Disclaimer: I do not own any of the lovely characters. They all belong to J.K. Rowling.
Thank you to everyone that reviewed my last chapter! Please keep the reviews coming!
On another note, Dumbledore is able to apparate into Hogwarts, because he is the Headmaster and he is Dumbledore. No one else can though.
Chapter 2: What was said
"Professor Snape?"
Startled, Snape looked up to find himself drowning into the most beautiful eyes that he has ever seen. They were deep brown with golden specks in them.
"Gorgeous," he murmured, not realizing what he was doing.
"Professor Snape?" Hermione asked again. 'Did he say what I think he did? Did he say "gorgeous?" '
"Miss Granger, ten points from Gryffindor," he snarled at her. He hadn't meant to snarl it at her, but she had caught him off guard.
"For what?!" Hermione retorted.
"For what, Miss Granger? For interrupting my thoughts. Now, for showing lack of respect to a professor, I think, another ten points and a month's detention should suffice," he finished while his eyes flinted briefly over her face.
He saw how tight her jaw was clenched. He knew that she would probably love to say something insulting to him. Instead, she responded with, "I have finished my detention and would like to know if I was free to go, Professor?"
Snape winced slightly at the tone of her voice when she pronounced 'Professor.' However, he chose to let it go and wave his hand in a gesture stating that she was free to leave.
After she had gathered her things and walked out of the door, Snape gave a sigh of relief. Being this close to her and alone was so hard as all he wanted to do was grab her in his arms and profess his feelings for her, but he knew he couldn't that he would never be able to. He also knew that if he professed his feelings for her, it would make her more of a target for the Dark Lord, as being Potter's friend had already made her one.
It would also blow his cover with the Dark Lord and reveal him to be a spy, which would only result in him being targeted as well and he knew that if he had any chance of keeping her safe, the cover would have to remain in tact.
Besides, there was no point in risking her safety further when he knew she would never return his feelings. 'No one ever did,' he thought bitterly. He heard another voice though, 'What if she did?'
His thoughts returning to the Dark Lord, Snape looked down at the Dark Mark. It was searing. He knew what he had to do, make his way to Hogsmeade so that he could apparate to join him.
Harry looked at himself in the mirror. He was dressed in black jeans and a royal blue shirt, which seemed to bring out his eyes, even with the glasses. He tried for the ninth time to pat down the bit of hair that always seemed to stick up. With a sigh, he gave up. He would have to remember to ask Hermione what she had used on her hair for the Yule Ball a couple of years ago. Otherwise, he thought he looked pretty good. Mustering up his courage, he descended downstairs to the Common Room.
Looking around, he saw her. She was talking to some friends. She was so beautiful and smart. He still can't believe that he had never noticed her.
'That's because you were to busy noticing Cho,' his conscious voiced. He had a crush on Cho in his fourth and fifth years. It hadn't worked though, because she had only wanted a comforting arm. Before that, when Ginny had fancied him, Harry had been too young to be interested in girls. Now, everything was different. He really liked Ginny – not just a crush as had been with Cho – but really liked. He just hoped she still felt the same about him as he walked over to where she was sitting.
"Ginny?"
Ginny looked up in surprise to see Harry standing there and looking…nervous? 'Why would Harry be nervous?' she thought.
"Can we go for a walk?" he managed to squeak out.
"Sure," Ginny replied giving him an odd look as they headed out of the Common Room.
Harry and Ginny had walked around Hogwarts looking for a place to talk. They had found an empty classroom. Harry felt so comfortable with her. They had talked about everything ranging from silly things, like Ginny's fetish with chins, to the serious (and horrible), such as Voldemort. They had talked about their childhoods and their experiences growing up. Ginny's had sounded wonderful – playing Quidditch with her brothers, large Christmas gatherings, visiting her brother in Egypt…
"It has it downsides to, Harry. I mean, think about it, I am the youngest and only girl. I have SIX older brothers, who are all very protective of me. It can get on one's nervous, " Ginny was arguing.
She looked so cute when she was trying to hold up a heated debate. Harry had laughed only to earn himself a scowl, which caused him to laugh harder.
Ginny tried hard to hold onto her scowl, but she just couldn't hold it anymore and started laughing with Harry. They laughed so much that she was nearly in tears. All of a sudden their laughter died, as their faces were mere inches from each other.
'It's now or never,' Harry thought as he gathered up all his Gryffindor courage. He leaned over, closing the gaps between them, and kissed her softly, breathing in her scent as he did so. She smelled great, like strawberries. He loved strawberries.
Harry increased the intensity of their kiss, as she seemed to respond. He lightly brushed his tongue against her lower lip. He didn't dare go further. It was his first serious kiss and he was a bit nervous about it. Harry also didn't want to scare her off, as he didn't know how much kissing experience she had. He also didn't want to think about it, as he got lost in the moment.
A minute later, Ginny and Harry broke apart. Harry thought the kiss had gone well just as the rest of the evening had. He decided he should try going to the next level.
"Ginny, I was wondering, if you wanted to go on a date, maybe the next Hogsmeade trip?" Harry said quickly.
"No."
'She said no? Why did she say no?' His mouth seemed to agree with his brain, "Why?"
"I…I just can't. I have to go," Ginny told him.
Harry was dumbfounded as he watched her leave, practically running out of the room. 'What happened?'