They arrived at Hogsmeade an hour after breakfast. After arguing for some time about where to go first, they all agreed on Honeyduke's. They walked along the rows of sweets, picking out what they wanted to purchase.
"Ginny," Harry whispered, pulling her aside, "Let's try to split up when we leave here." Ginny nodded in agreement as Ron and Hermione walked up behind them.
"Have you decided what you're getting?" Ron asked, enviously eyeing their piles which were much bigger than his own.
"Yeah, we just need to pay." Harry quickly paid for his sweets, anxiously to finally get some real alone time with Ginny. "Where to next?"
"Zonkos," Ron said forcefully.
"Three Broomsticks," Ginny answered with an equal amount of force.
"Well you two are obviously not going to agree on anything today," Hermione said frustrated.
"We could split up," Ginny suggested helpfully.
"Sounds like a brilliant idea," Ron said, glaring at his sister. "To Zonkos Harry?"
"Actually, I could really go for a Butterbeer right now," Harry said sheepishly, examining his shoes. Ron looked genuinely upset.
"Oh there's no need to throw a hissy fit, Ron. I'll go with you," Hermione said. As they walked away, Ginny and Harry grinned. Their plan had worked.
Harry and Ginny walked close together as they made their way to the Three Broomsticks. They walked inside and picked out a table in a back corner, hidden behind a large plant. Ginny reached over and took Harry's hand under the table. He grinned and squeezed her hand.
"You look really nice today."
"So you're saying I don't look nice everyday Mr. Potter?"
"No! That's not what I meant!"
"So you didn't mean I look nice today?"
"No!" Harry's face went red in frustration. Ginny laughed. "I don't think this is very funny. I was just trying to tell you how beautiful I think you are; how you light up the room, and I ended up upsetting you!" "Harry, you really haven't hurt my feelings! I was picking on you," Ginny lowered her voice, "Did you really mean those things?"
"Yeah, every word of it." Ginny blushed at Harry's kind words. He liked having that impact on her. He was about to tell her how her eye's sparkled when he heard a scream coming from outside. "Stay put!" Harry quickly told Ginny as he ran outside. He was terrified when he saw a pack of Death Eaters coming down the street, stunning everyone who got in their way. Harry's first instinct was to run out to the street and draw their attention away, but he remembered Lupin's warning. Harry looked around for anyone who could help, but didn't see anyone. He ran back inside and up to the bartender. "Floo- Dumbledore- Get- Help!" Harry's words were broken as he started to panic. He was about to run back outside when he felt someone grad him. Before he could do anything he was being pulled into the back room. He turned around and reached for his wand. "Tonks!" he exclaimed, surprised to see her.
"There's no time to explain, I have to get you out of here." Seeing the look of desperation in his eyes, she gave a small smile. "Don't worry, we already got her out. Now, to Dumbledore's office."
When Harry arrived in the Headmaster's office, he saw Ginny sitting on a couch looking worried. As she saw Harry fall clumsily from the fireplace a look of relief swept over her face.
"Thank you for joining us Harry," Dumbledore began gently. "I'm afraid we have quite a few things to discuss. Before you start wondering, I know all about your relationship with Miss Weasley here." Both Harry and Ginny turned pink. "You have to remember, Harry, that you're being watched from the second you leave a room that we consider safe for your own protection. That said, we will not interfere in your life unless you are in danger. In other words, your secrets are our secrets. We're watching several other students as well."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, when Mr. Malfoy missed the train to Hogwarts, we realized he had a very lucky moment in avoiding the attack. So when he decided not to take the trip into Hogsmeade today, we felt that maybe he was going to get lucky again," Dumbledore paused, his eyes sparkling. "Fortunately for us, several aurors were given the day off and they decided to spend it in Hogsmeade. It's just a shame that they ended up working during their much needed vacation."
"But why didn't you just have the Ministry send aurors?" Ginny asked.
"There are spies everywhere; on both sides. This allowed us a certain element of surprise."
"Oh," Harry and Ginny said together.
"Harry, you have to listen carefully to what I'm going to say next. It has become clear that you are what Tom is after. After the incident at the Ministry, he appears to be afraid to make any moves until he has taken care of you."
"But isn't that a good thing? He's not killing anyone," Harry asked.
"Yes, that aspect of it is good. But, there's a very good chance that it also means he's focusing all of his powers on you." Ginny's face went white. "It seems that he attacks you every time you're out of our wards."
"So basically no more leaving the wards." Harry thought of Sirius as the words left his mouth.
"For now." Harry looked confused but Dumbledore continued, "Now as for your relationship with Miss Weasley, you were quite right to keep it hidden. The less Tom is able to find out about you, the better. Never forget, there are spies everywhere."
"Professor, were any students hurt today?" Ginny asked.
"Unfortunately yes. Thankfully nothing serious. There are about seven who will spend the night in the hospital wing, but they should be back in classes by Monday. Now you two should get some rest, it's been a very long day."
For once, Harry actually felt grateful to Draco Malfoy. As he and Ginny made their way out of the headmaster's office they held hands. When they reached the bottom of the spiral staircase Ginny grabbed Harry and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to you," Ginny whispered in his ear, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I thought you had left me and you weren't going to come back." Harry gently wiped the tears away from her eyes. He held her chin in his hand and forced her to look into his eyes.
"I will never intentionally leave you as long as I have a breath in my body." He slowly leant forward, gently touching her lips to his. They stood there for a moment, lost in each other.
"What is it about crying girls that makes you want to kiss them?" Ginny asked with a choked laugh pulling back. Harry's face went bright pink. "Come on, I'm sure people are wondering what happened to us." They were just outside the portrait when Ginny spoke up again. "Harry, I understand why we can't make our relationship public, but can't we tell our friends? I mean they're bond to start noticing something. They're not all as daft as Ron."
"Well, I guess if they ask we shouldn't lie. But I don't think we should go around offering information," Harry paused, grinning sheepishly. "Besides, I'd love for Ron to not know for as long as possible. I'm not sure I want to know how he's going to react."
"Is the great Harry Potter afraid of my big brother?" Ginny teased.
"Well the fact that there are six of them..."
"All of whom think that I'm six," Ginny finished. "I understand, just know, you're only putting off the inevitable." They laughed and walked into the common room.
"Harry! Ginny! We were so worried about you," Hermione exclaimed hugging them both tightly. Ron looked over from his place on the couch, not speaking but looking very relieved. "We knew that several students were hurt, and when you didn't come back... Lavender is missing still..."
"Seven students were hurt, but they should all be okay by Monday," Harry responded quietly. No one seemed in the mood to do much of anything. "I don't feel like going to the Great Hall for dinner," he added quietly, noticing the time.
"Me either," Ron said, receiving looks of shock from all of his friends. "Well, I don't." He shrugged his shoulders. Harry suddenly got up and disappeared up the stairs to his dorm. He came back holding a bottle and four glasses.
"Harry!" Hermione scolded, "I wouldn't expect this kind of behavior from you."
"Well, I think we could all use something to take our minds off of what happened today," he answered dryly.
"Fine, just don't expect me to take care of you this time," Hermione said storming off. Harry poured Firewhiskey into three of the glasses and watched as Ron drank his entire glass in one gulp.
"Careful mate... you don't want to end up like last time." Harry forced a smile.
Before long, all of the students had made their way back to the common room and up to bed, exhausted by the events that had transpired that day. Ron sat passed out on the couch, and Ginny sat curled up next to Harry. The Firewhiskey made her bold and willing to take risks, and Harry was in no condition to fight her. She looked up at him and gave him a kiss; first very gentle, but as Harry's shock disappeared the kiss turned into one of passion. Harry gave into touch completely. He felt her tongue on his lips and met hers with his own. He could taste the Firewhiskey on her breath. He put his arms around her and pulled her body close to his own. He heard her let out a small moan.
"Oh! I'm, err, sorry..." Hermione stood frozen in place from the bottom of the stairs, pink with embarrassment. "Oh fuck," Ginny whispered, begrudgingly pulling herself away from Harry. She jumped as Ron mumbled something in his sleep. "Oh we are royal idiots. Ron's right there," she said more to herself than anyone else.
"Hermione, we were just, um, oh fuck it," Harry said, sure his face was on fire.
"Harry, let me talk to Hermione," Ginny said looking calm and collected. "You help Ron get to bed." Before Harry could protest Ginny gently kissed him on the cheek and went upstairs with Hermione.
After Ginny finished filling Hermione in on the details of her and Harry's relationship, Hermione's face was lit in a smile.
"Oh this is so wonderful!"
"Yeah it really is. But you have to promise me you won't tell anyone. Harry isn't safe right now, and Dumbledore assures us that Voldemort has spies everywhere." Noticing Hermione's look she added, "Not even Ron, but that's more for personal reasons."
"I guess, but you're going to have to tell your family eventually." Ginny shrugged her shoulders grinning. "Especially if you keep acting like that with one of your brothers sitting right across from you." Hermione raised an eyebrow and Ginny threw a pillow at her.
a/n Thanks again for the kind words. You just keep making me want to update faster, which unfortunately is also keeping me from finishing my story, lol. Don't worry though, it will be finished.