O that 'twere possible,
After long grief and pain,
To find the arms of my true- love
Round me once again!…
A shadow flits before me-
Not thou, but like to thee.
Ah God! that it were possible
For one short hour to see
The souls we loved, that they might tell us
What and where they be.

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

A/N Ok. I was getting a bit bored of my story, and I had a bad case of writer's block, so, I'm skipping from where I left off to Easter of Harry's sixth year. That seems like the best thing to do. That's when the story starts to move anyway, and the more I skip the sooner I get to the end of Harry's seventh year, when everything becomes clear. Sorry about the long wait, but I've been busy with school, and music exams, and expeditions. Please bear with me. I'm hoping to get more work done on this story over the next few days. Oh, and because chapter 11 was originally quite short, I've combined it with chapter 12, which was also short.

Chapter XI: The Only Way

It was the first day of the Easter holidays. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny were about the only Gryffindors remaining in school. For the past few weeks the Gryffindor Quidditch team had been practising hard for their final match of the season, against Ravenclaw, so Harry, Ron and Ginny were looking forward to a couple of weeks of relaxation, even though Hermione was trying to force Ginny to revise for her OWLs, which were spiralling ever closer.

Dumbledore called Harry to his office for an urgent meeting about Voldemort.

"Sit down, Harry," said Dumbledore when Harry entered.

"What's happening, Professor?" asked Harry, nervously.

"The order has been informed by its spies that Voldemort plans to infiltrate Hogwarts," said Dumbledore gravely.

"Hogwarts?" Harry whispered hoarsely. "Why?"

"The reason is not clear, although one spy firmly believes that it is about one student only," said Dumbledore. "And that student is not you."

"Who else would Voldemort be concerned with?" asked Harry, not meaning to sound cocky.

"The one person whose death would destroy you," said Dumbledore.

The colour drained from Harry's face.

"No," he whispered. "Not… No!"

"He knows of your feelings, Harry," said Dumbledore calmly. "He knows that killing the one you love will hurt you more than any spell."

"But she doesn't deserve this," said Harry. "Why can't I just been a normal teenager? Why does Voldemort have to be after me? Why is it me who is destined to defeat him? Why does he have to get Ginny involved?"

Harry put his head in his hands.

"Ginny," he whispered.

He looked up.

"How can I save her?" he asked.

Dumbledore looked at him sadly.

"Distance yourself from her," said Dumbledore quietly.

Harry stared at Dumbledore. His father's words were echoing in his head, Don't ever let her go.

"How can I do that?" said Harry, angrily. "How will he even know?"

"Voldemort has a spy, here at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore. "You must make sure that Draco Malfoy knows that you and Ginny are no longer together."

"She'll hate me forever," said Harry quietly.

He stood up and left Dumbledore's office.

That night Harry asked Ginny to meet him in the astronomy tower. It was eight o'clock in the evening when they met. Harry checked the Marauders map to make sure that Malfoy was listening at the door, and sure enough, he was there.

"What is it, Harry?" asked Ginny.

Harry stood with his back to her. He couldn't look at her, if he did, he knew he wouldn't be able to go through with it.

"It's over between us, Ginny," said Harry, coldly.

"What?" gasped Ginny.

"It's over," Harry repeated.

"Why?" asked Ginny.

"I don't love you," he said. "I never did."

"How could you?" shouted Ginny. "How could you lie to me?"

Angry tears slid down her cheeks. Harry's own eyes began to fill. He was hurting his love. He was hurting himself.

"I needed comfort," said Harry. "You were there."

"You used me?" Ginny whispered.

"Basically," said Harry cruelly. "But I've got bored of you now, so if you don't mind, could you please stay away from me."

"I hate you!" shouted Ginny.

She turned around and stormed away.

Later, in the common room, Harry and Ginny were both doing their homework. There were only about seven other people in the common room, and the only sounds that could be heard were the scratchings of many quills. Ginny was halfway through her Transfiguration essay when words began to appear on her parchment; words that she didn't write.

Ginny

Ginny stared at the words.

What the hell?

She wrote.

It's Harry

Why should I believe you?

I can prove it

Go on then

I know about the time you got Ron grounded for throwing the cat in the river, even though it was you who did it

Ginny stared at the parchment. Harry was the only person who knew about that.

Ok, I believe you, but what the hell do you want? I thought you wanted to stay away from me

I need to explain something

You made yourself perfectly clear

No, that was just an act

And why should I believe you?

Voldemort is coming to Hogwarts, soon, and he's coming for you

What?

He knows how I feel about you, and how killing you would be the only way to get to me

I don't understand

I love you Ginny, more than anything, and Voldemort knows it. He's right. Killing you would be the easiest way to destroy me

That doesn't explain why you were so cruel earlier. Why couldn't you have told me this in person?

Voldemort's spy at Hogwarts, Malfoy, has been secretly following us since Halloween

And we didn't notice?

He's been watching from a distance. Anyway, he told Voldemort about us and Voldemort came up with a plan to get to you. Dumbledore told me this morning

So that's where you went

Yeah. Dumbledore said that the only way for me to protect you is to distance myself from you. I really hate this

It's not your fault, Harry, but I wish that it didn't have to be like this

So you don't hate me?

No. I understand now, but why couldn't you have told me before you did the 'Act'

Because your reaction needed to be real for the plan to work

Are you saying that I can't act?

Yes

I so wish I could hit you right now

That's the advantage of talking by parchment

How did you get this working, by the way?

It's a simple spell. I'll show you when we officially get back together

Who said we're unofficially back together?

Ginny

Oh, alright, we're back together

I love you

I love you too

Ginny glanced across the room at Harry, who looked up also. Their eyes met for just a second, and Ginny knew that he meant it.

Do you think the plan will work?

It had better, because I am not going through this for nothing

When is he supposed to be coming?

2 months

We have to be apart that long?

It sucks doesn't it? How will I manage without you?

You'll find a way, and so will I…Shit, Hermione's coming over. I have to go. I love you, Harry

I love you, Ginny

The words disappeared from the parchment. Hermione pulled up a chair and sat down next to her friend.

"I heard what happened," said Hermione. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," said Ginny. "I'm fine. I understand why it had to happen."

"Well, you'd better tell that to your brother, because he's about to mash Harry to a pulp," said Hermione.

Ginny looked across the common room to where Ron had hold of Harry by the collar and was shouting so loud that the sound was incoherent.

"Ron," shouted Ginny.

Ron apparently didn't hear, because at that moment his right fist collided with Harry's jaw, again, and again, and again. People were beginning to gather around the fight, intrigued by what was happening. After about the sixth punch Harry's lip began to bleed. Ginny winced as the fist hit Harry for the seventh time.

"He really doesn't deserve this, Hermione," said Ginny.

"Stop it then," said Hermione. "I already tried, Ron won't listen to me."

Harry cried out as the eighth punch was so hard that he hit the floor with a crash. Parvati Patil ran over to Hermione and Ginny.

"Do something, Ginny," Parvati begged. "I've never seen Ron like this before."

"Neither have I," said Ginny.

As the days turned into weeks, both Harry and Ginny felt increasingly lonely. After talking to Ginny, Ron had forgiven Harry for what he said, and Harry had forgiven Ron for what he did. Ginny kept up her brave face while she was out in the busiest parts of the school, but at night, it was all she could do to hold back the tears.

Harry wasn't fairing much better. He got dirty looks in the corridors wherever he went. News of what he said to Ginny Weasley had travelled quickly, and almost every girl in the school had rallied together to make him pay. But the worst thing for Harry was the feeling that every day that passed brought him closer to the day when Voldemort would come. He was annoyed that Dumbledore had never informed him if the plan had worked or not, so he didn't know if he was dying inside for a particular reason or for no reason at all.

Six weeks had gone by and the dreaded date was almost within throwing distance when Ginny found a note on her pillow.

Ginny – My One and Only,

I can't take his anymore. I miss you too much, and I had another nightmare yesterday. Voldemort knows that the break up isn't real. He's still coming for you and I don't know what to do. I need you to meet me in the DA room at 9 tonight. Please Ginny. I love you.

Harry

Ginny stared at the note, not sure whether it really was from Harry or not. She opened her trunk and took out the sneakoscope, which Hermione had given her for Christmas. She held it close to the letter and nothing began to whizz or scream, so Ginny felt that the letter was genuine. She looked at her watch. It was just before 9. She walked hurriedly out of the dormitory and through the common room. She ran around the school until she reached the Room of Requirement slightly out of breath. Just as the clock struck nine, Ginny turned the handle and entered.

She gasped. There was a large fire roaring on the wall to here left, there was an enormous, squashy couch facing it and a bouquet of roses was sitting on a table by the wall opposite the door.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered.

She walked into the room, shutting the door behind her.

"I'm glad you like it," said Harry from behind her.

He pulled off the invisibility cloak and smiled at her.

"I've been to talk to Dumbledore," said Harry. "About my dream. He thinks that the best way of protecting you now is to never let you be alone. When you're not in class, you'll be with me. Always."

"Always?" said Ginny.

Harry nodded.

"That doesn't sound so bad," said Ginny with a smile.

Harry pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," said Ginny.

They kissed again, gently at first, but slowly getting more heated and more passionate. Harry lay down on the couch and pulled Ginny on top of him.

"I'm ready, Harry," she whispered in his ear, before their lips met again.

Before either of the realised what was happening, both were lying together completely naked, and alone in a locked room…

The next day the whole of Hogwarts was in shock to find Harry and Ginny back together again, after all the hostility. Harry and Ginny told Ron and Hermione why they broke up in the first place. In the common room that night, while Harry and Ron were writing Potions essays, Ginny decided to talk to her best friend, Hermione.

"What happened last night, Ginny?" said Hermione. "Laura and Charlotte said that you didn't sleep in the dormitory."

"I was in the DA room," said Ginny.

"Alone?" asked Hermione.

"With Harry," said Ginny quietly.

"So what happened?" asked Hermione.

"Well, the room looked beautiful, there was a large fire, and roses and it was so cosy, and the couch was so comfortable. When I went in he appeared from underneath the cloak and he told me what's going on with the Voldemort killing me situation, and then he kissed me," said Ginny.

"Is that all?" asked Hermione.

"I'm not finished yet," said Ginny. "So, anyway, we ended up lying on the couch with me on top of him, and then before I knew it, both of us were completely naked."

"Oh my God," said Hermione. "Did you – you know?"

"Yeah," said Ginny, grinning. "It was amazing. I was ready; I knew it. It's just the most amazing feeling. It was so perfect, everything's perfect at the moment."

Hermione hugged Ginny.

"I am so happy for you," said Hermione. "You did take precautions though, right?"

"Of course," said Ginny. "I'm not an idiot."

On the other side of the common room, Harry and Ron were packing away their things. Harry knew that he had to tell Ron, before he found out some other way. He knew he'd probably get beat up, but Ron was his best mate, and he was going to hide it.

"Ron," said Harry. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" said Ron.

"It's about Ginny and me," said Harry. "We – erm - we slept together last night."

Harry looked at Ron, anxiously, waiting for the first blow. Ron just stared at Harry, turning slightly pale.

"You shagged my sister?" said Ron.

"Yeah," said Harry.

"You didn't force her, did you?" said Ron.

"No!" said Harry. "Of course I didn't. I wouldn't do that to anybody, especially not Ginny. I love her too much to do that to her. She told me she was ready."

"Er, Harry," said Ron. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"What?" asked Harry, suddenly worried.

"Hermione and I have been sleeping together for about a month," said Ron.

"A month!" exclaimed Harry.

A shocked silence fell over the common room, and Harry looked over to where Hermione and Ginny were sitting together. Hermione had gone very, very red. She and Ginny crossed the common room and joined the boys.

"I can't believe you told him," hissed Hermione to Ron.

"He's my best mate," said Ron. "You're not telling me that Ginny didn't already know."

"Well – I – that's different!" said Hermione.

"It's really not," said Ginny.

"Oh, stay out of it," said Hermione.

"Did you tell him?" Ginny whispered in Harry's ear.

"Yeah," Harry whispered back.

"How did he take it?"

"Really well."

Harry took hold of Ginny's hand and the two of them walked away, leaving Ron and Hermione to argue in peace.

A/N Well, that was it. What do you think? I'm hoping to get the next chapter up, before the Easter holidays finish. 49 days until the UK release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I really can't wait. Please review. I'll love you forever if you do. Thanks.