would get the wrong idea when I thought of 'romantic'. Of course, since only you and Ginny could find the room, Ron and I didn't get to see it, but I was fairly certain that it would show up for the two of you."
"Well, as usual, you were right," Harry said. "I'll see you two later. Have fun with the, um, plants."
Ron gave him a pained look, but Hermione just said, "Tell Ginny I'll talk to her later." Harry nodded and waved to them as he left, his mind set on spending the afternoon alone with Ginny. He knew that by this time tomorrow, getting Ginny alone would be nearly impossible.
It turned out that he didn't have to look very far. On the way back from the greenhouses, he saw her heading to Hagrid's, her bright hair a beacon against the stark green of the grounds. He called out to her and she turned, and he could just make out her smile as she waved to him.
"Did you talk to them?" she asked anxiously after he reached her, having jogged a good distance towards her.
He nodded and put his arm around her as they made their way toward Hagrid's hut. "I'm telling you not to worry about this. I talked to them and they're fine with the whole situation."
"Even Ron?" She asked, worrying her bottom lip. Harry stopped and turned her toward him, grasping both of her hands in his and bending down slightly so that he was on eye level with her.
"Gin, they're not only fine with this, they're glad we're together," she looked at him uncertainly. "They know how happy you make me," he said, and cupped her cheek tenderly, "Its been so long since I felt this happy. Hell, I don't know if I ever have. They wouldn't do anything to mess this up for us."
Ginny smiled, her eyes shining. "You make me happy too," she whispered, and stood up on tiptoe to kiss him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He held her tightly to him, their mouths melting together in a mesh of tongues, teeth and lips, and the sensations were so powerful that Harry felt a great bubble of happiness rising inside him, and he knew that this was the perfect time, the perfect moment to say what both of them knew but he hadn't been able to bring himself to declare to her before. He pulled away and she smiled at him radiantly. He looked into her eyes, "Ginny, I lo-"
"Oi, there! No hanky-panky on school grounds!" Harry and Ginny jumped apart as Hagrid approached them. He was smiling. "So, you're finally together, eh?" he laughed at their surprised expressions.
They both made to ask him what he meant by 'finally', but he just shook his head ruefully. "Always knew tha' you two were goin' tae end up together, I did. An' I was right. Ha!" he slapped his knee and guffawed, "took ya long enough, I'm tellin' ya."
Harry glanced sideways at Ginny, to see that the familiar blush was creeping up her neck to both her cheeks. He took her hand and said, "Yes, well, some things are worth the wait."
Hagrid nodded sagely, then another smile broke over his face. "Where are you two off to, then?"
Ginny spoke up, "I wanted to see if you needed any help getting ready for your classes. Harry ran into me on the way over here."
"Well isn't that nice of ya," Hagrid beamed at her, "Nah, I'm just fine. I was off tae the station, now, anyway. Need tae make sure everything's in place for tomorrow. But you make sure you keep visiting on Saturdays, Ginny, and bring yer new boyfriend with ya."
Ginny giggled, "I'll drag him over, Hagrid. Have you seen Madam Maxime this summer?" she asked slyly, and Harry could tell that she was suppressing a grin.
"Oh, aye! Tae bad she lives so far away, I'd like to see her more often. . ." he got a dreamy, positively dopey look on his face, and Ginny thought he was the cutest thing in the world. Other then Harry, of course. But Harry was a different kind of cute altogether. Hagrid shook himself and said, "Now, I'd best be off. Don't yae forget to come visit once term starts, ya hear me?" he waggled his finger at them.
"We wouldn't dream of it Hagrid," Ginny said, and waved goodbye to him.
As Hagrid left, Harry looked down at Ginny. She sensed him watching her and turned to him, a question in her eyes. Once Hagrid was out of sight, Harry murmured "where were we?" leaned down to kiss her, wanting to regain the moment that had been lost when Hagrid stumbled upon them. But she ducked, giggling, and said, "Now, Mr.Potter, you heard what Hagrid said, there will be no 'hanky-panky' on school grounds." He looked disappointed, but then she whispered in his ear, "We'll have to wait till we're somewhere we wont be caught." He laughed, hugging her, and felt such love welling up inside him, that he was sure he would burst with it. Just as this wave of emotion came over him, he heard a mad sort of laughter, as if from a distance, and he looked up alertly, suddenly ill at ease.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, sensing the change in him. He looked around, but there was no one about.
"Er, did you just hear someone laughing? I mean, I know I did, but did you hear someone else?" Harry asked, and Ginny shook her head no, looking at him concernedly. Harry ran his hand through his hair, and tried to brush off the eerie sensation that someone was watching. "Never mind, I'm probably just hearing things." He wondered if he was trying to assure Ginny or himself. Ginny still looked a little worried, but nodded, understanding that he didn't want to talk about whatever was bothering him.
"I can't believe that Hagrid just caught us snogging," Ginny said after a while, when they were walking. Harry grinned at her, and Ginny asked, "What were you going to say when he, um, interrupted us before?"
Harry thought about telling her, but the perfect moment had passed. He would wait till another. With Ginny, he was sure there would be plenty. "I'll tell you later," he smiled, and she shrugged and took his hand in hers as they continued toward the castle.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Screaming.
Everywhere around him was an awful screaming. Harry was running through the forbidden forest, but the noise was closing around him from all directions, so he ran ahead blindly, turning as if by instinct, branches slashing at his face, but he didn't feel them. The screaming was getting louder. Louder and louder. He had to hurry.
Suddenly a blinding light lit up the trees ahead of him, and the screaming stopped. Harry tripped, muttering "No no no," as he tried to stumble to his feet, the palms of his hands bloody and stinging as he scrambled towards the clearing ahead of him. He wouldn't get there in time. He was too late, much too late. And then he was there.
His breathing sounded unnaturally loud in the stillness surrounding him, and his eyes focused on the figure of a young woman laying in the middle of the clearing. He called her name, but she didn't respond, didn't move. Panic rose inside his chest as he got closer, and the sound of his pounding heart became all that he could hear.
She had red hair.
Finally he stood above her, and as if by slow motion he reached down to turn her over. He fell onto his knees, doubled over by grief. Her face was drained of all color, her eyes, which had always been so full of life shining up at him, were now vacant pools of brown. He was screaming, sobbing, telling himself that this couldn't be happening. At the same time, he could hear a manic laughter flooding the air around him, and shielding the girl he turned slowly, feeling such hatred and anguish welling up inside him that the terror was secondary as he looked into a pair of snakelike eyes.
Harry woke up suddenly, gasping for breath. The sheets were sweat soaked and tangled around him. Taking a deep breath, he brought his shaking hands up to cover his face. He felt like he was going to be sick.
Voldemort. He hadn't had a dream including Voldemort since leaving school last term. But that wasn't what was chilling his blood, making him tremble as he felt icy terror flooding through his veins.
None of the other dreams had included Ginny.
And with this terrifying thought came another: Voldemort knew. Voldemort knew exactly what Ginny meant to him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
D-: *gasp* Yes, I know that was sudden, but I'm going for shocking here- I wanted this to be out of the blue(=
Okay, here we go:
First of all, why do people keep asking about Dean? I KNOW that I've addressed this, especially in the last chapter. Am I being too subtle? Cause I thought I was being pretty clear. Wait for the next few chapters: Dean's coming back, and term is finally starting, sooo. . .well, you know(=
Evie: I didn't think the review was rude at all and I appreciate the constructive criticism. When I started this I was just aiming for a 10-15 chapter Harry/Ginny piece of fluff. I was tentative to address the Voldemort/Sirius issues, because they require a lot more. . . thought(= But then I say to myself, 'what the hay, I can use a challenge' so now I'm thinking about drawing this out a little more and addressing some of the not-so-fun issues. I wish I could go back and change a few things, give the story a little more depth, but oh well. It's still going to be full of fluff and corniness, though (:
As to the love scene in the last chapter. In the original draft I had Harry and Ginny, um, going all the way, but then I changed it. Why, you ask? Because I think Harry holding back was a greater act of love then the actual act itself, if you know what I mean;) And for some reason, the thought of Harry and Ginny 'getting it on' at such a young age really turned my stomach. So, as enjoyable as a full fledged love scene would have been, I decided to give Harry some moral fiber by having him convince Ginny, whose good judgment was 'clouded by passion' (hehe), to wait.
Jagon: Get over yourself :-p I'm assuming you're referring to Harry and Ginny hooking up. Well, there were 20-something other people who didn't have a problem with it, so if you don't like the way I handled that situation then don't read the story- I really couldn't care less. . .
Sorry the revenge wasn't as evil as some of you might have hoped for. . .uh, I mean, expected(=
Thank you to all my reviewers, especially the faithful ones (you know who you are^_^). Your opinions mean a lot to me.
Please, people, remember that this is my first story! I've been doing this for, what, two weeks now, and I'm trying to be really good with updating(= I've never written anything this long in my life, so be patient with me. I'm posting as soon as I can.
Now go and read yourself silly =D
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Ginny sat alone in the library, smiling to herself and twirling her hair dreamily. Her neglected text book sat open in front of her, and try as she might, she couldn't make herself focus on the pages. Thoughts of that morning kept interrupting.
She had woken up groggily, and the feel of a masculine chest under her cheek had at first quite disturbed her. Then the events of the night before had come rushing back, and she had smiled and stretched languorously against him. The movement woke him, and she had picked up her head, crossing her arms on his chest and resting her chin there to watch him wake up. He had opened his eyes and blinked several times, having taken his glasses off some time during the night. He saw her watching him, and smiled at her in a sleepy, very sexy way and said "hello."
Ginny had giggled and covered her nose and mouth with her hand. "Mourning," she said, her eyes smiling, and he had laughed as he covered his own mouth.
"Sleep well?" he asked her, and she had nodded. They just stared at each other for a while, Ginny in a euphoric mood at the thought that she was waking up with Harry, they were a couple, and in love, and soon everyone would know. . .Suddenly her eyes widened.
"Oh no, Hermione and Ron!" She squeaked, sitting up hurriedly, taking her hand away from her mouth and covering her face. "Oh, what are they going to think! They'll know that we slept together! Oh, God!"
"Hey, calm down," Harry said, sitting up lazily and rubbing her back consolingly, "I'm sure they won't just jump to that conclusion without some kind of explanation. We didn't really 'sleep' together, anyway."
"But Hermione gave me your note, and I'm sure she knew that I was running off to meet you," Ginny said, and Harry's eyes had darkened. For a second, he didn't say anything, and though Ginny didn't know it, his suspicions had just been confirmed.
"You let me worry about Ron and Hermione," he said grimly, but grinned at her when he noticed the strange look she was giving him. "You know, you shouldn't be allowed to look so beautiful this early in the morning," he said, and she had smiled as he leaned in to kiss her, but without his glasses his aim was dismal, and he missed her mouth by a few good inches. She had giggled as he continued to search for her lips, scattering light, pecking kisses all over her face, until finally she had caught his head and planted her lips firmly on his, both keeping their mouths tightly closed (morning breath really was a killer).
Thinking back to the carefree mood Harry had been in that morning, Ginny laughed out loud to herself, and then jumped when Harry suddenly sat down next to her and asked, "What's so funny?"
Ginny's face flushed and she kissed him on the cheek, still chuckling to herself slightly, "Nothing."
Harry looked at her somberly, "Gin, if your sitting here laughing at nothing, then I think we have problems."
Ginny laughed harder and rolled her eyes, "Well, if you must know, I was thinking about how adorable you were this morning."
Now she had him blushing. "Adorable, huh? Not incredibly sexy and manly?"
"No, adorable," she smiled and gave him a kiss on the lips. She loved kissing him. It seemed as if he would like to continue, but he looked around to find Madam Pince staring at them disapprovingly from where she was stocking the bookshelves.
"Umm, right then. I was wondering if you'd seen Hermione or Ron today," Harry said, taking her hand and measuring it against his absentmindedly. He had never noticed how small and delicate her hands were before.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't," Ginny frowned. "When I went back to the room this morning, Hermione was already gone. I'm assuming she and Ron went off somewhere together. It surprises me, though; I would have thought she would want an explanation for where we were last night."
"Hmm. . ." Harry looked thoughtful, but didn't tell Ginny what he suspected. He still hadn't told her that he didn't know what note she kept talking about. He had a feeling that it wouldn't go over well. "I'm off to get the Marauder's Map, then."
"The Marauder's Map?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Oh, it's a map of the castle that shows the location of everyone in it. It also shows all the secret passages into Hogwarts," he smiled, "Fred and George gave it to me three years ago. You've seen it, remember? I used it the night we, umm. . ." he looked at her with meaning.
"Had our first kiss," she finished for him, smiling, and he leaned over to kiss her again.
"Ahem!" they jumped apart and looked over to see that the librarian had moved closer, and was shaking her head at them solicitously. Harry smiled and said, "I'm going to leave before I get us in trouble. I'll come find you later and we'll do something, alright?"
"Okay. If you find Hermione, tell her I'd like to talk to her." Harry nodded and kissed her cheek before he left. Ginny watched him go. She felt like an idiot, smiling stupidly after him, but she just couldn't make herself stop.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hiding, are you?" Harry said, making Hermione jump when he walked up behind her.
"Oh, Harry! Don't do that, you scared me half to death!" Hermione turned, but her startled expression quickly turned to one of wariness. "You know, don't you?" she said apprehensively. The question was rhetorical.
"Well, what did you think, Hermione, that she would just not mention this note I supposedly wrote?"
"Umm, yes?" Hermione said, avoiding Harry's glare by turning back to the odd looking plant she was pruning. Harry had tracked her to one of the herbology greenhouses.
"What did the note say, Hermione?" Harry grabbed her shoulder and turned her back to him, not hurting her but not taking any pains to be gentle.
"Watch it, Harry," Hermione warned, and he let her go, but continued to glare at her. She cleared her throat and looked away uncertainly, "Well, I might have written that. . .I can't be entirely sure. . .but I think I might have put somewhere in there that you. . .that you loved her," Hermione got the last out in a rush, and then closed her eyes tightly as she tensed up, seemingly to shield herself from the explosion she believed to be coming.
It came. "You WHAT!" Harry nearly shouted. Hermione cringed. "How could you do this, Hermione! Do you know how hurt she's going to be when she finds out I didn't write that note?"
"You didn't tell her?" Hermione asked, surprised.
Harry looked away a little guiltily. "Well, I was about to say something when she first mentioned it, but then she said she loved me," Hermione smiled, "and things got a little out of hand, if you catch my drift."
Hermione's smile disappeared, and she gasped, "You didn't!"
"No, but it was a close thing!" Harry shouted. Hermione looked a little taken aback by this news, and Harry saw a flash of guilt in her eyes. He sighed. "Look, Hermione, I'm assuming you did this to get back at us-"
"Well, yes, but I didn't want anything bad to happen! I mean, I was mad, but I don't hate you or anything. . ."
"I know. I just wish that you hadn't done this. The first time I said I loved Ginny should have been special, Hermione. It should have been real." Hermione hung her head dejectedly, and seemed to be nearly drowning in guilt. Harry asked, "How did you even know that I loved her, anyway?"
She picked up her head at that. "Well, its completely obvious isn't it? I mean, the way you two act around each other. . .besides," she said defensively, "how did you know that Ron and I were in love before you tricked us into admitting our feelings?"
"Don't even try to compare the two situations, Hermione. You and Ron have been in love for ages. Everyone knew it but the two of you. But I didn't even realize that I could have feelings for Ginny until two weeks ago. You and Ron had plenty of time to figure out that you liked each other, but you weren't getting anywhere. The situation called for outside intervention. Ginny and I never even had a chance to find our own way."
Hermione bit her lip. What Harry said made sense. Why hadn't she thought about all of this before? Usually she was the one with the level head. Being in love with Ron was making her scatterbrained. "Well, you do love her, don't you?"
Harry thought of telling her no, just to make her feel worse, but he couldn't make himself say it. "Yeah," he admitted. Hermione looked very relieved, and her spirits picked back up.
"Well, just tell her that you didn't write the note, she can be properly mad with Ron and me, and then we'll be even and can get on with our happy little lives."
Harry couldn't stop himself from smiling. If only everything were that easy. But then he shook his head, and his smile faded. "You didn't see how happy that thing made her, Hermione. I just can't hurt her like that. And she won't just be mad at you, she'll feel like I betrayed her too, for not telling her immediately that I didn't write the note," Harry rubbed his temple, "as much as I hate keeping this from her, I think that telling her would hurt her more."
"I don't know, Harry, if it were me I'd want to be told," Hermione said doubtfully.
"Yes, well you're no Ginny, are you?" Hermione looked hurt, "That came out the wrong way. All I mean is that you're two completely different people."
"We have more in common then you might think," Hermione said. "And you were right before; you've only really been paying attention to her for two weeks. I've been her friend for four years, and I'm telling you that she would want to know."
"You won't tell her," Harry said forcefully. For a few seconds they butted heads, staring each other down, until finally Hermione sighed and looked away. "Fine," she conceded, "But if she finds out that you were hiding this from her, she's going to be ten times more hurt then if you had just told her yourself. So don't say I didn't warn you."
"Don't you worry about that," Harry said. He looked up when he heard whistling coming from the entrance of the greenhouse, and could see Ron approaching them, the top of his head just visible over a very leafy plant he was holding. "Well, aren't we in a chipper mood this morning?" Harry said as Ron drew closer, and the happy whistling ceased abruptly.
Ron set down the plant and looked at Harry apprehensively. Harry didn't know if he was going to apologize or offer an explanation, but Harry found that either way, he didn't want to hear it. "Never mind, Ron, Hermione's explained everything, and I really don't want to go into this anymore. Let's just drop it, okay?"
Ron looked relieved. "So Ginny isn't mad?" he asked.
Hermione gave him a look, "Harry, here, has decided not to tell Ginny that he didn't write the letter."
Ron raised his eyebrows and turned to Harry, and Harry nodded at him. Ron stared at Harry for a few seconds, and then sighed, "Do you really think that's the best idea? I mean, I really think that Ginny would want to know."
Hermione beamed at him. "I knew that I was dating you for a reason." She then turned to Harry, "Why won't you listen to us? When it comes down to it, both of us know Ginny better then you do, and we're telling you that she would want to know!"
"Look, I don't want to mess this up, okay!" Harry yelled in exasperation, "Almost everything good that happens to me somehow gets screwed up, and I don't want this to be one of those things. If I told her. . .I don't even want to think of how she'd react," he sighed and ran his hand through his messy hair. "I love her, all right? Why can't we just let it be at that?"
Hermione still didn't look convinced, "I already told you that we wouldn't tell her, but I still say you should think twice about this."
"I've been warned," Harry said dryly. "I don't want to talk about this again, understood?"
"Fine with me," Ron said, patting Harry's back roughly. He smiled, "Hurt her and I'll kill you, okay?"
Harry laughed and shook his head, deciding not to answer. He looked around as Hermione turned back to her pruning. "What are you two doing in here, anyway?"
"Professor Sprout cornered us in the Great Hall this morning. She's nervous because the some of the greenhouses aren't ready and the students are coming tomorrow, so she asked us to come help."
"I had forgotten that the Hogwarts Express was arriving tomorrow," Harry said, thinking about who would be coming with it. "I'm going to go find Ginny. Oh, and by the way, she said that she would like to talk to you later, Hermione." Unable to resist the dig at Ron, he added, "I think she wants to explain why she, uh, slept with me last night."
"What do you mean, 'slept with you'," Ron asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Harry joked, but jumped back when Ron moved toward him menacingly. "Relax! Nothing happened!" He laughed, but Ron still looked at Harry distrustfully. "I am curious about something though," Harry said when Ron had uncurled his fists. "How did you know the Room of Requirement would just appear to Ginny and me like that, without us even having to think about it?"
"Oh, easy. I just thought of a romantic room that only you and Ginny could find." Hermione said matter of factly.
"Without a bed," Ron added hastily, and Hermione smiled as she nodded.
"Ron was worried that the room would get the wrong idea when I thought of 'romantic'. Of course, since only you and Ginny could find the room, Ron and I didn't get to see it, but I was fairly certain that it would show up for the two of you."
"Well, as usual, you were right," Harry said. "I'll see you two later. Have fun with the, um, plants."
Ron gave him a pained look, but Hermione just said, "Tell Ginny I'll talk to her later." Harry nodded and waved to them as he left, his mind set on spending the afternoon alone with Ginny. He knew that by this time tomorrow, getting Ginny alone would be nearly impossible.
It turned out that he didn't have to look very far. On the way back from the greenhouses, he saw her heading to Hagrid's, her bright hair a beacon against the stark green of the grounds. He called out to her and she turned, and he could just make out her smile as she waved to him.
"Did you talk to them?" she asked anxiously after he reached her, having jogged a good distance towards her.
He nodded and put his arm around her as they made their way toward Hagrid's hut. "I'm telling you not to worry about this. I talked to them and they're fine with the whole situation."
"Even Ron?" She asked, worrying her bottom lip. Harry stopped and turned her toward him, grasping both of her hands in his and bending down slightly so that he was on eye level with her.
"Gin, they're not only fine with this, they're glad we're together," she looked at him uncertainly. "They know how happy you make me," he said, and cupped her cheek tenderly, "Its been so long since I felt this happy. Hell, I don't know if I ever have. They wouldn't do anything to mess this up for us."
Ginny smiled, her eyes shining. "You make me happy too," she whispered, and stood up on tiptoe to kiss him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He held her tightly to him, their mouths melting together in a mesh of tongues, teeth and lips, and the sensations were so powerful that Harry felt a great bubble of happiness rising inside him, and he knew that this was the perfect time, the perfect moment to say what both of them knew but he hadn't been able to bring himself to declare to her before. He pulled away and she smiled at him radiantly. He looked into her eyes, "Ginny, I lo-"
"Oi, there! No hanky-panky on school grounds!" Harry and Ginny jumped apart as Hagrid approached them. He was smiling. "So, you're finally together, eh?" he laughed at their surprised expressions.
They both made to ask him what he meant by 'finally', but he just shook his head ruefully. "Always knew tha' you two were goin' tae end up together, I did. An' I was right. Ha!" he slapped his knee and guffawed, "took ya long enough, I'm tellin' ya."
Harry glanced sideways at Ginny, to see that the familiar blush was creeping up her neck to both her cheeks. He took her hand and said, "Yes, well, some things are worth the wait."
Hagrid nodded sagely, then another smile broke over his face. "Where are you two off to, then?"
Ginny spoke up, "I wanted to see if you needed any help getting ready for your classes. Harry ran into me on the way over here."
"Well isn't that nice of ya," Hagrid beamed at her, "Nah, I'm just fine. I was off tae the station, now, anyway. Need tae make sure everything's in place for tomorrow. But you make sure you keep visiting on Saturdays, Ginny, and bring yer new boyfriend with ya."
Ginny giggled, "I'll drag him over, Hagrid. Have you seen Madam Maxime this summer?" she asked slyly, and Harry could tell that she was suppressing a grin.
"Oh, aye! Tae bad she lives so far away, I'd like to see her more often. . ." he got a dreamy, positively dopey look on his face, and Ginny thought he was the cutest thing in the world. Other then Harry, of course. But Harry was a different kind of cute altogether. Hagrid shook himself and said, "Now, I'd best be off. Don't yae forget to come visit once term starts, ya hear me?" he waggled his finger at them.
"We wouldn't dream of it Hagrid," Ginny said, and waved goodbye to him.
As Hagrid left, Harry looked down at Ginny. She sensed him watching her and turned to him, a question in her eyes. Once Hagrid was out of sight, Harry murmured "where were we?" leaned down to kiss her, wanting to regain the moment that had been lost when Hagrid stumbled upon them. But she ducked, giggling, and said, "Now, Mr.Potter, you heard what Hagrid said, there will be no 'hanky-panky' on school grounds." He looked disappointed, but then she whispered in his ear, "We'll have to wait till we're somewhere we wont be caught." He laughed, hugging her, and felt such love welling up inside him, that he was sure he would burst with it. Just as this wave of emotion came over him, he heard a mad sort of laughter, as if from a distance, and he looked up alertly, suddenly ill at ease.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, sensing the change in him. He looked around, but there was no one about.
"Er, did you just hear someone laughing? I mean, I know I did, but did you hear someone else?" Harry asked, and Ginny shook her head no, looking at him concernedly. Harry ran his hand through his hair, and tried to brush off the eerie sensation that someone was watching. "Never mind, I'm probably just hearing things." He wondered if he was trying to assure Ginny or himself. Ginny still looked a little worried, but nodded, understanding that he didn't want to talk about whatever was bothering him.
"I can't believe that Hagrid just caught us snogging," Ginny said after a while, when they were walking. Harry grinned at her, and Ginny asked, "What were you going to say when he, um, interrupted us before?"
Harry thought about telling her, but the perfect moment had passed. He would wait till another. With Ginny, he was sure there would be plenty. "I'll tell you later," he smiled, and she shrugged and took his hand in hers as they continued toward the castle.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Screaming.
Everywhere around him was an awful screaming. Harry was running through the forbidden forest, but the noise was closing around him from all directions, so he ran ahead blindly, turning as if by instinct, branches slashing at his face, but he didn't feel them. The screaming was getting louder. Louder and louder. He had to hurry.
Suddenly a blinding light lit up the trees ahead of him, and the screaming stopped. Harry tripped, muttering "No no no," as he tried to stumble to his feet, the palms of his hands bloody and stinging as he scrambled towards the clearing ahead of him. He wouldn't get there in time. He was too late, much too late. And then he was there.
His breathing sounded unnaturally loud in the stillness surrounding him, and his eyes focused on the figure of a young woman laying in the middle of the clearing. He called her name, but she didn't respond, didn't move. Panic rose inside his chest as he got closer, and the sound of his pounding heart became all that he could hear.
She had red hair.
Finally he stood above her, and as if by slow motion he reached down to turn her over. He fell onto his knees, doubled over by grief. Her face was drained of all color, her eyes, which had always been so full of life shining up at him, were now vacant pools of brown. He was screaming, sobbing, telling himself that this couldn't be happening. At the same time, he could hear a manic laughter flooding the air around him, and shielding the girl he turned slowly, feeling such hatred and anguish welling up inside him that the terror was secondary as he looked into a pair of snakelike eyes.
Harry woke up suddenly, gasping for breath. The sheets were sweat soaked and tangled around him. Taking a deep breath, he brought his shaking hands up to cover his face. He felt like he was going to be sick.
Voldemort. He hadn't had a dream including Voldemort since leaving school last term. But that wasn't what was chilling his blood, making him tremble as he felt icy terror flooding through his veins.
None of the other dreams had included Ginny.
And with this terrifying thought came another: Voldemort knew. Voldemort knew exactly what Ginny meant to him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
D-: *gasp* Yes, I know that was sudden, but I'm going for shocking here- I wanted this to be out of the blue(=
