Daphne: Some of you may be confused on why 'The Phoenix's Prophecy' is
spelled, 'Prophesy' in some chapters. The reason is, they both mean the
same thing, although they are spelled different and sometimes have
different connotations. I know this is a little hard for some people to
understand, but I couldn't choose which spelling to use, so I just used
both! Please don't hate me!
Anyway, now that's settled, it's back to the story!
~*~*~*~
The Phoenix's Prophecy
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 18.
~*~*~*~
AND GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH! GRYFFINDOR BEATS BEUXBOUTONS 70-280!"
Harry triumphantly held up the snitch, as his team crowded around him, cheering deafeningly. This was their final match before the 'Big Game', as everyone called it. The 'Big Game' was where the two champion teams would play each other, to see who the ultimate team would be.
Coincidentally, it was the Gryffindor's and the Salem Academy Silver-Wolves who would be playing each other in the finals. This being said, Harry felt a strange nervousness to be playing against his sister's school.
"We did it, Harry! Party in Gryffindor tower, tonight!" Ron shouted, as he was lifted past on some of their house-mates shoulders. Harry smiled weakly after his friend, and the quickly hurried into the shower room to get dressed.
Though it had been several weeks ago, Harry had not built up the courage to tell Ginny how he felt. He had been uncomfortably aware of her presence every single time she was near, and she had seemed even quieter than usual. All of his friends were telling him to hurry it up, but none seemed to understand just how tough this was to him, save for Rose. By telling Ginny his feelings, he was laying the grounds for making her an even sweeter target for Voldemort. It also left him open to heartbreak if she was to refuse him.
Harry sighed as he slowly walked back up to Gryffindor tower, his thoughts muddling his awareness of things around him. That's probably why he didn't see Gregory Goyle turning the corner, causing him to bump against the other boy and stumble backwards.
"Watch it, Potter! You're even more absentminded than usual." The bigger boy grumbled, raising an eyebrow. Harry shook himself and sighed.
"Sorry, Goyle. My mind's somewhere else."
"Weasley?"
Harry didn't even have to ask which one he meant. He simply nodded.
"Tell her when the right time comes."
This sentence, and this sentence alone, caused Harry to nearly swallow his tongue and stare up at his supposed-to-be rival in shock. Not one of his friends had said that. They had told him to tell her 'now', or 'soon'. Never, 'when the right time comes'. Goyle's eyes were strangely understanding.
"Why do you say that?" Harry finally managed.
"Because, Potter. You have to tell her when the time is right for both of you. Not when other people think you should. Not when you think it should be the right time. You will tell her when it *is* the right time, and only then. That is the only way you're going to get her, trust me."
Now this, coming from a Slytherin, normally would have made Harry burst out laughing. But not now. For some reason, what Goyle was saying seemed a lot more logical than the normal, 'go for its'.
"Oh, and Harry?" Goyle's voice was laced with something that Harry almost could have called 'humor'.
"Next time you want to day-dream, make sure you do it in the privacy of your own rooms. It's really disturbing, seeing the 'great Harry Potter' walking down the hall, looking like a love-struck idiot.
With a very un-Slytherin like laugh, Gregory Goyle walked away, leaving Harry groaning at this sudden revelation.
~*~*~*~
"Par-TAY!!!!" Jackson shouted as he waltzed across the room with a bottle of butterbeer in his hand. A full-out party was raging in the Gryffindor common-room, and had been since the end of the game. Harry shook his head in amusement and then turned to watch Ron in the act of attempting to stuff a cookie into Hermione's mouth. For once, she was being a good sport about it and giggling at his failed attempts to get it into her closed mouth. In a corner just beyond them, Matthew Lions surrounded by a group of his friends (Victoria among them), reenacting a move that he had done during the game.
Looking away from them, he saw Neville leading Rose through the wall to the other rooms. Just before they disappeared, he noted that Neville's face was drawn but purposeful, and Rose was looking at the floor, tears falling slowly down her face. Harry wasn't sure what was about to take place, but he got the feeling that it would be a healing time for both of the participants.
As his gaze trailed over the rest of the room, Harry noticed something strange. Ginny was not among any of the overly happy, butterbeer-drunk students in the room. In fact, now that he thought about it, he hadn't even seen her since he had caught that one glimpse of her cheering after he had caught the snitch and ended the game.
"If you're looking for Ginny, she disappeared right after the game. I didn't see where she went." Raya murmured, moving up behind him. Harry turned and smiled at her before dashing up to his room. When there, he went straight to his trunk and pulled out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." He muttered, poking the map with his wand to try to hurry the process. He found Ginny's dot-self in a room that was undoubtedly the Room of Requirement, and quickly erased the map before putting it back where it had been.
"I'll be back soon." He called to Ron, who turned his eyes away from Hermione just enough to nod.
Just like in daja-vu, Harry remembered the last time he had been in this sort of situation, with the very same girl. It had been at the start of the year, and Harry realized now that that had been the beginning of everything. Something had been formed there, that had changed the course of this year, and had led him to this very moment.
When he got to the Room of Requirement, he stopped to take a few deep, calming breaths, before cautiously opening the door and peering into the room. It was dim, but he could see that the room was the same as before, though the fire had almost burnt itself out. The red hair was still visible, however, and Harry found himself silently moving toward her.
"Harry?"
Her voice was soft and calm, though he detected a hint of nervousness behind it. Somehow she had known he was there, even before he had said anything. Ginny sat up and turned her shadowed face towards him.
"We have to talk."
"I know." Harry murmured, not moving from his place just inside the door. She turned her face away and motioned him to sit on the other side of the couch. Harry did as she suggested and then turned to face her. Goyle's words suddenly raced through his head, and he knew that this was the 'time' that Goyle had meant. This was the time.
"I don't know where to start." She whispered, her voice still sounding calm.
"Start at the beginning."
"You ignored me." At her words, Harry winced.
"Ever since my first year, you've only come in contact with me either when Ron was around, or when I was in danger. You never seemed to care." Her eyes flickered to his face, and then back to the fire.
"Until this year. This year was different. You paid attention to me. You were concerned about me, and I believe that you even considered me a friend. You took care of me, shared your secrets and let me tell you mine. You laughed with me, cried with me, and helped me to make even more friends with the 'family'. But something's still wrong. You're hiding things still, and you're hiding things for other people, too." Her voice had become slightly clipped here.
"Harry...I need to know. I feel like we're at a standstill, and not going anywhere. It's like time has stopped in this room, and won't start again until I know what's going on in your head. I know it's strange, but..."
"No Ginny. I think I understand." Harry interrupted, his eyes on the fire now, as well.
"I have been hiding things from you...and Ron and Hermione too. Not because I want to, but because if I don't...someone else could die. Someone very close to me, who I don't care to loose. I'm done with loosing people I love." He whispered fiercely. Ginny nodded, and he continued.
"And when it comes to my caring about you...Ginny, I always have. At first I thought that it was because you were Ron's little sister, I'll admit it. Your parents considered me one of the family, and as such, I felt like I had an obligation to protect you. But...it's different now. You've grown up, and I realize that it's not protecting that you need or want." He paused here, and thought that he heard her catch her breath. She turned wide brown eyes toward him, which he met levelly.
"No, it's not." She whispered evenly.
"The only problem is, I don't quite know the extent of what you need or want."
"No, Harry. I am sure you are quite aware of both of those." Her voice wavered a bit at the end, and Harry felt his heart pound faster. Gradually, he turned to face her, and realized for the first time, just how close they were to each other. She was looking at him now, her face shadowed in the dim room, and her amber eyes glinting with tears. It was then that Harry felt all his doubt leave him, and a glorious calm fall over his body. He knew exactly what she wanted...what she needed. And by Merlin, he was going to do his best to give it to her.
"I love you, Ginny." He whispered, as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Harry's mind exploded into a world of color as she responded eagerly, her arms moving around his neck. Never before had Harry felt such comfort...such warmth and love and need, all at once. His arms slipped around her slim waist and he pulled her closer, feeling everything crest over him like a wave.
When they finally pulled back, Ginny caught her breath in a little sob and buried her face in his chest. Harry held her close, bending down to bury his nose in her fiery hair.
"I love you, Harry. I tried not to, really, I did. But I..." She trailed off as Harry's mouth descended on her's again.
"I know you did. And I was a fool not to see it before now. I could have lost you." He murmured, brushing his lips across her cheek. Ginny whimpered and snuggled closer.
"Don't ever let me go, Harry. Please?" She pleaded against his neck. He smiled slightly and shook his head.
"I don't intend to. I love you, Ginny, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He stated, leaning back against the arm of the couch, taking her with him. He now lay on his back, with Ginny resting across his chest.
"Can we just...stay here tonight? I don't want to leave." She whispered, her eyes searching for his in the dark room. Harry made a sound of assent and pulled her even closer, closing his eyes as he reveled in the feeling of her being so near.
And for just a little while, there were no problems in the world, for him. There was only him and Ginny.
~*~*~*~
The next morning, Harry awoke to find a flame of red hair falling across his shoulder. After a moment of slight panic, he remembered the night before and tightened his arms around the waist of the girl he loved.
Ginny's slightly flowery scent filled his nose, and he smiled as he gazed down at the angel sleeping on his chest. But like all good moments, it had to end. Ginny stirred, her eyes opening and blinking sleepily.
"Morning, Gorgeous." He whispered, watching as a slight blush rose to her cheeks. She gazed up at him for a moment, then, to his surprise, she began to giggle softly. He must have looked bewildered, because she only laughed harder when she looked at him again.
"What?"
"You look so cute when you just wake up." She giggled, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair off his forehead. Harry raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"Really?" He asked roguishly, tickling her side gently. This caused her to shriek and fall off the couch with a thump. Harry laughed when she sat up and glared at him.
"Hmph. Some boyfriend you're turning out to be." At her words, Harry froze. When she had said, 'boyfriend', a rush of pride had jolted through his body. It had only just hit him that he was now dating the beautiful Virginia Weasley, and she was all his!
"What?" She asked, frowning at his silence. Her eyes widened and her gasp was stopped as his lips descended on hers. His arms pulled her into a crushing embrace as he kissed her mouth, and Ginny fell limp with delight of it. When Harry finally released her, all Ginny could do was stare up at him in shock and wonder.
"Wh...what was that all about?" She finally gasped out, feeling a bit shy under his passionate gaze. Harry grinned happily.
"You're mine. My girlfriend. All mine." He said simply. Ginny flushed at his words, but smiled.
"Yes, that's right! Now, can the little boy tell me why I'm all his?" She asked, as if talking to a baby. Harry growled and pulled her closer.
"Because I love you, and I'm not letting you go." He murmured, burying his nose against her neck and breathing in her scent deeply. Ginny's hands came up and ran gently through his hair.
"I don't want you to. I wish we could stay like this forever." Her voice was soft, and it was obvious she wasn't playing anymore. Harry sighed.
"And reality hits. Our friends are going to be looking for us, you know. And Ron's going to think we..." He trailed off, knowing that Ginny was aware of what her brother would think. She winced and cuddled closer.
"We have classes today." She groaned, closing her eyes in disgust. Harry smiled and moved away slightly.
"As much as I hate to say it, we've got to go. I may wish I could run away from reality, but the truth is, I can't." He admitted, causing her to smile with him.
"Come. I'll walk you to the Great Hall." He whispered, offering her his arm. She took it and allowed him to lead her away from the place where they had discovered the most precious thing in the world.
Each other.
~*~*~*~
"Where were you last night?" Ron asked in a dangerous voice, as he circled his sister. Ginny and Harry had avoided talking about where they had been thus far, but as soon as all of them had returned to the common room after dinner that night, Ron had approached them and they knew that there was no more escaping it. So Ginny told the truth.
"With Harry." She stated, turning her honest brown eyes to his face. Ron turned red and wheeled around to where his best friend was sitting silently next to Neville. Harry met his gaze evenly.
"And what, in Merlin's name, were you doing for the *entire* night?" He shouted, causing everyone to go silent and stare at him. Shane and Jackson paused in the middle of their wizard's chess game, Raya looked up from her book, Rose and Shirah stopped talking, and Neville winced. Hermione, who had been watching the scene closely, jumped up and put a hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Well, we talked for a bit, then fell asleep." Harry said vaguely. Ron's fists clenched.
"You slept with my sister?!" His voice shook with rage. Ginny snorted in annoyance.
"Ronald Weasley, Harry is not that kind of boy, and I am not that type of girl. Nothing happened, I promise." She sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Actually, something did..." Harry trailed off as Ron growled at him, then he continued.
"I told Ginny that I loved her."
This sentence caused many mixed reactions from their friends.
Ron gaped.
Hermione squealed and hugged Ginny.
Jackson and Shane laughed as if this was the funniest thing they had heard in a while.
Raya smiled and nodded.
Rose giggled in delight and went to hug Ginny as well.
Neville sighed with relief.
And Shirah mumbled something like, "About time!".
For quite some time, there was chaos in the room that could not be quieted. The girl's demanded the details from Ginny, and the boy's demanded the details from Harry. Even Ron was beside himself with curiosity. But the two in question simply shook their heads and smiled at each other, silently agreeing to keep their private moment, private.
"Are you mad at me, Ron?" Harry asked later, when the others had gone to sleep. The two of them lay in their beds, gazing up at the hangings above them.
"No. I'm just annoyed that you didn't tell me right away. Merlin, Harry! I was afraid you and Ginny had..." He trailed off, blushing. Harry groaned and blushed as well.
"Ron, as much as I love your sister, neither of us are ready for that. She's only fifteen, and I'm only sixteen. But I warn you, that when we're older..." He grinned as Ron made a gagging sound.
"Oh, please, Harry! Don't even put that image into my mind! She's my baby sister!"
"She's no baby, Ron. And she's a lot more mature than most girls her age."
"Yeah! Most girls her age aren't violently in love with their older brother's best friend." Ron snapped kindly, causing Harry to chuckle.
"Most girls her age aren't in love at all. We've got one strange group of friends, Ron. You've got to admit that. All of us are already head-over- heals in love with someone, and none of us are above the age of seventeen, yet! That's not too common."
"No, it's not. But this is Hogwarts, Harry. Nothing is normal at Hogwarts." Ron reminded him. Harry smirked.
"Don't I know it?"
With this, the two of them settled down into a comfortable sleep.
~*~*~*~
Anyway, now that's settled, it's back to the story!
~*~*~*~
The Phoenix's Prophecy
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 18.
~*~*~*~
AND GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH! GRYFFINDOR BEATS BEUXBOUTONS 70-280!"
Harry triumphantly held up the snitch, as his team crowded around him, cheering deafeningly. This was their final match before the 'Big Game', as everyone called it. The 'Big Game' was where the two champion teams would play each other, to see who the ultimate team would be.
Coincidentally, it was the Gryffindor's and the Salem Academy Silver-Wolves who would be playing each other in the finals. This being said, Harry felt a strange nervousness to be playing against his sister's school.
"We did it, Harry! Party in Gryffindor tower, tonight!" Ron shouted, as he was lifted past on some of their house-mates shoulders. Harry smiled weakly after his friend, and the quickly hurried into the shower room to get dressed.
Though it had been several weeks ago, Harry had not built up the courage to tell Ginny how he felt. He had been uncomfortably aware of her presence every single time she was near, and she had seemed even quieter than usual. All of his friends were telling him to hurry it up, but none seemed to understand just how tough this was to him, save for Rose. By telling Ginny his feelings, he was laying the grounds for making her an even sweeter target for Voldemort. It also left him open to heartbreak if she was to refuse him.
Harry sighed as he slowly walked back up to Gryffindor tower, his thoughts muddling his awareness of things around him. That's probably why he didn't see Gregory Goyle turning the corner, causing him to bump against the other boy and stumble backwards.
"Watch it, Potter! You're even more absentminded than usual." The bigger boy grumbled, raising an eyebrow. Harry shook himself and sighed.
"Sorry, Goyle. My mind's somewhere else."
"Weasley?"
Harry didn't even have to ask which one he meant. He simply nodded.
"Tell her when the right time comes."
This sentence, and this sentence alone, caused Harry to nearly swallow his tongue and stare up at his supposed-to-be rival in shock. Not one of his friends had said that. They had told him to tell her 'now', or 'soon'. Never, 'when the right time comes'. Goyle's eyes were strangely understanding.
"Why do you say that?" Harry finally managed.
"Because, Potter. You have to tell her when the time is right for both of you. Not when other people think you should. Not when you think it should be the right time. You will tell her when it *is* the right time, and only then. That is the only way you're going to get her, trust me."
Now this, coming from a Slytherin, normally would have made Harry burst out laughing. But not now. For some reason, what Goyle was saying seemed a lot more logical than the normal, 'go for its'.
"Oh, and Harry?" Goyle's voice was laced with something that Harry almost could have called 'humor'.
"Next time you want to day-dream, make sure you do it in the privacy of your own rooms. It's really disturbing, seeing the 'great Harry Potter' walking down the hall, looking like a love-struck idiot.
With a very un-Slytherin like laugh, Gregory Goyle walked away, leaving Harry groaning at this sudden revelation.
~*~*~*~
"Par-TAY!!!!" Jackson shouted as he waltzed across the room with a bottle of butterbeer in his hand. A full-out party was raging in the Gryffindor common-room, and had been since the end of the game. Harry shook his head in amusement and then turned to watch Ron in the act of attempting to stuff a cookie into Hermione's mouth. For once, she was being a good sport about it and giggling at his failed attempts to get it into her closed mouth. In a corner just beyond them, Matthew Lions surrounded by a group of his friends (Victoria among them), reenacting a move that he had done during the game.
Looking away from them, he saw Neville leading Rose through the wall to the other rooms. Just before they disappeared, he noted that Neville's face was drawn but purposeful, and Rose was looking at the floor, tears falling slowly down her face. Harry wasn't sure what was about to take place, but he got the feeling that it would be a healing time for both of the participants.
As his gaze trailed over the rest of the room, Harry noticed something strange. Ginny was not among any of the overly happy, butterbeer-drunk students in the room. In fact, now that he thought about it, he hadn't even seen her since he had caught that one glimpse of her cheering after he had caught the snitch and ended the game.
"If you're looking for Ginny, she disappeared right after the game. I didn't see where she went." Raya murmured, moving up behind him. Harry turned and smiled at her before dashing up to his room. When there, he went straight to his trunk and pulled out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." He muttered, poking the map with his wand to try to hurry the process. He found Ginny's dot-self in a room that was undoubtedly the Room of Requirement, and quickly erased the map before putting it back where it had been.
"I'll be back soon." He called to Ron, who turned his eyes away from Hermione just enough to nod.
Just like in daja-vu, Harry remembered the last time he had been in this sort of situation, with the very same girl. It had been at the start of the year, and Harry realized now that that had been the beginning of everything. Something had been formed there, that had changed the course of this year, and had led him to this very moment.
When he got to the Room of Requirement, he stopped to take a few deep, calming breaths, before cautiously opening the door and peering into the room. It was dim, but he could see that the room was the same as before, though the fire had almost burnt itself out. The red hair was still visible, however, and Harry found himself silently moving toward her.
"Harry?"
Her voice was soft and calm, though he detected a hint of nervousness behind it. Somehow she had known he was there, even before he had said anything. Ginny sat up and turned her shadowed face towards him.
"We have to talk."
"I know." Harry murmured, not moving from his place just inside the door. She turned her face away and motioned him to sit on the other side of the couch. Harry did as she suggested and then turned to face her. Goyle's words suddenly raced through his head, and he knew that this was the 'time' that Goyle had meant. This was the time.
"I don't know where to start." She whispered, her voice still sounding calm.
"Start at the beginning."
"You ignored me." At her words, Harry winced.
"Ever since my first year, you've only come in contact with me either when Ron was around, or when I was in danger. You never seemed to care." Her eyes flickered to his face, and then back to the fire.
"Until this year. This year was different. You paid attention to me. You were concerned about me, and I believe that you even considered me a friend. You took care of me, shared your secrets and let me tell you mine. You laughed with me, cried with me, and helped me to make even more friends with the 'family'. But something's still wrong. You're hiding things still, and you're hiding things for other people, too." Her voice had become slightly clipped here.
"Harry...I need to know. I feel like we're at a standstill, and not going anywhere. It's like time has stopped in this room, and won't start again until I know what's going on in your head. I know it's strange, but..."
"No Ginny. I think I understand." Harry interrupted, his eyes on the fire now, as well.
"I have been hiding things from you...and Ron and Hermione too. Not because I want to, but because if I don't...someone else could die. Someone very close to me, who I don't care to loose. I'm done with loosing people I love." He whispered fiercely. Ginny nodded, and he continued.
"And when it comes to my caring about you...Ginny, I always have. At first I thought that it was because you were Ron's little sister, I'll admit it. Your parents considered me one of the family, and as such, I felt like I had an obligation to protect you. But...it's different now. You've grown up, and I realize that it's not protecting that you need or want." He paused here, and thought that he heard her catch her breath. She turned wide brown eyes toward him, which he met levelly.
"No, it's not." She whispered evenly.
"The only problem is, I don't quite know the extent of what you need or want."
"No, Harry. I am sure you are quite aware of both of those." Her voice wavered a bit at the end, and Harry felt his heart pound faster. Gradually, he turned to face her, and realized for the first time, just how close they were to each other. She was looking at him now, her face shadowed in the dim room, and her amber eyes glinting with tears. It was then that Harry felt all his doubt leave him, and a glorious calm fall over his body. He knew exactly what she wanted...what she needed. And by Merlin, he was going to do his best to give it to her.
"I love you, Ginny." He whispered, as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Harry's mind exploded into a world of color as she responded eagerly, her arms moving around his neck. Never before had Harry felt such comfort...such warmth and love and need, all at once. His arms slipped around her slim waist and he pulled her closer, feeling everything crest over him like a wave.
When they finally pulled back, Ginny caught her breath in a little sob and buried her face in his chest. Harry held her close, bending down to bury his nose in her fiery hair.
"I love you, Harry. I tried not to, really, I did. But I..." She trailed off as Harry's mouth descended on her's again.
"I know you did. And I was a fool not to see it before now. I could have lost you." He murmured, brushing his lips across her cheek. Ginny whimpered and snuggled closer.
"Don't ever let me go, Harry. Please?" She pleaded against his neck. He smiled slightly and shook his head.
"I don't intend to. I love you, Ginny, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He stated, leaning back against the arm of the couch, taking her with him. He now lay on his back, with Ginny resting across his chest.
"Can we just...stay here tonight? I don't want to leave." She whispered, her eyes searching for his in the dark room. Harry made a sound of assent and pulled her even closer, closing his eyes as he reveled in the feeling of her being so near.
And for just a little while, there were no problems in the world, for him. There was only him and Ginny.
~*~*~*~
The next morning, Harry awoke to find a flame of red hair falling across his shoulder. After a moment of slight panic, he remembered the night before and tightened his arms around the waist of the girl he loved.
Ginny's slightly flowery scent filled his nose, and he smiled as he gazed down at the angel sleeping on his chest. But like all good moments, it had to end. Ginny stirred, her eyes opening and blinking sleepily.
"Morning, Gorgeous." He whispered, watching as a slight blush rose to her cheeks. She gazed up at him for a moment, then, to his surprise, she began to giggle softly. He must have looked bewildered, because she only laughed harder when she looked at him again.
"What?"
"You look so cute when you just wake up." She giggled, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair off his forehead. Harry raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"Really?" He asked roguishly, tickling her side gently. This caused her to shriek and fall off the couch with a thump. Harry laughed when she sat up and glared at him.
"Hmph. Some boyfriend you're turning out to be." At her words, Harry froze. When she had said, 'boyfriend', a rush of pride had jolted through his body. It had only just hit him that he was now dating the beautiful Virginia Weasley, and she was all his!
"What?" She asked, frowning at his silence. Her eyes widened and her gasp was stopped as his lips descended on hers. His arms pulled her into a crushing embrace as he kissed her mouth, and Ginny fell limp with delight of it. When Harry finally released her, all Ginny could do was stare up at him in shock and wonder.
"Wh...what was that all about?" She finally gasped out, feeling a bit shy under his passionate gaze. Harry grinned happily.
"You're mine. My girlfriend. All mine." He said simply. Ginny flushed at his words, but smiled.
"Yes, that's right! Now, can the little boy tell me why I'm all his?" She asked, as if talking to a baby. Harry growled and pulled her closer.
"Because I love you, and I'm not letting you go." He murmured, burying his nose against her neck and breathing in her scent deeply. Ginny's hands came up and ran gently through his hair.
"I don't want you to. I wish we could stay like this forever." Her voice was soft, and it was obvious she wasn't playing anymore. Harry sighed.
"And reality hits. Our friends are going to be looking for us, you know. And Ron's going to think we..." He trailed off, knowing that Ginny was aware of what her brother would think. She winced and cuddled closer.
"We have classes today." She groaned, closing her eyes in disgust. Harry smiled and moved away slightly.
"As much as I hate to say it, we've got to go. I may wish I could run away from reality, but the truth is, I can't." He admitted, causing her to smile with him.
"Come. I'll walk you to the Great Hall." He whispered, offering her his arm. She took it and allowed him to lead her away from the place where they had discovered the most precious thing in the world.
Each other.
~*~*~*~
"Where were you last night?" Ron asked in a dangerous voice, as he circled his sister. Ginny and Harry had avoided talking about where they had been thus far, but as soon as all of them had returned to the common room after dinner that night, Ron had approached them and they knew that there was no more escaping it. So Ginny told the truth.
"With Harry." She stated, turning her honest brown eyes to his face. Ron turned red and wheeled around to where his best friend was sitting silently next to Neville. Harry met his gaze evenly.
"And what, in Merlin's name, were you doing for the *entire* night?" He shouted, causing everyone to go silent and stare at him. Shane and Jackson paused in the middle of their wizard's chess game, Raya looked up from her book, Rose and Shirah stopped talking, and Neville winced. Hermione, who had been watching the scene closely, jumped up and put a hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Well, we talked for a bit, then fell asleep." Harry said vaguely. Ron's fists clenched.
"You slept with my sister?!" His voice shook with rage. Ginny snorted in annoyance.
"Ronald Weasley, Harry is not that kind of boy, and I am not that type of girl. Nothing happened, I promise." She sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Actually, something did..." Harry trailed off as Ron growled at him, then he continued.
"I told Ginny that I loved her."
This sentence caused many mixed reactions from their friends.
Ron gaped.
Hermione squealed and hugged Ginny.
Jackson and Shane laughed as if this was the funniest thing they had heard in a while.
Raya smiled and nodded.
Rose giggled in delight and went to hug Ginny as well.
Neville sighed with relief.
And Shirah mumbled something like, "About time!".
For quite some time, there was chaos in the room that could not be quieted. The girl's demanded the details from Ginny, and the boy's demanded the details from Harry. Even Ron was beside himself with curiosity. But the two in question simply shook their heads and smiled at each other, silently agreeing to keep their private moment, private.
"Are you mad at me, Ron?" Harry asked later, when the others had gone to sleep. The two of them lay in their beds, gazing up at the hangings above them.
"No. I'm just annoyed that you didn't tell me right away. Merlin, Harry! I was afraid you and Ginny had..." He trailed off, blushing. Harry groaned and blushed as well.
"Ron, as much as I love your sister, neither of us are ready for that. She's only fifteen, and I'm only sixteen. But I warn you, that when we're older..." He grinned as Ron made a gagging sound.
"Oh, please, Harry! Don't even put that image into my mind! She's my baby sister!"
"She's no baby, Ron. And she's a lot more mature than most girls her age."
"Yeah! Most girls her age aren't violently in love with their older brother's best friend." Ron snapped kindly, causing Harry to chuckle.
"Most girls her age aren't in love at all. We've got one strange group of friends, Ron. You've got to admit that. All of us are already head-over- heals in love with someone, and none of us are above the age of seventeen, yet! That's not too common."
"No, it's not. But this is Hogwarts, Harry. Nothing is normal at Hogwarts." Ron reminded him. Harry smirked.
"Don't I know it?"
With this, the two of them settled down into a comfortable sleep.
~*~*~*~