Disclaimer: My wildest of wild dreams is that I could own the magnificent world of Harry Potter, but unfortunately for me, that is a dream that will not come true.

A Harry and Ginny Dreamer: I sometimes wish I could read minds, but then again, I kind of enjoy being trapped inside my crazy head. Lol. I'm really overjoyed that you love my story...I think you'll get a pretty good idea from this chapter when Harry and Ginny are going to get...Er...closer. I'm trying to develop a bit more plotline, but I also am obsessed with Harry/Ginny, so I won't forget. Thanks!

Natalie: Thanks! Ooo...Athens, sounds amazing!

peppy132: It's cool that you like that song; I sometimes worry that the songs I put up are too obscure. Your favorite place is a lot like mine, I'm such a dreamer too.

lucugirl07: Thanks so much for reading my story! Here's the update!

Sabine Strohem-Moss: lol you make me laugh. Thanks-I had a scratch of trouble writing that conversation, glad it turned out well.

Penelope Richmond: I really, really, really appreciate your offer to be a beta for me, and thanks once again for your review! I didn't even really plan for it to be a songfic, it just kinda flowed that way. I'm glad you like it!

A/N: Thanks once again to my beautiful beta Black Padfoot: you are wonderful. And before we start then chapter just get ON with it, India! my favorite place is right smack in the middle of a waterfall in Foz do Iguazu, in Brazil.

Drum-roll please...

Sometimes You Just Need a Slap in the Face

Chapter 7: Fear

Morning smiles

A tall, thin, redheaded figure lay silently on the white bed in the small room in St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Bill Weasley had to use all the effort in his body just to open his eyes. He managed to open one swollen eye, and was greeted with the image of six blurry reddish figures and two blurry brownish figures.

Like the face

Of a newborn child

"Mum?" Bill's voice was incredibly hoarse, the words scratching at his throat as he spoke them.

Innocent unknowing.

"Bill!" Mrs. Weasley ran towards her eldest son, tears flowing down her plump cheeks, unsure of whether hugging him would do further physical damage. "Oh, Bill, love, I'm so sorry this happened to you!" The Weasley mother was now sobbing quite freely.

Winter's end

Promises

Of a long lost friend.

The oldest son reached up a shaking arm and laid his bandaged wand hand on his mother's shoulder. "It's O.K. Mum, I'm fine now."

Speaks to me of comfort

"No! You're not fine! Oh, and Charlie's not here yet, and- You were nearly killed! I don't know if I can stand watching my children get hurt like this-"

"But I didn't get killed, Mum, I'm right here," Bill tried a soothing tone but it came out as more of a rasp.

But I fear

I have nothing to give.

In a dark corner of the room by the door, behind the blank-faced Ron, the teary Hermione, and the angry Ginny, stood a lone boy with raven hair, uneasiness and discomfort apparent on his face.

I have so much

To lose here in this lonely place.

Harry had a battle going on in his head, and he feared he was somehow losing it.

I don't belong here, he thought, this is between the Weasleys.

Tangled up in your embrace

But they've always welcomed you, they wouldn't just suddenly decide to kick you out of their family.

I've never really been in their family. I've always been an outsider, the boy with no parents.

Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself again. The Weasleys are your parents now.

You're starting to sound like Ginny.

There's nothing I'd like better than

To fall.

But you don't think that's a bad thing.

What? No-yes-the point is, I don't want to intrude on the Weasleys, so I'll just leave now.

But-

-Shut up! Just shut up, and leave me alone!

But I fear

I have nothing to give.

Harry silently pushed the door open, then slipped outside and looked for a place where he would most easily be forgotten.

Wind in time

Ginny held Bill's hand gently, taking care not to further damage the broken fingers. Everyone else had left the room, having already offered their best wishes to him, leaving the eldest and youngest Weasleys alone.

Rapes the flower

Bill's voice was becoming clearer as was his Gryffindor courage showing through. "So, Gin, what's this I hear about you and a certain dark-haired wizard growing closer and closer?" The mirth was apparent in his deep voice.

Ginny narrowed her eyes, her inheritance of her mother's temper apparent. "Bill! This is no time to be thinking about that!"

Trembling on the vine

"You would dare deprive a sick man of his amusement?" He faked a cough, but it turned into a real coughing fit. Once he had assured Ginny he was fine, he began again. "Seriously, though, I know how much you cared for Harry before."

"Bill, that was just a hero-worship. And of course I care for Harry, as a...as a brother."

"I sure hope you're lying about that, because the looks I've seen you give him, those aren't looks you give a brother."

"I already told you Bill, I gave up on him." She was starting to grow tired of this teasing game.

Bill sensed her hand tense in his. "Ginny-you know I want only the best for you. And although I don't know if anyone will really be a match for you, I think-at least from what I've been hearing-that Harry really cares for you...maybe even is in love with you."

Ginny's face was beat red with fury. "Don't say that, Bill! Don't make me go through that disappointment AGAIN, " realizing that she may as well tell Bill everything now, as he was her closest brother, she continued, "Look, Bill...I never stopped liking Harry. When I got to know him, the real him, my crush became something some much bigger, much deeper. But I can't let him know that, I shouldn't even let myself know that." She sighed tiredly.

and nothing yields to shelter

from above.

"Because you're afraid you'll get hurt?" Concern was shown in Bill's eyes.

"You know me too well, Bill," a wry grin appeared on Ginny's face. "But seriously, I really don't think he can ever feel the same way about me. He's only ever known me as Ron's little sister."

"Not from what Ron is saying, he doesn't. You two have been taking walks together everyday, am I correct? And, you seem to be the only one who can take him out of his bad moods."

"Yes, Bill, and that's what friends do. We're nothing more than friends. And that's fine, for...that's fine."

Bill grinned. "Fine for now, you mean?"

Ginny glared. "Remind me to slaughter Ron."

Bill's smile broadened. Then he took on a more serious demeanor. "But really, Ginny, I know you're brave. You're a Gryffindor. Trust your instincts. And remember you can always talk to your favorite brother."

Ginny embraced him in a firm hug, "I will. Thanks Bill. You get better, alright?"

"Alright." Bill smiled at his only sister as she retreated into the hallway. She was growing up so quickly.

Knowing the rest of her family was in the lobby trying to sort out papers, and wanting rather to avoid people for a bit, wandered the hallways, until

CRASH!

She turned a corner and ran straight into one; Harry Potter.

They say temptation will destroy our love.

"What is this, Potter, some conspiracy to have me fall at least once a day?" Ginny had a mock-angry look on her face.

"Just pay-back for slapping me, Weasley," Harry replied with the same look.

Ginny returned mentally to the matter at hand. "Why did you leave the room so early? You didn't even say anything to Bill."

The never-ending hunger

Harry's eyes shifted to anywhere but Ginny's, though he could still feel her piercing gaze. "Well, I thought-I guess I-I just."

"Merlin, Potter, HOW many times must I tell you that you are a part of the Weasley family whether you like it or not! We're not just going to stop caring for you!"

But I fear

"I know...I guess, it's just that I didn't want to intrude. I-I couldn't help but remember early last year when...when your father had to go to St. Mungos, because...because of me."

I have nothing to give

Ginny's features softened. "Harry, first of all, you know that was T-Voldemort, not you. And second-"

I have so much

To lose here in this lonely place

Harry cut her off, "Wait a minute, you said Voldemort. That wasn't so hard was it?"

Ginny was confused by the sudden change of subject but replied anyway. "No, I suppose it wasn't. Look, Harry, I wish more than anything that I could show you how incredible you are. Even without either of us knowing it, you just got me to overcome part of one of my greatest fears. It doesn't matter that you aren't related by blood, you're-you're like a brother to all of us...to...to me." The words were so difficult to utter.

"Am I?" Harry could not help the words coming from his mouth, it seemed he had lost total control of his speech.

"What?" Ginny's eyes began to shine with a bit of fear that Harry knew how she felt. "What do you mean?

"I mean, do you really want me to be your brother? Do you really see me that way?" Harry lost control of his body as well; he was slowly backing Ginny into a wall.

Tangled up in our embrace

"Why are you asking me this, Harry?" Although she had a vague idea why he was asking judging by the unexpected look of-Ginny couldn't quite put her finger on it-in Harry's eyes. "Ouch," she said, hitting the wall she wasn't aware was behind her.

"Because, Ginny, I have a lot of trouble thinking of you as a sister." Had Harry been in his right mind, he would have never said that, but something about the gleam in Ginny's eyes had driven him completely mad.

There's nothing I'd like better than

To fall

It seemed an eternity before Harry closed the small gap between Ginny and himself, and even longer before he pressed his lips to hers. In that moment, the world shook with the passion that was building itself up in both of their bodies.

But I fear

Harry hesitantly pulled back from the small kiss. He made to turn away, but Ginny slowly, gently, and tauntingly slid her arms around Harry's neck, sending cool shivers down his entire spine. He looked her in the eyes again, and saw a sweet desire he had never experienced before-with Cho it had just been a matter of lust.

Ginny pushed her soft lips against his with more force this time, and Harry surrendered completely to the gesture, trying to memorize the feel, the taste, the beauty of her lips, of whatever bliss she was transferring to him.

I have nothing to give.

Harry's hands began to caress her back, and Ginny closed her eyes in contentment, and that in itself drove Harry even more insane than he had already gone.

I have so much to lose.

He ran his rough hands through her hair, still kissing her, and began to kiss down her smooth pale neck, memorizing every beautiful freckle.

That did it for Ginny. "Harry!" She said in hushed tone, "We-we-have...to...stop. My family is waiting for us."

I have nothing to give.

Harry straightened, and coming back into his brain, realized what he had just done. "Ginny-I'm so sorry. I didn't-I wasn't thinking. I shouldn't have done that."

Tears formed in the redhead's eyes. "Oh, sorry, are you?" she said, her eyes narrowed, then collected herself, purposely pushing Bill's words out of her head. "Well, I'm sorry too. I don't what-let's just forget that happened.

I have nothing to give.

And with that, she hurried back to her family, and Harry didn't dare run after her.

We have so much to lose...

"Fear" by Sarah McLachlan

A/N: Alrighty...so, you got your kiss, BUT as the evil person I am, I made it all complicated. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyhoo, I hope you like it; thanks for reading as usual. I do believe the story is nearing an end (I'm not positive), but pretty sure, and since I am a hopeless romantic at heart, you needn't worry about a sad ending.

Once again, I ask you, for MERLIN'S SAKE, HARRY POTTER'S SAKE, or the sake of whoever else you choose,

REVIEW!

Gracias, and have a most magnificent week!

Much, much, much love and hopes for reviews,

India