Chapter 20

The rest of November passed quickly. Before Harry knew it Christmas break had arrived. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were the only Gryffindors' staying for the break. Harry had daily lessons with Professor Zombini. He was really staring to hope that Zombini would stick around.

On Christmas Eve most of the Order came to Hogwarts for the feast. Lupin stuck around a couple extra days to help with Harry's lessons. Of course as it started getting closer to the full moon Lupin had to leave.

January brought more cold weather. It got so cold that Harry and Ron were actually doing extra credit work. As February arrived the weather decided to warm up a little so the students could at least go outside.

It was getting close to Valentines Day and another Hogsmead weekend. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were in the Common Room sitting around the fire. Ron and Harry were playing chess. Ginny was trying to finish her homework, and Hermione was writing a letter. Just as Harry and Ron had finished their chess game, Ron won of course, Neville entered the Common Room.

"Where've you been Neville?" Harry asked as he stretched.

"Nowhere." Neville answered. Just then Ron exploded.

"Why are you writing to Krum!" Ron bellowed.

"Why do you care if I'm writing to Krum!" Hermione screamed back. Harry and Neville made there way over to Ginny.

"Do you think we should break them up?" Ginny asked.

"Nah, I've learned the best thing to do is to let them scream themselves hoarse." Harry answered. Ron and Hermione yelled for several more minutes. Then Ron said something nobody expected.

"Do you want to go to Hogsmead with me?" Ron asked Hermione his voice returning to normal.

"I always go to Hogsmead with you." Hermione answered.

"I meant do you want to go to Hogsmead with me like on a date?" Ron asked. Then Hermione gave the lasts response everyone but Harry and Ginny expected.

"Alright." Hermione answered. "I would love to go out with you."

"It's about time." Harry said while Ginny laughed. Ron turned bright red and said.

"What do you mean?"

"You two have liked each other forever. It's about time you got together." Ginny answered.

Harry and Ginny quickly ducked as pillows started flying their direction. By the time all the pillows were on the ground Ron and Hermione had left the Common Room. Ginny and Harry just shook their heads.

"Do you think it was something we said?" Ginny asked.

"Usually is." Harry answered. Then putting on a very pompous manner said. "Fair Lady Ginny do you want to go to Hogsmead with me?" Harry asked as he bowed.

"Why Sir Harry I'd love to." Ginny said as she curtseyed. Then turning to Neville they both said.

"Good fellow Neville would you like to accompany us to Hogsmead too?" Neville was having a hard time not laughing.

"I'm going with someone else." Neville answered.

"Who?" Harry and Ginny both asked dropping the act.

"Luna." Neville said quietly.

"That's great!" Ginny said happily as Neville turned red and mumbled about having to go get something out of the dormitory.

Harry and Ginny were the only ones left by the fire. Both were deep in thought. Harry was thinking about how stupid it was that he had just asked Ginny to Hogsmead, and Ginny was thinking about how she needed to know if this was going to be a date. Finally Ginny asked.

"Harry when you asked me to go to Hogsmead with you, did you mean like on a date or as just friends?"

"I thought I had meant it as just friends but I'm not sure anymore." Harry answered.

"I need to tell you something but you have to promise not to laugh." Ginny said.

"I promise." Harry answered.

"Harry, I thought that I had gotten over my crush on you but I was wrong. I still like you as more then a friend." Ginny said.

"That's great Gin, since I, ah, just discovered that I have a crush on you too." Harry began and Ginny smiled. "But I'm not sure I can have a girlfriend right now."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked the smile quickly evaporated.

"Everyone is already in enough danger being close to me as it is. I don't want to give Voldemort another easy target." Harry said.

"If that's all your worried about then don't be. I'm already a target." Ginny said.

"I know that you're already a target and I don't want to make you a bigger target." Harry replied.

"Harry Potter if you don't let me be your girlfriend then I swear I'll never talk to you again." Ginny said.

"If you put it that way. Ginny do you would you like to be my girlfriend?" Harry asked against his better judgement.

"What ever gave you that idea?" Ginny asked as Harry kissed her.