Dedicated to Lors.

I know it seems like a Draco/Ginny. But I'm telling you, it is Harry/Ginny! But I tend to lengthen things out, as people who have read my other stories know! It makes it more interesting.

Chapter 5: I'll Be There For You

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So no one told you life was gonna be this way

Your job's a joke, you're broke

Your love life's DOA

It's like your always stuck in second gear

And when it hasn't been your day

Your week, your month

It hasn't been your year but

I'll be there for you

When the rain starts to fall

I'll be there for you

Like I've been there before

I'll be there for you

'Cause you're there for me too

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I'll Be There For You – The Rembrandts

A week after the attack on Hogsmeade Ginny and Hermione went shopping in Diagon Alley. Ron and Harry were in Quality Quidditch supplies, ogling broomsticks.

"You and Harry are getting along well." Hermione commented casually. Ginny blushed and grinned. They were getting on more than well. Very well. Fantastically well, even.

"Yeah." She replied.

"I'm glad. Are you coming to the wedding as a couple?"

"I don't know. We'll have to talk about it. Speaking of the wedding, how are things going?"

"Rather well. Ron ordered the flowers and messed it up completely but I managed to sort it out."

"You're having the time of your life, aren't you?"

"How on earth did you guess?" Hermione laughed. She stopped to peer at the window of Flourish and Blotts. Ginny leant against the window, watching the crowd pass. Harry and Ron emerged from Quality Quidditch Supplies and joined them. But before a conversation could start an owl swooped down and dropped a letter towards Harry. He seized it and tore it open.

"Ron, we've got to go. Deatheater attack in Yorkshire." He said quietly. They apparated away.

Hermione bit her lip, staring at the spot where they had stood seconds before.

"They'll be OK." Ginny assured her.

"I know. I just worry so much. I love them both so much. In VERY different ways, obviously."

"I know. Come on; let's get an ice-cream."

Sitting outside Florean Fortesques, they ate their ice-creams, talking happily. Hermione licked her spoon, then said,

"Are you going to tell us what's going on with Draco Malfoy?"

"Nothing's going on. Why?"

"I don't know. It just seemed so tense between you the other day."

"It was Draco Malfoy. You know, guy we hate. Tension is expected."

Sometimes Hermione was far too clever than Ginny was comfortable with. 

As they headed back to the Headquarters they met Remus going the same way. As they walked, Remus said,

"Tonks is at St. Mungo's. Those wounds are looking bad. We think the knife was cursed." Ginny grimaced.

"Ow…"

"Yes, that's what Tonks said!" Remus said airily. They entered 12 Grimmauld Place and found Molly dusting tables and shelves.

"You're back early." She said, straightening.

"Ron and Harry had to go to work." Hermione said. They went into the kitchen and sat down to drink some tea.

A few hours later Harry and Ron apparated back. Both looked pale.

"Three dead Muggle families. One wizard." Ron mumbled. Hermione put her arms around him.

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah…" Hermione kissed his forehead as she sat him down. Harry was staring at the floor. Ginny touched his hand.

"Harry?"

"It was horrible… they were just dead. It's… horrible."

"Harry, sit down. Have some tea. It's OK…" He sat and she hugged him tightly. Molly poured hot, sweet tea for them. Hermione and Ron were talking quietly. Ginny still held Harry's hand in both of hers. He was trembling. The last time she had seen him like this was when he'd returned from the graveyard, in his fourth year.

After half an hour of mumbling and sweet tea Harry said he wanted to go to bed. Ginny stood too.

"I'm tired too. 'Night everybody."

As they reached Ginny's door Harry stopped and gave a weak smile.

"How do you always make me feel so much better?"

"Just part of my Weasley charm. Are you going to be OK?"

"Yeah. I just need some sleep. Oh, we caught a Deatheater."

"Really? Who was it?"

"Blaise Zabini. Remember him?"

"Yeah…" Ginny said, trying not to look too guilty. Harry rubbed his scar. Ginny touched it gently. It was dark red and she could feel it was hot.

"I have some cooling salve, if you want it. It might take the swelling down a bit."

"Yeah, thanks."

He followed her into the bedroom. She dug in a drawer and took out a small pot.

"Poppy Pomfrey showed me how to make it." She said, massaging it gently into the skin on his forehead.

Harry enjoyed the sensation of her slender fingers on his face. It was calming. She finished putting the salve on and wiped her fingers on a tissue.

"Better?"

"Much." They were sitting on Ginny's bed. She kept her eyes on his, and he did the same.

"Ginny… would you like to go out with me?"

"I thought we already were." She smiled.

"Yeah," He grinned, "But maybe for lunch tomorrow. I have to go to Zabini's trial first, but afterwards maybe?"

"That'd be great. What times the trial?"

"It starts at 9. I don't know how long it'll go on for though. Why don't you come along? It's not very romantic, but we might find out something about why you were attacked. And we could go and see Tonks after."

"Sounds… interesting." Ginny laughed. Harry smiled. He just loved the way her red hair fell into her face. He pushed it back and she stopped laughing, the smile frozen on her face. She tilted her head slightly, as though trying to see right through him. Harry stared back, and then leant forward to kiss her gently on the mouth.

After a few moments, he pulled away.  She stared at him, and then the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile. Relieved, he smiled back.

"That was good." He said. Ginny snorted with laughter.

"I certainly hope so!"

They laughed for a bit longer, then started kissing again. An hour later Harry was lying with his head on her lap, as she sat with her back to the wall, stroking his hair. Ginny gazed down at his green eyes.

"I've always loved your eyes. Such a lovely colour." She told him. He smiled.

"I've always loved your hair. It's nicer than anyone else's in your family. It's… softer."

"Harry, please tell me you have not been wandering around stroking my brothers hair."

"Of course not! But you can tell by looking."

They lapsed into silence again. Harry closed his eyes and Ginny thought he had gone to sleep when he spoke.

"You, Hermione and Ron. You've always been there for me."

"We love you, silly."

"Even when we were fighting Voldemort. All those battles, you never let me down. The war isn't over yet, and you're still here."

"We'll never leave you. Never." Ginny told him, reassuringly. His eyes opened again and gazed up into hers.

"You won't leave me."

"No. I'll never leave you." She said 'I' because suddenly Ron and Hermione weren't part of the conversation. The way he was looking at her pushed them right out.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"There's nothing to thank. You think I'm just going to leave you? Pack my bags and catch the next train out?"

"Hermione and Ron are getting married. They won't need me anymore."

"Don't be an idiot! Of course they will. And even if they didn't, I still need you."

"You will?" His eyes searched her face, as if looking for something to say she was joking.

"I do. I do need you. Harry, you are one of the best things that ever happened to me. I'm not about to let you go. I'll be there for you, like I've been there before. And you, Ron and Hermione will always be the best of friends. You've been through too much to split up now."

"There you go making me feel better again."

"Go to sleep. You need to rest."

And he did. Ginny watched him for a long time, while the moonlight shone on his face, wondering why he would think she was leaving him.

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End of another chappie. H/G fluff by the bucket full! Hope you enjoyed it! We'll see our favourite Slytherin back soon though.

Have faith in me! Any signs of D/G will be cleared up, along with Draco's mysterious change in character. 

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie