Common Room
September 13
Dear Black,
I have already spoken to Dean about our new situation. He is happy for us. Dean said if we need his help later, then he would be available. I don't think that we will, but we should warn Hermione before talking to Ron.
Last night, I slept wonderfully. No nightmares, only happy dreams of playing Quidditch in the back paddock at the Burrow with you. Other than our talks this summer, that was the other thing I looked forward to. Nothing mattered in the air. Just having fun. You looked so relaxed back on your broom. It's the way that I want you to be.
It is Friday the thirteenth. Should we worry about impending doom? I don't think so. Telling Ron shouldn't be that hard if you think about it, he was trying to play matchmaker over the holidays.
I can't wait to see you at lunch.
Always Yours,
Red
~*~*~*~
"Red!" Harry yelled through the charms corridor. "Ginny… Wait!" He ran down the hall to where she was just getting out of class.
Ginny turned to see him stop suddenly in front of her. Her bag dropped to the floor. "Hello Harry." She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. "How was DADA?"
"It was a good class. Learned about protection spells." He reached for her rucksack hoisting it onto his left shoulder. "I talked to Hermione and she will be with us when we are done eating. She and Ron are already at lunch now." Harry slid his right hand in to her left as they walked down to the Great Hall. "How was Flitwick?"
"We worked on silencing charms. So, if Ron gets out of line, I can shut him up." Ginny laughed as she spoke. The mischievous glint that appeared in her eyes reminded Harry of one of the many reasons that he loved this girl.
"Hopefully you won't need to." He leaned over and pecked her cheek before they arrived at the Great Hall. Harry handed Ginny her rucksack as they headed to the Gryffindor table.
Ginny sat down in her normal seat beside Hermione as Harry plopped beside Ron. They quickly filled their plates with some food and tucked in.
The four of them talked about classes and the upcoming Quidditch tryouts. Ron and Harry started talking about the other chaser they needed. Ginny and Hermione began discussing arithmancy. The group finished their meal at about the same time.
"Ron and Hermione, care to join Gin and I for a walk?" Harry looked pointedly at Hermione.
Hermione knew what was coming. "That sounds wonderful. Some fresh air would be great before potions."
"Yeah, anything before we have to see that greasy git. Why does Snape's class always seem to be after a meal?" Ron lamented as they walked out of the Great Hall.
Ron and Hermione walked in front of Harry and Ginny. Ron took Hermione's hand in his as they wandered down the path to the lake.
Harry stole a look at Ginny wishing he could take her hand, but until they talked to Ron, they needed to wait. So he just watched the pair in front of him while still glancing at Gin every so often. The group stopped at the edge of the lake.
"Ok." Harry took a deep breath. "Ron, I have something to ask you."
Ron gave him a befuddled look. "What do you want to ask me?"
Ginny sighed at the fact her brother could be completely daft most of the time.
"Er… How would you feel if Ginny and I went on a date?" Harry looked his best friend in the eye.
"It's not what I would feel about that, but what Dean would. I wouldn't have a problem with it though."
Ginny glanced up at her brother for a moment. "Ron, the whole Dean thing was a joke. Dean and I were only friends and nothing ever happened. It was to prove a point that I can make my own decisions."
The tips of Ron's ears became beet red as his sister spoke. "A joke?!?!? You mean to tell me that I have been plotting against one of my roommates for your amusement?" His voice got louder as he spoke.
"Basically, yes. The twins, Bill, and Charlie have all told me they trust me for the most part. Well that I won't do anything stupid."
Hermione wanted to calm Ron down fast before he blew everything out of proportion. "Ron, It's not the point right now. What they want to know is if you would have a problem with Harry and Ginny getting together." She placed her free hand on his arm while she spoke.
Ron looked at Hermione and then to Harry and Ginny. He seemed to be calming down as he thought about the situation at hand. "I think my next question is when did this thing between you two happen?"
Harry looked to Ginny to see who should answer this one. She spoke. "Harry and I have been continuing our conversations from the holidays through letters. It just happened last night. Harry told me how he felt, but we didn't want to proceed until we talked to you."
Ron sighed at the knowledge he was being given. "At least you wanted to come and talk about it to us." He nodded his head to Hermione. "I don't have a problem with it at all." Hermione leaned over and gave Ron a quick kiss on the cheek. "But the rules you gave us, apply to you as well. No snogging in our presence."
Harry grinned. "Deal."
"Now that we all have cleared the air. Hogsmeade tomorrow, as a group or separately?" Ron asked his best friend, his girlfriend and his sister.
Hermione and Ginny blanched for a moment and had that silent conversation that only girls can have. Hermione turned to Ron. "How about we meet up at the Three Broomsticks at about 1 p.m.?" The girls wanted to be alone with their men for part of the day. In many ways, it would be their first dates.
Ginny slipped her small hand into Harry's Quidditch calloused hand and spoke. "How does that sound Harry?"
He glanced down for a moment catching her eyes. "I like that idea. We can spend the morning together and have the afternoon as a group." Harry squeezed Gin's hand.
Ron watched the exchange between his sister and his best friend. He had noticed over the summer how Ginny had been able to pull Harry out the shell he crawled into after Sirius's death. People might call him thick or completely daft, but he did know that his sister was good for Harry. Hell, he had even alluded to Harry on the train ride home about Ginny. If she could make him happy, then he accepted their relationship. In his mind, Harry needed someone to keep him from brooding on his life.
"Sounds like a plan. We need to get to potions." He looked from Harry to Hermione.
"Right. What class do you have next Gin?" Harry asked her.
"Herbology."
"Ok, I will walk you to class." He turned to Ron and Hermione. "See you two in the dungeons." He reached over and took Gin's bag again. They turned heading to the greenhouses.
"That was easier than we expected." Ginny mused as they walked together.
Harry looked down at the girl walking beside him. "Yeah. I think Hermione might be able to calm him at times."
They reached greenhouse number four. Harry bent down and kissed her cheek quickly before heading off to potions.
Ginny watched him run down to the dungeons happy about how her life had taken a turn. A smile played on her lips as she turned to enter the greenhouse.
"You're happy." Luna spoke as they prepared for their class.
Ginny couldn't erase the smile from her face. "Yes, I am."
~*~*~*~
Common Room
September 13
Dear Red,
Well, now we don't have to hide from Ron and Hermione. He stopped me after potions to say that he was happy about the turn of events. It seems that your brother is realizing more than he lets on. Ron also said that he could see the change in me from the summer and you are to thank for that. I happen to agree.
I do wonder how someone as wonderful as you could care for someone like me. I missed the one person that always in front of me. Ginny, I want you to know that I am truly sorry for ignoring you.
You are amazing. I watched you climb into the portrait hole just now. You smiled and skipped over to where I am supposed to be working on my Transfiguration homework to give me a peck on the cheek before heading up stairs to change for practice. Just like that, you brighten my day.
I need to go and get ready for practice myself.
Yours Always,
Black
~*~*~*~
Quidditch Changing Rooms
September 13
Dear Black,
I should remind you to never hand me a letter in the air. I was sitting there minding my own business reading away when Sloper decides its aim for the chaser day. Thankfully he only hit my broom tail and someone was able to catch me before I hit the ground. Thank you for doing that. I might need to think of a way to thank you properly later. J
Since it is Friday night, let's skive off our homework. I would love to take a walk and enjoy the last of autumn before it fades. What do you think about that? Let me know.
See you at dinner.
Always Yours,
Red
~*~*~*~
Common Room (before dinner)
September 13
Dear Red,
You don't need to thank me, but I would love to know what you have hiding up your sleeve. I have learned in the past not to mess with a Weasley when they are planning something.
The weather decided that we wouldn't be walking outside. But I have an idea. We can still spend time together tonight. I just hope that no one else has thought of it.
Yours Always,
Black
~*~*~*~
Harry passed her the new letter before dinner. He watched her read it quickly before turning to him with a raised brow. His insides trembled when she gave him a mischievous smile. Harry had no idea what he was in for, but he hoped she liked what he was planning.
After the meal, they walked together toward the seventh floor and the Room of Requirement. She wondered what he was up to as he passed by the tapestry three times thinking about what he needed. The door appeared and Harry took her hand.
Normally when they passed through that door a defense against the dark arts practice room would appear. It seems that Harry had other plans. She looked in wonder as the ceiling was replaced by thousands of stars. The floor became a grassy knoll with a blanket spread on it. They could feel the warm southern breezes washing over them as if they were back in Ottery St. Catchpole.
"Remember that night?" Harry asked the girl beside him. He slid his hand in to hers leading Ginny to the blanket.
A blush that Ginny didn't hide came to grace her cheeks. "Yes, I do."
"I thought that we could recreate setting and spend some time together." They had reached the blanket. Harry sat down and patted the space beside him.
The night in question was when Harry opened up to Ginny for the first time. It started when he discovered her sitting quietly reading on one of the hills behind the Burrow. At the time, Harry had no idea what drew him to her side. Now he did. They ended up sitting and talking until 11 p.m. when Mrs. Weasley had finally called them back in to the house.
Ginny sat down beside him. She leaned against his shoulder.
Harry wrapped his arm around her waist drawing her closer to him. He leaned his head on hers.
The pair sat there quietly enjoying each other's company. They had said many words in letters to each other the past two days. Now was a time to just be together. Harry finally broke the silence.
"Gin, would you mind terribly if I kissed you?" His eyes met hers when she looked up at him.
Instead of answering him, she placed her lips on his. Ginny placed her right hand in his hair drawing his mouth close to her. His tongue touched her lips briefly and she opened to him.
Harry reached up and pulled the tieback out of her hair allowing it to cascade down her back and into his hands. He massaged her tongue with his as he leaned back on the blanket.
Her body followed his to the prone position on the ground. Ginny explored his mouth with her own tongue when she could. Her hands found the collar of his shirt pulling him closer.
He finally broke the kiss when the need for air was becoming a demand. Harry wrapped both of his arms around her body. He kissed the top of her head as they lay side by side.
They spent the evening together chatting and kissing, a night of discovery for both of them. The other things could wait until they were older or ready for that step.
In a moment that would Harry Potter would never forget he spoke the words that had been forming in his mind for the past two days.
"Ginny, I love you."
A/N: Ron did place a hint in OotP. But also He is growing up. I think that if he could see a change in Harry from the previous year and knew that Gin had been a big part of the change, he would be accepting. He just wants his best friend to be happy.
I know the previous chapter was quite sappy, but I thought that they might want one more day of fluff before any pranks crept back up.