Disclaimer: What do you think? Well, I'll tell you just in case. I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: Oh my goodness gracious!!! I love all of you who reviewed, you make my life.

Black Padfoot: Thank you so much for your review; I'm glad you like my story. I would love for you to be my grammar beta! It doesn't matter that you haven't done it before; you've got to start somewhere!

Jalisco-psyche: Ginny's one of my favorite characters too: I relate to her the most, I think. I will try to pump out as many chapters as I possibly can, but I'm leaving for Brazil tomorrow evening tear, i'll miss writing, so I won't update for 10 days after that probably, but then I'll be back on track.

peppy132: I'm so glad you like the song lyrics! What's your favorite kind of cookie? Just so I know, just in case I really do become famous (lol) and send you a care package.

LiLy MaLfOy13: I'm really glad you love it!

Angel St. James: I'm so incredibly honoured and happy that you like my story! I'm going to update as frequently as I possibly can. Unfortunately, I'm leaving for holiday in Brazil tomorrow evening, so I won't be able to update for 10 days. After that, my school year starts, and it's a little intense, but I am still quite the procrastinator on homework, so I will update at least every weekend. Thanks for the lengthy review, and for defending my writing like that. I appreciate it more than I can say. You made my day.

furtivelook: I totally agree with your assessment of Ginny in Rowling's books, and I'm really glad you enjoy my story!

Penelope Richmond: Thanks so much for your review and for offering to be my beta. I'll email you, though I don't exactly know how the whole beta thing works; do I email you my story or something? We'll try it on the next chapter. Thanks!

Joyrider: Sorry I didn't mention you in the last chapter. Thanks for reading!

On with the story.....

Sometimes You Just Need a Slap in the Face

Chapter 4: Everything Got Their Something

My face to the sky

Dreaming about just how high

Harry lay on the extra bed in Ron's orange Chudley Cannon poster-covered room. It was around half past five in the morning, and the raven-haired boy was certain no-one else was awake at this ungodly hour.

He had been awake for an hour, thinking about everything that had happened in the unusually eventful day that had just past.

I could go and I'll know

When I finally get there

While he was sleeping, he had dreamt of Sirius. He kept seeing his godfather fall behind the veil in the Department of Mysteries, his face thrice magnified, a look of pure shock only beginning to wash away the smirk that was meant to mock Bellatrix Lestrange.

Harry had woken up sweating profusely, his eyes wet with pending tears.

Taking of my glasses

Sun pokes through my lashes

Though it had greatly helped to reveal the cause of his pain to Hermione and Ron, Harry still felt every ounce of the shock. fear, and grief--especially in his dreams. Nevertheless, having nightmares about Sirius was better than having nightmares about Voldemort.

Harry slowly, tactfully rose from his bed, taking care not to wake Ron or anyone else in the house. He felt like going outside--getting away from the thoughts and dreams that plagued him. Not to mention it was getting rather boring to have the same dreams over and over again. He needed a distraction.

And somehow I know

There's a time for every star to shine

As absorbed in his thoughts as he was, he didn't notice the small redhead staring out the window of the Burrow's kitchen, drinking a cup of tea.

"Early riser, are you?" Ginny said without even looking at the boy nearly standing beside her, but with a playful smirk on her face.

Everybody got their something

Harry started, nearly tripping and falling on to the girl before him. "Ginny! I didn't know you were here. Sorry."

"That's alright, I suppose, Harry. But watch where you're going next time. Honestly, you have very little tact for such a good seeker." Ginny still had her back to Harry, so he could not see the gleam of mirth in her deep brown eyes.

Everybody got their something

"Oh..er.." Harry was taken aback. "I'm so sorry Ginny, I didn't mean--I'll just go back upstairs then." He flushed profusely.

"Harry! I'm only joking! I suppose living with Fred and George has made me joke around too much for my own good." She turned around to look at Harry now, a huge smile her face.

Make you smile like an itty bitty child

A grin slid on to Harry's face as well now, he realizing that her humor was going to take some getting used to. "Why'd you wake up so early?" Harry asked.

"Oh, I'm always awake around this time every day. It's mostly so that I can get a little bit of peace and quiet in before my crazy family is out and about, driving me insane." Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's sort of to collect myself, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah, I can understand that," Harry replied.

People keeping score

Say better hurry up and get yours

"Listen--d'you fancy a run? I was just going to run along the creek and to the lake and back. It's a great trail," Ginny said, her expression more businesslike now.

"Er...sure. Sure, I could use some exercise, I suppose, " Harry said. His eyes took on a mischievous sparkle. "That is, if you can keep up with me."

Cause somebody else get your spot

Before you even dropped

"Is that a challenge? I love challenges. Let's go, then. I imagine you'll want to get it over with--seeing as how you're about to lose," Ginny said as her eyes narrowed playfully, one thin eyebrow raised.

Harry made to exit through the front door out into the garden, but Ginny stopped him.

"We'll go out the back door," she said, "My, my...you're already losing, and we haven't even started running!"

Seek and you shall find

Harry laughed and followed her out of the back door.

Wow, Harry thought as he jogged along the stream, quickly glancing at Ginny now and then to make sure he was going in the right direction, this path really is amazing. Why haven't I ever seen it before? I'll ask Ginny, I guess. He waited awhile before asking, however, seeing the serene look on Ginny's freckled face, and decided to observe his surroundings for the time being.

Everything in my own sweet time

They were running next to a gently flowing stream that was as clear as the summer's day itself. There were little black fish swimming down the stream, bumping into each other occasionally. Large toads were leaping from rock to rock in the stream, croaking their little hearts out at regular intervals.

Looming overhead, swaying in the slight cool breeze, were enormous trees of every kind, it seemed, their green leafed-branches extending to create a canopy over the stream and the two runners. It was gorgeous.

I'll take my chances

With what I believe is only mine

"Harry? We're here." Ginny was giving him an odd look, probably due to the fact that he was gaping, mouth open, around at the trees, his eyes smiling (A/N I know eyes don't actually smile, but it means there's joy in his eyes.)

Busy holding on

So the roof don't fly

"Harry?"

"Yeah? Oh sorry. This place really is amazing. Thanks, Ginny."

Keep you from moving on

So get it right

They had just arrived at a small lake that was as clear as the stream, but with moss growing all along the perimeter of it.

Turn the tide over

Ginny smirked. "By the way, just for the record, I won. You were so busy gazing dreamily at the scenery that you ran at approximately the speed of a snail."

Like a love song

Like a butterfly

Harry grinned back in challenge, "Oh, but the race isn't over yet. We still have to go back."

"Hm...very true, Potter. But first I want to take a quick look at the lake. You know--see if I see any new creatures or something." Ginny had a very odd sparkle in her eyes.

Believe if you hand it over

You'll come out all right

"Er, alright then. I'll just stay here and--" but he could not finish his sentence, because at that very moment, there was a large splash of water, and no sign of Ginny.

Everybody got their something

"Ginny? Ginny? Where have you gone?" Harry walked to the edge of the lake, then yelped as a firm hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the water.

Everybody got their something

Make you smile like an itty bitty child

"HA! I got you yet AGAIN, Potter! Honestly, you should have seen the look on your face. You looked like the giant squid was about to eat you or something!" Ginny was laughing uncontrollably, so hard in fact, that tears began to stream down her face, mixing with the fresh water of the lake.

Illuminate the silly things

Shed some light on all that's wrong

"Ha, ha, very tricky of you. Well, if you're going to play dirty like that, I suppose I'll just have to beat you at your own game," Harry looked calculatingly at Ginny, she trying to subside her laughter (and failing miserably.) "Ok then...race you back to the Burrow!" With that he bolted out of the water and began to sprint back along the stream.

Everybody need it sometime

Sometimes the only thing you got

Ginny narrowed her eyes, then rose to follow him--and hopefully beat him, for the sake of her own ego. "I'm coming after you, Potter! Better watch out!!!"

As they neared the Burrow, both Ginny and Harry were breathing in gasps, longing for a sufficient gulp of air. Harry was still slightly ahead of her, but it was only a matter of time before his legs gave out.

Is what makes you feel like

You're something else altogether

It seemed that Ginny may just win, she put all her effort into making up the difference in the length of both runners' legs, and she reached to open the back door of the Burrow when---

BAM!!!

Someone opened the door from inside and Ginny smacked right into it. First she saw stars, then she fell straight back on her hands, the impact forcing her to roll over onto her side, her arms covering her face.

Mr. Weasley, who had just opened the door, looked around in front of him, and assuming that the sounds must have been birds, went back inside to prepare for work at the Ministry, gently shutting the door.

You have everything don't need

Another reason to be something

"Ginny? Are you alright?" Harry said, extremely worried, as Ginny was curled up on the grass, her back shaking silently. He grasped he shoulder and turned her over, his worried expression turning into an amused half-grin.

Ginny was laughing, not crying. She was laughing hysterically, and now Harry was a little bit worried that she had gotten some kind of concussion when she hit the door.

I've been on a ride

She looked at Harry. "Oh! Oh, that was hilarious. I was just running, and I wasn't looking 'cause I wanted to beat you, and then the door hit me! And the funniest part is," she was gasping for breath between both laughs and words, "I DID beat you!!!" Tears of mirth were rolling out from her chocolate eyes, down her red cheeks, and were falling onto her t-shirt.

And caught up in the landslide

Harry was puzzled at first, but then began to laugh, mostly because she found this so hilarious. He had never known anyone who was able to make a joke out of everything--except perhaps Fred and George, that is.

But I'm gonna spread my wings and fly...

Soon they were both cracking up and writhing all over the grass in glee.

When their laughs died down, Harry said, "Wow. I haven't laughed like that in---ever, really. Thanks for letting me run with you. It was good--got my mind of Siri.....things."

Everybody got their something

Ginny had a soft smile on her face, but her eyes were full of concern. "My offer from yesterday still stands, Harry. You can talk to me about it...only if you want to, that is. But anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed running, it has the same effect on me. You can come with me every morning, if you like."

Everybody got their something

Harry nodded silently, and there was a comfortable silence before he said, "Alright then. Yeah, that'd be good. Thanks."

Ginny rose from the ground and said, "No problem at all." She then held out her hand as if to help him off the ground.

Make you smile like an itty bitty child

He took her hand, then nearly had a heart attack when the hand came clear off her arm.

"Wha--?" Harry sputtered.

"Ha! You fell for my trick AGAIN. 'Nearly Real' fake hand. One of Fred and George's new creations. It's a hit at parties." Ginny was beaming, her eyes full of amusement.

There's a time for every star

"You nearly gave me a heart attack! Very clever, though, I'll hand that to you." Harry, too, was grinning.

"Let's go inside, before Ron wakes up and wreaks even more havoc upon this house."

Harry laughed and followed Ginny inside, only to see his two best friends, oblivious to the rest of the world, snogging like their lives depended on it.

There's a time for every star

"Everybody Got Their Something" by Nikka Costa

A/N: Dun dun dun..... There was chapter 4! It felt like it was really long, but it's probably not. Sorry if this wasn't the most eventful chapter, but I thought it was cute; I felt it needed to lighten up a tad bit. In case you're wondering, I didn't just drop the whole idea of Harry's birthday; I just wanted to move on to more important things. Like fluff!!! lol...jk. Anyhoo, as it turns out, I'm going to Brazil tomorrow morning instead of the evening, so I'm afraid there probably won't be an update for another ten days eek. But I WILL be back, my furry friends. Never fear! jk lol. Okees, cheerio, then, and remember to REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!