A/N: It's summer. And so, to honor this wonderful season, I have decided to say that these chapters will be distinctly beach-themed. Bear with me, please. And I had a GREAT time over at Catalina, met new people, etc. and now am a better writer than EVER!!! So, with that over, let's roll.

Chapter 2

California Dreaming

Hermione pushed Ron down the stairs to breakfast, both slightly red, Hermione's bush of hair tousled even more than normal. As they entered viewing range of the rest of the eating Weasley family and yawning Harry, both teens uncomfortably noticed that all eyes were focused solely on Ron and her as they walked down the staircase and into the dining room. Hermione shot Harry a look that plainly said I'm going to kill you, Harry, but Harry took no notice, grinned, and said, "So sit down, 'mione. You too, Ron."

Both teens obliged, if somewhat warily as they watched Harry's every movement. Mr. Weasley pushed Percy out of the way and stood up, a smile wreathing his face.

"Hermione," he began, and Hermione sat up, looking very much awake now. Ron, sitting beside her, paled slightly.

"Hermione," Mr. Weasley continued. "I have recently received a telegram from your parents notifying me that you shall shortly be embarking on a journey of the most wonderful kind. You…"

"Hermione, Ron, Harry, you're going to the US of A for a good ole camping trip," George cut in. "And me, Fred, Ginny here, and Dad are coming with you."

Mr. Weasley glared at George, then sighed and said, somewhat deflatedly, "Yes. And we're leaving tomorrow for Los Angeles…"

"LAX," Fred interjected.

"Yes, Fred, LAX. Now hush and let your father talk!"

"As I was saying, we will arrive at LAX and will camp out in California for most of the summer. As most of you can now drive, you will each take ONE vehicle from the lots we're going to today and take it to California with you," Mr. Weasley finished, sounding hurried.

"But, Dad, how is it that I can't come?" Percy complained loudly.

"Because, Percy, Mr. Fudge would not like you to miss work, now would he? I remember you telling me that when we all went to the Quidditch World Cup. I also remember I had to drag you out, and you spent the next week complaining that your pay had been cut. So you STAY."

Percy sputtered as Mr. Weasley ushered Hermione, Ron, and Harry out the door, slamming it behind them.

Ginny watched them go, then excused herself from the table, padding quietly up the staircase and into her room, where she flopped down on her stomach into the soft confines of her bed, grabbing The View From Saturday and cracking it open to the first page.

She pushed her auburn hair back from her face, then stared at the columns of words in front of her, though not really reading it. Presumably because her mind was focused on a certain dark-haired, emerald-eyed sixteen year old wizard who had just left.

Ginny heaved a sigh and thought wistfully of Harry. How could he be so blind as to not notice her? She'd tried (and failed) to get him jealous when she started going out with Seamus Finnigan, she'd reassured him (if somewhat coolly) when he had had a brief panic attack brought on by the thought of being controlled by Voldemort, and he still hadn't really noticed her. How was it possible for boys to be so blind?

She sighed, closed her eyes, and imagined herself sitting on a park bench, Harry sitting beside her, her head on his shoulder, both of them watching the sunset over the lake together…

Ginny was asleep before she realized she was still tired, sinking into dreams of kissing Harry Potter.

She woke once more to the sound of someone opening the door to her room, and she sat up, brushing strands of her pesky gold-red hair out of her eyes once more. Her eyes fell on Harry, standing uncertainly by the doorway, his beautiful eyes fixed on Ginny, watching her as she stared back at him, equally uncertain.

"Um… hey, Ginny…! I was just…um…leaving…so…um…"

Ginny stared at Harry, and he couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked with the summer sun's rays falling across her face, highlighting little golden patches of her hair as she moved. She gave a sort of strained half-grimace, and he winced slightly.

"No, don't leave…please?" Ginny supplicated, her brown eyes widening slightly at the alarming prospect of losing another chance to talk with Harry.

Harry wordlessly closed the door and sat down beside Ginny, his emerald eyes watching her as she drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, perching her chin moodily on top of her right knee. Another pang went through Harry's heart at Ginny's awesome beauty in the afternoon light, and he fumbled for something to say before managing to get his best idea off his tongue.

"Um."

Ginny looked at him quizzically. "You okay?" she inquired dubiously.

Harry flushed crimson. "Erm… llp…"

Dammit, he thought furiously, I can't even speak clearly around her anymore… let alone tell her I love her…

"What's up?" Ginny persisted, looking at him even more curiously than before, her bright brown eyes sparkling wonderfully with hints of mischief at the corners and curiosity spiraling in toward her pupils.

Harry shrugged, suddenly finding his tongue as he wrenched his gaze away from Ginny's eyes.

"Nothing much… how's your car searching going?"

Ginny shrugged, nonchalant. "It's okay. I'm paying off the loan I took out on an old Tercel…" She scowled at her pillow. "I hate being poor!"

Harry bit his lip to hide a grin; he remembered a time, not so long ago, when he remembered a certain other Weasley say the exact same thing.

"Aren't Fred and George doing well on their joke shop?"

Ginny brightened somewhat. "Oh yeah… I forgot to tell you. They've made so much money, we're remodeling the Burrow! You and Ron'll have your own rooms…!"

Harry stared, then grinned hugely. "Great! Tell Fred and George congratulations. What're they driving?"

Ginny laughed. "Fred's on his third Jetta, and George has managed quite well with his New Beetle S."

"Both Volkswagens, huh?"

"Yeah… I'm the first in the family to buy a Toyota!"

Harry seized the opportunity.

"You know, I've always found those who drive Toyotas attractive… especially those with red hair and brown eyes," he said quietly, a hint of panic dancing around the corners of his eyes.

Ginny looked up in shock, then a disbelieving smile played across her pretty features.

"Harry Potter, are you flirting with me?"

Harry went crimson, shrugged, then nodded.

Ginny flushed red as well, and determinedly began to avoid his gaze. She needn't have bothered; Harry was so flustered at what he'd just blurted out, he wouldn't look anywhere but the floor, much less anywhere near Ginny.

An awkward silence fell, broken by Ginny, who sighed, said, "C'mere, Harry," and patted the area of bed right next to her.

Harry obliged.

Ginny put an arm around him, whispered, "I love you, Harry," and, leaning over, gently met his lips.

Harry had never been kissed by someone younger than him, and thus was a little cautious in deepening the kiss, and also at a total loss of what to do.

Everything he had ever been taught by anyone instantly vanished from his head.

Damn.

Ginny deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around Harry's body and holding him tightly, not ever wanting to let go. Harry, on the other hand, inhaled Ginny's sweet, cinnamony scent and discovered he liked cinnamon; a fact that he'd never known before.

Merlin's blood, she smelled like heaven.

Harry was more than ready to deepen the kiss when Ginny pulled away from him, gently, though reluctantly, which Harry was pleased to note.

Ginny, her arms still around Harry's neck, whispered once more, "I love you, Harry Potter," and met his lips again, sinking into yet another world of their own.

The door opened once more, and a voice said, somewhat warily, "Harry…? Harry?"

The thought presented itself in both Harry's and Ginny's minds simultaneously: Oh…crap…

A/N: I would like to dedicate this chapter to the memory of my friend Asia Thorpe. May she Rest in Peace. June 15th, 2004.

Please, no questions or inquiries about details… thank you.

Viper676