Valentine's Day dawned clear and bright against the light dusting of snow that had fallen the night before. The castle was filled with a sense of excitement as students anticipated the coming of the party that night, throwing all homework to the side to focus on the preparations. Most of the student body was cheerful and gay, ticking off the minutes until the party was to begin.

Most of them, anyway.

Ginny wasn't speaking to Ron. Hermione wasn't speaking to Ron. Ron wasn't speaking to Harry, Ginny, or Hermione. Harry seemed preoccupied and brooding for most of the day.

It was just grand, Ginny mused as she dug around in her trunk for her dress robes. Hermione was miserable about being angry at Ron, but she was resolved to not speak with him until he had some sort of apology for both Ginny and Harry. Harry had barely spoken to her at all, keeping himself in his dormitory for most of the day. She reckoned it was just the thought of going to a party without being able to take her; that was what was making her morose as her fingers slid against the cool silk of her robes. Pulling the robes out, she shook the dust from the fabric and held them up to her appraising eye.

Oh, damn.

Forgetting she hadn't worn them for two years, Ginny simply assumed that the robes would still fit. She hadn't accounted for the fact that she had been a few months shy of fourteen then and now she was nearly sixteen. Her figure, which hadn't been fully developed when she had bought the robes, had blossomed over the past few years as usual for a teenage girl.

The robes were too small.

Ginny let out a little wail of despair and flung the robes to the floor in anger, sagging to her bed. Of course. Bloody wonderful. Why would anything go right for her this month when she dealt with turmoil so well? Damn.

What could she do? Cursing herself for her own stupidity, she rubbed her pounding temples and scrounged her head for an idea. She didn't know the spells to Transfigure the fabric to her size; that kind of work was saved until seventh year. Not knowing any seventh-years well enough to ask for their assistance, she felt completely helpless. Was there no saving grace for her?

There was a knock on the door. Ginny looked up, sighing unhappily. "Come in," she said grumpily.

The door opened and Hermione slipped inside, smiling slightly. She already had her robes of navy blue on, Ginny noticed sourly, and her hair was smoothed and straightened. All she lacked was a light brush of make-up. "Hi, Ginny. Why aren't you ready?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

Ginny crossed her arms over her chest, jerking her head towards the crumpled fabric on the floor by her bed. "My robes don't fit, and now I can't go," she muttered.

Hermione made a quiet sound of sympathy as she picked up the robes and held them up. "Oh, Ginny. I'm sorry. They are very nice, too. You would look so lovely in white," she said, furrowing her brow. "Maybe if..."

Ginny looked up at Hermione with unabashed hope. "Do you know the spells to fit it to me?"

The older girl shook her head slowly. "I've read about them, but I've never tried them myself. I don't know anyone who does, either."

Slumping, Ginny frowned unhappily. "Oh."

"Don't you have anything else, Ginny? Or, your roommates..." Hermione trailed off at the despondent look on Ginny's face. "I guess not."

Ginny let out a small moan and flopped onto her back, fists clenched in frustration. "How fair is this? Life is just wonderful, isn't it? Ron isn't talking to Harry; Harry isn't talking to Ron; you and I aren't talking to Ron; The Ministry of Magic is trying to undermine Dumbledore; and my bloody dress robes don't fit!" she shrieked, breath coming fast and hard.

A gentle hand rested on her shoulder. "It's not the end of the world, honestly. Dumbledore knows what he's doing, and there will be more parties to attend. You don't have a date, anyway," Hermione said soothingly.

Another problem Ginny was having trouble with: no date. She desperately wanted to go with Harry, but for some strange reason he hadn't said a word to her about it. They weren't even going as friends, which was entirely possible in her point of view. Why didn't he see it?

Stomach knotting, she shut her eyes. Maybe he just didn't want to go with her. He had hardly spoken to her since last night.

There was a soft knock on the door. "Ginny, I thought I heard you ranting. Is everything all right?"

The voice of Katie Bell came to Ginny's ears, and she sat up on her elbows, opening her eyes as Hermione sat beside her. "You can come in, Katie," she said tiredly.

The older Chaser entered immediately, glowing in robes of forest green that accented her eyes. Her hair was tied back into a sleek ponytail with a simple ribbon, adding a quiet charm to her whole appearance. She looked wonderful, and Ginny was dying of jealousy.

Katie smiled quizzically, eyes traveling to the robes in Hermione's hand. "Why aren't you ready yet, Ginny?" she asked.

Sighing heavily, Hermione held up Ginny's robes. "Too small."

Ginny frowned as Katie's face lit with sympathy. "Oh, dear. Let me see those," she said, reaching out and taking the robes from Hermione's outstretched hand. "They are lovely, Ginny."

"So I've heard," Ginny said petulantly, crossing her arms.

"Well, I could fix them to fit you, if you'd like. My mother is an excellent seamstress; she taught me the basics of everything," Katie said cheerfully, smiling at Ginny.

Hermione's mouth creased into a grin as Ginny looked at her teammate in blatant joy, a complete turnabout from only a minute ago. Why hadn't she thought of Katie? Typical hysterical Weasley reaction; forget the closest solution. "Oh, would you?" she asked, a note of pleading in her voice.

Katie laughed lightly, pulling her wand out of a hidden pocket of her robes. "Slip it on as best as you can and we'll see what I can do for you," she said, handing the robes off to their ecstatic owner.

Shedding her school robes and jeans as quickly as possible, Ginny pulled the tight silk over her undergarments, enlisting the help of an amused Hermione to get the fabric down her form. Sucking in her stomach, Ginny held her breath, struggling not to pop out of the stretching seams as Katie walked around her, eyeing her critically. Her head grew light with lack of oxygen, and she shut her eyes, gritting her teeth. Oh, the pains of beauty. "Katie..." she wheezed.

"Got it!" came the triumphant cry from the seventh-year, and with a quick set of words, Ginny was able to breathe. She inhaled deeply, thanking Katie profusely as she opened her eyes to look in the full-length mirror that belonged to one of her roommates.

Her jaw went slack at the sight of her form.

"That's gorgeous, Katie!" Hermione exclaimed. "Very good use of your talents."

Katie beamed. "Thanks, Hermione. It helps that Ginny is so pretty. The white complements her skin tone, doesn't it?"

Ginny smoothed out the form-fitting robes, looking aghast at her reflection. Katie had done a marvelous job, really. They were just so...so...

"Bit snug, don't you think?" she asked casually, struggling to take a full breath without having her breasts pop out. She actually had no idea her curves were so pronounced.

"You have the figure to pull something like this off, Ginny. It looks wonderful!" Katie proclaimed, smiling widely at the younger girl.

Nodding, Hermione winked slyly. "I'm sure there will be one or two people who will be extremely impressed." She grinned and reached for Ginny's ponytail. "Time for your hair!"

With Katie and Hermione's assistance, Ginny was completely ready in time to go down to the Great Hall. The wedding ring was visible, but Ginny had explained it away quite calmly as an heirloom from her great-grandmother. Her hair fell around her face and shoulders in soft ringlets, and her face was light on the makeup side. Even though she was having a bit of trouble breathing normally in the robes, Ginny was quite happy with her appearance. Her spirits lifting, she joined Katie and Hermione on their way down to the Great Hall.

Her brother George was waiting by the staircase, looking impeccably clean in his dark blue robes. Katie's eyes brightened when she saw him, and Ginny smiled as he held out his hand to Katie when the three girls reached him. "You look lovely, Katie," he said. She blushed happily.

Turning his gaze to the other two, he smiled a hello at Hermione and came to his only sister. Shock flew across his face as he took in her appearance. "Bloody hell! Ginny, you look..." he trailed off, clearly dumbstruck.

With a grin, she squeezed his arm. "Nice to see you clean up so nice, too," she said cheekily. "Let's go. I think I hear the Weird Sisters playing already."

Professor Lupin was standing outside the doors of the Great Hall, conversing with a red-haired Tonks, when they reached the doors. He stopped talking quite quickly, looking a bit red in the face. Tonks, who was blushing suspiciously in Ginny's opinion, let out a squeal of delight when she saw Ginny. "Wotcher, Ginny! Look at you. You're gorgeous," she said as she embraced Ginny quickly.

Lupin smiled and reached out to take Ginny's hand in greeting. His eyes found the ring around her neck, and Ginny felt his hand tense in hers. She met his eyes, trying to read his expression. Slowly, he gave her a slight smile, a knowing look in his eyes. Somehow, Ginny had a good feeling she and Lupin would be having a talk in the coming days.

"Going in, are you? So are we," Tonks chattered as Lupin held the door open for the group as they entered the hall. "I'm not here on assignment, though. I just came for a bit of fun. My first bit of holiday since the summer," she finished, casting an odd look at Lupin.

Ginny's eyes narrowed and she was about to ask Tonks what was going on until Ron's voice calling to George grabbed her attention. She looked in his direction and saw him standing by a table of punch...Near Harry.

Her heart leapt into her throat as she met Harry's eyes. Looking especially handsome in his green robes, he had her insides doing cartwheels in expectation. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. With the way his burning gaze was traveling her form, she was melting into a wildfire of feeling. And he hadn't even touched her yet.

~*~

When Harry entered the Great Hall by himself, he was blown away by the amount of decoration and preparation that he was surrounded by. Little cupid-like faeries fluttered from place to place, following the trail of red and white lights that glittered in mid-air throughout the hall. A stage was set up where the professors' table usually was, decorated in sparkling silver, and there were tables of food and drink set up everywhere. A large space had been set aside for dancing, right below the moonlight shining down from the enchanted ceiling. The professors had really knocked themselves out for the students' benefit.

He was cheered slightly when he saw the decoration, lifting himself from the sullen stupor he had been wallowing in all day. A vision of Voldemort had kept him up most of the night, dampening his mood the whole day through. It was all he had the mind to think about, especially since it concerned Ginny. He had even avoided Ginny a bit, just to make sure she didn't catch onto anything. It was not a good idea to have her find out Voldemort knew that she was the girl who had opened the Chamber, and that he wanted to use her to his advantage.

But Harry even forgot about that when he had been in the Great Hall for a few minutes. He was quietly drinking some pumpkin juice when someone had tapped him on the shoulder. Turning, he almost fell over in shock when he saw Ron surveying him without a sign of hatred in his gaze.

Ron cocked his head to one side. "She jumped in front of you, did she?" he asked.

Harry set his goblet down and faced Ron fully. "I didn't want her to. I was trying to shield her," he replied tonelessly.

Ron seemed to ponder this for a moment before nodding slowly. He hesitated for a brief second, and then held out his hand. "I'm sorry."

Hearing the complete sincerity in his voice, Harry took Ron's hand. It would be a while until they were back to normal, but this was a beginning. "So I am. I didn't mean to for her to get hurt."

"I know." Ron's eyes traveled past him to the entrance of the Great Hall, and a grin crossed his face. He released Harry's hand. "George is here with Katie and Hermione. George!" he called over the buzz that was beginning to escalate as more students poured in.

Harry turned to face the direction of the door, searching for his friends. His eyes fell on a girl clothed in white. Brown eyes clashed with his green gaze. Heart stopping, he watched as the girl inhaled, red curls moving slightly with the breath.

It was Ginny.

Sweet Merlin, was she wearing anything underneath those robes?

Heat pooled in his abdomen as he let his eyes rake her form, taking in all her curves as his head grew light. Was it human for a woman to look that good? Was it legal to wear robes that were that tight?

Merlin, he hoped so.

Muscles tight with wanting, he struggled to get air into his failing lungs. He was completely overwhelmed by the desire racing through his veins, not unlike what he felt back on Christmas, when he had given Ginny the wedding ring.

The ring.

He could see the ring sparkling against her creamy skin, and his heart dropped like a stone. There had to be a reason she was wearing the ring in public. What if someone recognized it as his mother's?

Lupin was looking at him from the corner of his eye, silently asking for information. Harry smiled weakly, shaking his head subtly. How could he explain this to Lupin right now?

Suddenly, she was walking towards him and he didn't give a damn about the ring. Every time she moved, he noticed something new about her body. The robes were tailor-made; he thanked whoever made them silently as the group by the door came over to him and Ron. Hermione smiled at him and nodded towards Ginny before looking into Ron's gaze. George and Katie said a quick hello before walking off to the dance floor. Soon it was just the four of them, watching each other in silence.

Harry had never felt so uncomfortable in his life. Ginny was breathing quickly and shallowly only a few feet away from him, and he could barely contain his need to ravish her right there. Ron and Hermione seemed to be having a silent conversation with their eyes, most likely about him. Hermione raised her eyebrows at her boyfriend. "What's going on?" she asked coolly.

Swallowing, Ron nodded at Harry. "Just talking to Harry for a bit. D'you want to dance with me?" he asked, smiling tentatively. Harry had to grin, seeing Hermione's cold shoulder melt as she realized what Ron had done.

Hermione nodded quickly, a bright smile on her face. Ron smiled slightly at Harry. "Going to go show her how to dance," he joked, elicting a quiet chuckle from Harry, a playful hit on the shoulder from Hermione, and complete chilliness from Ginny. Hermione touched Ginny's shoulder as she passed with Ron, and then it was just him and Ginny.

Alone.

Just seeing the way the soft light seemed to attach to every part of her made his blood boil with need. He had never felt this way about anyone in his whole life; not even the desire he had felt for Ginny at Christmas could hold a candle to what was pulsing through him at this moment. Staring at her, he didn't care who noticed how his eyes lingered.

Her cheeks went a soft red as their gazes met. "Hi, Harry," she said, smiling shyly.

Every fiber of his being wanted to reach out and trace the curve of her neck all the way down to...

He jerked slightly, feeling heat rush to his face. Merlin, please don't let her notice how I'm reacting to her, he prayed as he cleared his throat. "Evening, Ginny. You look..." he trailed off, mouth going dry. What could he say to express himself without sounding completely idiotic?

There was only the truth.

"You look beautiful," he said sincerely, watching her face light up in happiness. His heart lifted as the smile on her lips grew to include her dark eyes.

She took a tentative step closer to him, looking up from beneath her dark eyelashes. Heart pounding erratically, he struggled not to pull her into his arms, just to feel her curves against his form. "I thought you were angry with me or something like that," she said softly.

Confusion flooded through him. Why couldn't he remember anything before the past five minutes? "Why?"

"Because you didn't talk to anyone, including me, all day. Are you all right Harry? You look a bit warm," Ginny said, gazing closer into his face.

It was all he could take. With a quick look around them, Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her into a shadowed alcove, pressing her against the wall with his weight. His mouth descended to the curve of her neck, causing her to gasp. "I'm an idiot. I'm sorry for not talking to you," he said against her skin, voice hoarse with wanting.

Her hands grasped his shoulders as she shuddered underneath his touch. "It's ok, Harry. What in the world has gotten into you?" she asked breathlessly as his lips followed the trail of the chain of her necklace.

He couldn't answer her; all he could do was lift her up in his arms and kiss her, taking the breath from her. Hands roaming against the silken feel of her robes, he didn't remember anything in the world other than the girl wrapped up in his arms. Anything else was beyond comprehension. For someone who wasn't particularly fond of Valentine's Day, he certainly was enjoying it now.

Suddenly, she stiffened under his touch, and her hands pushed him away, almost knocking him over with the force. Regaining his breath, he ran a hand through his hair as he stared at her, completely dumbfounded. What had he done?

All he could see of her face was a sliver of her cheek; her hair provided a curtain for her. "I'm sorry, Harry. I need to go talk to George," she muttered, voice breaking. Before he could say a word, she was gone in a swirl of white and red, walking quickly to her brother's side.

Harry shut his eyes tightly, smacking himself mentally. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he mad? He had practically forced himself upon her only a minute ago. No wonder she had run away from him.

But she had been just as forward as he... Maybe it was something else. Harry groaned inwardly. Something else to agonize over. Bloody wonderful.

"What are you doing back here, Harry?"

Harry's eyes opened with a jolt at the sound of Lupin's curious voice, and he turned to see the professor standing by him, and odd look in his eyes. Sighing, Harry shrugged helplessly. "Haven't got a clue. Wondering why girls don't come with an instruction booklet," he said, voice laced with sarcasm.

A ghost of a smile flitted across Lupin's face, and he came closer to Harry. "All men wonder that at some point in their lives, so don't feel alone. What have you done now?"

"I don't know," Harry replied simply, feeling quite miserable at the thought of Ginny ignoring him again.

"Ah." The two men stood in silence for a moment before Lupin spoke again. "I saw Ginny has your mother's ring."

Harry glanced at Lupin, gauging his face. "I gave it to her for Christmas. Dumbledore said he found it."

"What does it mean, Harry?" Lupin asked, gazing at his pupil carefully.

"I...I'm not sure, actually," Harry confessed hesitantly. "I wanted her to have it because...well..."

Lupin halted him with a quick hand gesture. "I think I understand Harry. As long as you're not engaged, I think it's a good gift."

Engaged? Harry's stomach knotted painfully. Merlin, he was barely an adult! How could he be thinking of marriage? Was that how Ginny saw the ring? For his sake, he hoped not. He could barely grasp the meaning of love, let alone a love string enough for a commitment like marriage. In fact, he still didn't understand love at all.

Still, he mused as he watched Ginny talk with her brother from afar, that didn't mean he didn't catch wisps of it from time to time.

Merlin, what was he going to do now?

~*~

Ginny was frightfully on edge as time plodded away, the party seeming as if it would go on until her next lifetime. She avoided Harry's general area, which was more difficult than she thought it would be, considering he was practically looking underneath the tables trying to find her. Normally, she wouldn't mind being found. But not after what she had seen.

It had come on quite abruptly; one minute she had been kissing Harry and melting in his arms as he did the wildest things to her, and the next minute she was watching him being tortured by Wormtail, Voldemort looking on and speaking to her as if she was right there: You fulfilled your purpose, Virginia. Tom is proud...

Tom.

She took a shuddering breath, hugging herself as she stood by a pillar, watching her happy classmates dance and drink. Did Voldemort know she was the girl who had opened the Chamber? Did he remember her as the girl who adored had him?

Feeling nauseous, she shut her eyes. The nightmares had stopped after the winter holiday was over, but she feared discovery of her secret; Tom, who was always inside her, could use her against Harry. It was the thing she dreaded the most. One morning, she would wake up, and not remember what she had done the night before.

"Is Potter bored with his whore already, Weasley? Or are you looking for new customers?"

Ginny whirled around to find Draco Malfoy watching her, an insolent smirk on his face. He stepped closer to her, eyes raking down her form. "You might have promise if you talk to the right people. Want a fellow madam to owl? She'll teach you all the right tricks, and you can finally make some money for you family," he drawled.

"Sod off, you bastard. Go see if Daddy hasn't gone insane in Azkaban yet. Send him our regards, will you?" she hissed, chin lifting defiantly.

The smirk was wiped off his face, and he reached out to grab her arm, holding her tight enough to leave a bruise. "Don't think I don't know why you hide, Weasley. Afraid Tom is going to pop into the Great Hall?"

She gazed at him in horror, struggling to pull away from him. He sneered down at her, releasing her and wiping his hand on his robes. "You thought it was a secret, didn't you? Don't you know why people look at you? They want to see the Mudblood-killer," he said, smiling maliciously. "Tom misses you. Don't think he won't find you again," he added as he walked away, black robes trailing behind him.

Breathing shallowly, Ginny struggled not to cry as the memories of her first year swirled around her, drowning her...

Not Harry...Please not Harry...

'He doesn't like you, Virginia. Don't you want him to suffer for not seeing you?'

Not like this. Please, Tom. Don't hurt him!

'Shut up, you stupid girl! I am the one who loves you! Not him!'

Not Harry...

"There ye be, Miss Weasley! Haven't seen ye in a good six months!"

In shock, Ginny looked up to see Hagrid looming over her, a beaming smile on his large face. She ducked her head, feeling red with shame. Hagrid, who had gone to Azkaban because of her...because of Tom...

"Are ye all right, Ginny?" Hagrid asked, placing a warm hand on her shoulder.

She jumped at his touch, nodding vigorously. "Yes, Hagrid. Did you just get back?" she asked quickly.

The half-giant gave her a toothy grin. "Yes, I did. Bin a long trek, it has. But it's good ter be home," he said cheerfully.

Ginny smiled weakly, looking behind Hagrid to see Harry standing a few feet away, an unreadable look in his eyes. She glanced back up at Hagrid. "I've got to go, Hagrid. Are you staying for long?"

"Be here for a bit, I'd say. Come on down to the hut for a cuppa, eh?" he asked jovially.

She nodded and said a quick farewell before practically sprinting across the Great Hall to the doors. After leaving the party behind, she raced down corridors and stairs, searching for somewhere to cry in peace. Glancing around quickly, she ducked into Professor Lupin's classroom and closed the door behind her. There she let her tears fall as she sank to her knees, letting the memories overrun her.

~*~

Harry was perplexed by Ginny's behavior at the party, but within a day or two she was back to her normal self, smiling and cheerful. She never mentioned the night of the party, so he didn't either.

Ron had completely changed his behavior towards Harry, reverting back to being his best friend. Harry was relieved to have his friend back, knowing that whatever had happened could now be forgiven. Besides, he didn't have the heart to stay mad at Ron when he was sincere in his apology.

February drifted into March, and while Harry's academic and friend problems seemed to be solved, another more perplexing matter came into his view: Ginny's birthday was at the end of the month.

What could he get her that she would appreciate? It was a question he could hardly ask Ron or Hermione; much too obvious. He had a strange feeling that Lupin might not be much of a help, being that he didn't seem to have too much experience with women. It just didn't seem in the older man's character. Although, there were some interesting rumors going around about him and Nymphadora Tonks...

This was Harry's train of thought during a Qudditch practice in mid-March during a chilling rain. Shaking the water from his hair, he swung around the pitch, searching for the Snitch as Ron yelled out his commands over the wind. No spot of sunlight peeked through the dark sky, giving the day a very gloomy atmosphere. It matched Harry's mood very well.

"Ron! We've been out here for an hour! We're all going to get sick if you don't let us go inside," Katie Bell shouted as she attempted to shoot the Quaffle. She was soaked to the bone and shivering madly.

Ron performed a Starfish-and-Stick to save the shot, and glared at his mulish Chaser. "Come on, Bell! You can handle a bit more!"

Katie crossed her arms stubbornly. "Maybe I can, but Ginny can't," she said, jerking her head towards the red-head in question.

Harry stopped his search for the Snitch and took a closer look at Ginny as she pulled her broom up to Katie. Yes, she did look a bit ill. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, the wan look to her skin. It looked as if she hadn't got a good night's of rest in a few weeks. Worry overran his caution, and he flew over to her.

Ron looked over his sister carefully. "All right," he said with a sigh. "You're right."

Ginny gaped indignantly. "What? Don't be ridiculous, Ron. I'm fine," she protested, raindrops sliding down her face.

"Bollocks. You look like hell, Gin. Practice is over! Go on in," Ron called to the others, flying towards the ground swiftly.

Harry hung back, moving next to Ginny as she descended. "Ginny, what's wrong?" he asked quietly.

She shot him a glance. "I'm fine. I'm just having some trouble sleeping, that's all. Too much studying for O.W.L.s," she said shortly, sliding off her broom and striding towards the entrance to Hogwarts before he could say another word. He landed and watched her walk away from him for a moment, puzzled no longer.

Trouble sleeping?

Nightmares.

Spurred on by concern, Harry ran after her, catching her just as she entered. "Are you having nightmares?" he asked quietly, pulling her into a darkened stairwell.

Ginny twisted away from him, looking darkly at him. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

"What do you mean? Of course it's my business!" Why was she being so unreasonable?

Incredulity showed on her face and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh really? Then tell me, Harry: Where do you disappear to every Tuesday night?" she inquired hotly, eyes blazing.

Faltering, Harry gazed at her silently as she waited for his answer. Why didn't he think she wouldn't have caught on to his constant disappearance? Judging on her appearance, she wasn't going to take any more lies from him. Opening his mouth, he just let the words fly. "I'm getting Occlumancy lessons from Dumbledore to keep Voldemort from seeing into my mind, all right?" he replied stiffly.

All emotion fled from her face except for alarm. "What?"

He sighed impatiently. "Exactly what I said. How do you think I saw your dad's attack from last year? Voldemort has a connection to my mind, and I'm learning Occlumancy so I can block him."

Horror flitted into her eyes. "Oh no," she whispered. "I'm sorry." Her face grew as pale as a ghost, and she looked unsteady on her feet.

Reaching out, Harry steadied her with a hand on her waist. "Sorry for what? It's not a bad thing," he said gently, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

Before he could touch her with his lips she was out of his reach, shaking like a leaf. "I'm sorry. I need to go, Harry," she said weakly, turning and running down the hall. Harry watched her disappear with complete shock. What the hell...?

"Potter!"

Harry grimaced at the sneering tone and turned to see Snape watching him, lip curling in distaste. "The Headmaster would like to see you in his office," Snape continued, taking in Harry's soaked form with an appalled gaze.

Harry nodded curtly and walked off, hearing Snape's footsteps behind him. Hate boiled in his veins, but he said nothing as they walked towards Dumbledore's office. When they reached the gargoyle, Harry gave the password and raced up the steps, walking into the office without preamble. He stopped in the doorway at the sight that met him.

Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Mr. Weasley, Professor McGonagall and Lupin all stood in the office by Dumbledore's seat, waiting silently for Harry's arrival. Harry moved in to let Snape by and went straight to his usual seat. "Evening, Professor," he said, addressing Dumbledore. "What's going on?"

Moody gave him a cool once-over before nodding at Dumbledore. The headmaster sighed. "The Dementors went back to Azkaban, Harry. But not to rejoin us."

In his mind, Harry could already sense what was coming. He had seen it in Draco Malfoy's cocky demeanor for the past few weeks, the murmurs from the Slytherin House. He was prepared for the news.

"Harry," Mr. Weasley spoke up. "The Dementors raided Azkaban in You-Know- Who's orders. There was a jailbreak." He sounded very tired. Harry could only imagine what Mrs. Weasley must be going through.

"How many dead?" Harry asked calmly.

Moody closed his eyes for a moment as Tonks let out a shuddering breath. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Lupin put a gentle arm on her shoulder. "Nine Aurors, no prisoners. Kingsley Shacklebolt was killed by Lucius Malfoy," Moody said gruffly.

"So now Voldemort is at his full strength," Snape said from behind Harry.

Mr. Weasley nodded. "So it would seem."

"Information has already indicated of plans for attacks on Muggle-borns," Tonks said.

Harry gazed at Dumbledore. "What about the Ministry?"

Dumbledore met his eyes and let out a slow sigh, looking ancient as he answered. "Fudge has been completely undermined by bribes and lies fed to him by supporters of the Malfoys. We must get him out of office so we can use the Ministry to help defeat Voldemort. I will be going to the Wizengamot in a few days to make the final arrangements," he said.

Harry looked around the room, determination filling his blood. "What can I do?"

Silence filled the room as the adults gazed from one person to another, all contemplating his words. Harry waited impatiently for someone to answer him, resolution soaring through him. He would do something! Or else he would go mad...

"Harry, have you had any dreams of Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked gently.

Shaking his head, Harry looked at the headmaster. "None, sir. Either he's given up on my mind or the Occlumancy is working."

Lupin went over and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You'll be starting training in fighting techniques with me next Monday, so you're ready," he said softly.

"Keep alert, Potter, especially around schoolmates," Moody added.

"Until we find more concrete plans, Harry, no one can do anything. We must all be patient," Dumbledore finished, giving Harry a kindly, if weary, smile.

Harry nodded, feeling completely involved as the others began to talk around him. Finally he was a part of something. Finally he was useful.

~*~

'Virginia, open up...'

"No. Don't touch me..."

'I can feel you, Virginia. Surely you can feel me inside of you. You want me to come out. Let me into your mind.'

He was clawing at the walls of her mind, struggling to glean anything from her. She fought to keep him down, fought to make him leave her be. It didn't work. It never had.

'So...Occlumancy, Virginia? Harry is a clever boy, isn't he? But not clever enough to keep it a secret from you. Doesn't he know I'm still here?'

This was agony; Flesh-burning, heart-tearing agony that would never let her be. She couldn't stop him; he was seeping into her mind once more, this time in a much more dangerous incarnation.

'I'm always here, Virginia. I can see everything you see. Feel everything you feel. Hear anything you hear.

'I know everything...'

Screams ripped from her throat as she shot up in bed, sweat dripping from her brow. Her curious and frightful roommates were staring at her from the sides of her bed with petrified expressions. She stared at them all in turn, hearing the commotion rising in the different dormitories in Gryffindor Tower. Her skin was on fire; she felt like she was burning in the fires of hell. All of her mind boiled down to two conflicting, warring words:

Harry. Tom.

Bolting from her room, she didn't bother to pull on her dressing-gown as she ran down to the common room and out the portrait hole, not hearing Hermione's frantic calls to her as she left. Her feet took a path all their own, and she only followed, tears running down her face and soaking her skin. She skidded to a halt at a familiar stone gargoyle, and she inhaled sharply, shaking with unshed tears.

What was the bloody password?

Dropping to her knees, she smacked her fists against the immovable statue. "Please! Please let me in! I can't do this alone! I want this to stop," she sobbed, resting her forehead against the cold stone.

Sobbing in silence for a moment, she suddenly felt a cool hand on her shoulder. She looked up through bloodshot, teary eyes and saw Professor Snape muttering the password to the gargoyle. Ginny leapt to her feet as it moved to one side, and she glanced at Snape, shame filling her. "Thank you, sir," she whispered thickly.

"Go on in, Miss Weasley. Your followers shall be here soon, and I'm sure you'd rather speak to the headmaster in private," Snape said stoically, turning and walking away.

Without a second glance she rushed up the stairs, hearing the gargoyle slide back into position with relief. The door wasn't open, but she was so distressed that knocking didn't occur to her. Bursting into the office, she was met with the startled gazes of Lupin, Dumbledore, and McGonagall. Tears still falling from her eyes, she went to the seated Dumbledore.

"He can read me, sir! Tom can still read me!"

~*~

A/N: Please read and review. Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. Many thanks to Anne.