A/N: We are now at the end of this ficlet, but I'm very happy with it. I hope you'll like it! I take forever updating/writing new stuff, so I wouldn't count on much from this end. But this wintry weather has inspired me, so you might see stuff..no promises though…Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Ginevra Weasley precariously rested her elbow on the Gryffindor Table in the empty Great Hall. It was a Saturday morning, and she had a huge swarm of elephant pixies in her stomach. She took a look at the steaming bowl of oatmeal that had appeared in front of her and felt sick. Ginny put her head down on the table and took a deep breath. She was drifting off to sleep when she felt a hand gently tap her on the shoulder. Surprised, Ginny jumped.

"Good morning." Harry Potter smiled down at her, his emerald green eyes twinkling. Ginny began to smile, but yawned instead. Harry grinned at her. "Why didn't you sleep in, Gin?"

"I don't know, honestly. I didn't feel too good lying down, so I thought I'd come down here and grab a bite to eat." Harry nodded and slid onto the bench next to her. "Flying again?" Ginny glanced at his windblown jet-black hair.

"Yeah," he grinned sheepishly. "I couldn't resist. It finally stopped raining." He pulled a bagel towards him and began to eat it.

She watched and waited patiently as he finished. "Would you be interested in joining me for a walk?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Sounds good."

"So how are you?" Ginny asked as they rose and began walking towards the doors.

"I'm doi—" Harry was rudely interrupted mid-sentence by a few pieces of toast that flew by him, barely grazing his ear. "What was that?" Harry gingerly rubbed his ear.

"Er..toast?" Ginny offered, looking puzzled. The two looked at each other and shrugged before making their way out of the Great Hall.

They wandered aimlessly around the campus.

"So how are you?" Ginny asked again as she breathed in the cold fresh air.

"I've been better. Sick of school, you know?" Ginny nodded. "And you?"

"The same," Ginny replied. She was silent for a few minutes. "Is school the only thing bothering you?" Harry's green eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her sharply for a few seconds.

"No." Ginny waited for him to elaborate. She was about to give up when he spoke up again. "I have nightmares," he said softly. "A-about Sirius...and sometimes I find myself wondering if he's..if he's really gone." They had stopped walking and stood under a gnarly oak tree. "And..sometimes I get my hopes up and tell myself that he'll be back. That's when the nightmares are the worst." His voice broke slightly and he looked away, avoiding her eyes.

Ginny stared at him, her face thoughtful. "Do you think like this all the time or is it only when you're alone?"

"Usually before I sleep…why?" He chanced a look at her.

"No reason," she replied. "Do you blame yourself?"

"Sometimes," Harry said dryly. "What's your conclusion, Freud?" Ginny gave him a puzzled look. "Nevermind," he muttered.

Ginny was still watching him. Suddenly, without warning, she leaned forward and hugged him to her tightly and gingerlykissed his cheek. "I have to go," she squeaked hurriedly, blushing pink as she turned and walked away quickly towards the castle. Dumbfounded, Harry watched her retreating back and reached a hand up to his cheek, which was still tingling from her chaste kiss.

Dinner that night was very awkward for Harry. Ginny would catch his eye, wink, and then look away every once in a while. Ron and Hermione were sitting awfully close and kept whispering to each other and then laughing quietly. Harry quickly ate his dinner and got up, muttering some unintelligible excuse. Ron and Hermione exchanged a worried glance, and Ginny smiled slyly to herself.

Harry slowed down once he was out of the Great Hall. He glanced at his watch which indicated that it was just 7:30. He sighed to himself and continued slowly towards Gryffindor tower. He went up to his dormitory and changed out of his uniform and into some comfortable pyjamas. Grabbing some magazines, he headed down to the common room and situated himself near the fire.

Harry flipped idly through the reading material for the next hour and a half. Harry stopped thumbing through the Quibbler and glanced at his watch again: 9:30. Might as well go to bed, Harry thought dejectedly as he watched the Gryffindors mill into the common room.

Harry slowly made his way up the stairs and into his dormitory. He had just pulled the curtains closed around his four-poster bed when something hit the curtain. Harry grabbed his wand and yanked back the curtains. Pigwidgeon was zooming around like a bee. Harry reached out and grabbed the little owl.

"Hold still, Pig!" Harry finally got the small role of parchment that was tied to Pig. The bird zoomed off and Hedwig, who was perched on a window sill, gave a disapproving hoot.

Unrolling the parchment, Harry read the note. It was Ginny's small, neat handwriting:

Dear Harry,

I know you're not asleep, so I thought I'd write you a note. I'm sorry I rushed off like that earlier. I was hit by a bout of brilliance. I'm in my room. Send Hedwig or Pig back with a reply.

love Ginny

Harry smiled to himself, heart jerking slightly when he saw 'love Ginny,' and turned the piece of parchment over. He wrote in his boyish scrawl:

Ginny,

You're right. I'm not asleep. Just very bored and confused. I forgive you. What are Ron and Hermione up to? They're acting very strange.

Harry

Hedwig was back with a reply in a matter of minutes:

Dear Harry,

It's a long explanation and I reckon Hedwig might get tired if we keep this up too long. Will you meet me in the common room and we can talk?

love Ginny

Harry wrote a quick reply and tied it to Hedwig, who did indeed give a tired hoot before taking flight. He went down to the common room, just in time to see Ginny descending the stairs in old flannel pyjamas. He summoned her to the dark red sofa and sat down. She pulled her legs up and hugged her knees as she smiled at him.

"So what are Ron and Hermione up to?" Harry asked.

"Hermione came to me after lunch while I was at the library and told me the whole story." Ginny told Harry exactly what had happened.

"Why in the world would Hermione think I'm angry with her?" Harry exclaimed.

"Look at it this way. You've all been best friends for the past five years and now I rarely see you laughing and joking with them like you used to. What would you think if she did the same?"

"I'd think that she was angry with me," Harry muttered. A small giggle escaped Ginny's mouth. Harry looked up at her, trying to glare. "Well, I'm glad Ron finally grew a pair and kissed her."

Ginny giggled again. "I've had to force myself to keep my mouth shut around them more than you could ever imagine. It can get extremely frustrating."

Harry nodded in agreement. "What was this sudden bout of brilliance you wrote about in your note?"

Ginny sobered up slightly. "Well, I was thinking about your nightmares, and I thought maybe we can eliminate them slowly by keeping you occupied with other things before you sleep."

"Look, Gin…" Harry began sheepishly. "I'm not that bothered by it, so you shouldn't be concerned."

"Nonsense, Harry! After this ordeal we've all been through, the only logical thing to do would be to face the aftermath together, don't you think?"

"I suppose you have a point."

"Of course I do!" Ginny fixed him with a firm gaze. Harry gave her an amused, and slightly mesmerized, look. Her straight red hair was falling out of its ponytail into her face, her cheeks had taken on a reddish tinge, and her brown eyes were sparkling intensely.

"And how exactly do you plan to keep me occupied?" Harry asked, trying not to stare at her delightfully pink ears.

"We can play games, or talk, or…" Ginny trailed off, distracted by Harry's gaze.

"I have an idea," Harry whispered, emerald eyes twinkling mischievously.

"What's that?" Ginny swallowed and tried hard not to blush as she held Harry's intense gaze.

"Close your eyes," Harry continued in a whisper.

Ginny's eyes automatically fluttered shut. She was not very surprised to feel Harry's lips lightly brush against hers in a gentle kiss. Ginny kept her eyes closed for a moment longer, as tiny jolts coursed through her body, and took a deep breath before opening them. Harry was staring at her. Ginny licked her lips and exhaled.

"I like this idea of yours," she said, eyes twinkling coyly. "I think we'll stay occupied for quite a while this way." Harry turned slightly pink at her implication. Ginny grinned nervously before leaning forward to kiss him again.

That night Harry lay in his bed in the boys' dorm and looked out at the rain that was drumming against his window. He found himself entirely unable to wipe the silly grin on his face.

A/N: There we have it, dears! I'm so incredibly happy right now! Its RAINING! I LOVE the RAIN. Its been raining for the past 4 hours, and its supposed to continue raining tomorrow…maybe even THUNDERSTORMS! YAY! Lets have a rain of reviews, shall we?