A/N: I am so sorry for the extreme delay in updating. The only excuse I have was major writer's block on this story—I couldn't figure out a way to solve the whole Ginny-heard-Harry-and-Claire problem, but finally just took the easy way out. I hope this chapter is worth the wait. I'm so, so sorry.

Chapter Seven

Whipped Cream

Claire was sitting at home in front of her computer when she felt an acute pain in her head.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed, rubbing her temples. "Something must be wrong with Harry…"

Harry was lying in his bed, trying to summon Claire. Unfortunately, he didn't have the talent that Claire did of being able to speak in peoples' heads, but he desperately needed to talk to her. Suddenly, to his relief, he heard Claire's voice in his head.

Bloody hell, Harry, that hurt! What in the world could be the matter?

Claire! You have to come here immediately!

Why?

Just come! And be quiet about it! Harry didn't hear anything for awhile, until he saw Claire appear at the end of his bed.

"Silenco!" she said, waving her finger in the air. "What is the matter?" she asked, worriedly.

"Ginny heard us," he replied. "She heard us!"

"Heard us what?" Claire asked. "Jeez, Harry, you're really worked up!" Claire crawled over to him and put her arm around his shoulder.

"She's going to hate me forever." Harry related the entire Ginny incident to Claire.

"Harry, Harry, calm down. It will be really easy to fix this," Claire reassured him. Harry looked at her, amazed.

"Really?" he asked.

"Harry, you're a wizard…remember?" she said, taking her arm off his shoulder. "There are these things…called memory charms…" Harry laughed in relief.

"I am so stupid."

"I was going to wait until the appropriate age to tell you that, but yes, yes you are." Harry punched her.

"So, you just have to wave your finger, right?" Harry asked. Claire looked at him.

"Actually, no. You're going to have to do this one, Harry."

"Why! It's your fault! You're the one who got me in trouble in the first place!" Claire shrugged.

"It's the rules, Harry."

"Since when have there been rules?"

"Since forever! It says in my handbook, page 321, section 2Z: 'Claire is not allowed to directly and/or permanently change a wizard's feelings, memories, or gender, even if she got them in the trouble in the first place (which is highly probable). Any violations of said law will resort in her powers being taken away for like, basically, forever.' See?" Harry saw that he would have to do this whole thing on his own.

"Fine! You know how much trouble I'm going to get in if I get caught?"

"You won't get caught," Claire reassured him. "I can help with that part. It's just you're the one that has to perform the actual spell." Harry smiled, happy. A few minutes ago, he felt like all was lost, but everything was looking up.

"One thing, though," continued Claire. "The only memory spell that you can perform is one that will, um, kind of totally wipe out her memory for…well, basically…the-entire-day," she rushed the last three words as if they were one, and then hurriedly coughed. "So, off to Ginny's room! We've got to get working on this so we finish it tonight, now don't we? So, you can—" Harry cut her off.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"We've got to get working on this so we can finish it tonight," said Claire, feigning ignorance (an act that she was very, very accomplished at).

"No, the thing before that," said Harry, slowly.

"It wasn't really important. Shouldn't we get working?"

"Claaire…"

"Haaarry…"

"Tell me what you said. Word for word, the entire thing."

"What, the part about 'Haarr—'"

"NO!" replied Harry, getting frustrated. "NOT THAT PART!" Claire paused for a moment, a little put out that Harry yelled at her.

"Okay, fine, but don't shoot the messenger. The only memory spell that you can perform on Ginny will be one that will…that will…wipe out her memory of the entire day…" Claire winced, waiting for Harry's reaction to this bad news.

Harry looked similar to a goldfish for a few moments, before he finally choked out, "The whole day?"

Claire nodded and replied, "The whole day."

"Even the perfectly planned towel and the 'ride my broomstick' line?"

"Yes…even the sexy-ass towel and the genius 'ride my broomstick' line." Harry didn't say anything. He just looked at the curtains hanging around his bed, a disappointed look on his face. "Harry, I know this is really bad but…but, we can't think about that, all right? We really need to get moving on this memory charm thing before Ginny wakes up and makes it harder. Okay?" Harry was quiet. "Come on," continued Claire, replying to his silence, "you're the Boy-Who-Friggin'-Lived! Buck up!" Harry nodded, very slightly. "Now, say, 'Claire, you are abso-bloody-lutely right. I should buck up. I'm damned sexy, I have a six pack, and even if I erase today from Ginny's mind, she'll still love me.'"

"Claire, you are abso-bloody-lutely right. I should buck up. I'm…damned sexy…I have a sick pack, and even if I erase today from Ginny's mind, she'll still…love me," repeated Harry, dutifully. Claire was beginning to make him feel better about the whole situation.

"Okay, now say, 'Claire is amazingly hawt, and even if Ginny doesn't still like me, Claire will always be happy to use me as a sex toy!'" Harry looked at her. "Say it!" After a long pause, he did. Claire giggled.

"That's right," she said. Harry tried hard not to smile. Claire noticed this, and said, "I see that smile…I see that smile!" Harry grinned. "It's amazing, folks, he's smiling! Can we have a round of applause, please?" She waggled her finger and the sound of a stadium of applauding people filled the air.

"Thanks, Claire," said Harry, after she turned off the noise.

"No time to be sappy, we've got a memory to erase! Well, correction…you have a memory to erase. Do you want me in your head or not?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that," replied Harry.

"Aww!" said Claire. "It's almost like you just complimented me!"

"Almost."

"All right, let's get this thing going!" Claire exclaimed. She was going to stay in Harry's bed while he went out with his invisibility cloak. Claire also granted him the "Eyes In Back O' Your Head" charm ("That's not a real charm!" "Yes, it is, Harry, shut up.") and sent him on his way. He crept out of the dormitory, and was heading towards the girls' when Claire said (inside his head), All right, now, you're going to try to go up the girls' dorm stairs, and they will turn into a slide. So, I'm going to trick the stairs into thinking that you're a girl.

How? Harry answered back. He almost screamed as he felt his legs growing longer, his chest expanding, his hair growing…and…well, you get the picture.

What fresh hell is this? Harry thought to Claire.

Hey, I'm saving your arse here; don't complain about my methods, she snapped back.

Harry sighed, quietly, as he ascended the stairs, worried that at any moment they would turn into a slide, and it would wake every single girl up. They would come down and see Harry dressed in drag…Ginny would get to add horror on top of her feelings of betrayal, and she'd never talk to him. He'd be taken to some correctional facility to spend his life in a white, padded room. Maybe Hermione or Ron would visit him occasionally and give him little mints…his only comfort in the horrible, white world…

Harry, shut. up. said Claire. A correctional facility…you're crazy… then she snorted at her little joke.

Claire, shut. up. said Harry. Claire immediately stopped laughing.

Ooo, you are funny, aren't you? she said, sarcastically. By this time, Harry had successfully made it up the stairs and was now standing outside the girls' dormitory door.

Claire, can you change me back now?

Hmm…should I? I dunno…you were pretty mean to me earlier…and besides, I think you look better as a girl. Ginny will probably like you more… Harry wasn't sure how he was going to grovel in his mind, but, luckily, before he could answer back, he felt himself changing back. Claire was obviously tired of teasing him.

Thanks! He thought.

"Alohomora," he whispered, waving his wand at the dorm door. He could hear the lock click and he jiggled the knob. The door opened with a very, very noisy creak. He winced and paused for a long time, waiting to see the horrible results of that noise. Surprisingly, no one woke up. No one even stirred!

Harry, what are you doing? Keep moving!

Did you hear the creak?

Why does it matter? I put a silencing charm on all noises caused by you, so no on could hear the door, you idiot!

Why didn't you tell me this earlier? Harry glared at Claire inwardly.

I thought it would be funnier if I didn't tell you, replied Claire, flippantly. Harry groaned.

With this new found information he set off quickly to complete his task. He could hear the clock chiming two o'clock…Claire and he had spent a long time talking, but he still had ample time. Now, Harry was inside the girls' dormitory, a place that he had never entered before. Ever.

It was a lot cleaner than the boys' dorms, and the air smelled of…roses? It was actually kind of boring, other than a few articles of lingerie Harry found strewn on the floor.

Claire, which one is Ginny's bed? He asked her, looking around at all the beds with the curtains closed tightly.

Follow your heart, replied Claire. Harry almost gagged.

You're kidding me, right? He answered. Claire giggled.

Heck yes I'm kidding you. Dolt, I'm not that cheesy. Suddenly, he felt something pulling on his belly button, much like a Portkey, in the direction of a certain bed.

That must be it, thought Harry. But before he could reach it and open the curtains, he heard mutterings from a bed right next to Ginny's.

That's Hermione's bed, Claire informed Harry. Harry was interested. What in the world could Hermione be muttering about in her sleep? He walked closer to her bed and put his head against the velvet curtains. She was mumbling, so he could only catch a few words, but that was plenty.

"Ron, I love you too! Oh, Ron! Yes, I do like whipped cream…oh, Ron…if my parents knew…" and then she giggled. Harry turned pasty white.

Are you making her dream about that? Harry asked Claire, aghast.

Nope, she's dreamin' about him all by herself, replied Claire. And don't look so disgusted, Harry, I heard you say "broom" and "Ginny" once in your sleep, and I don't think you were talking about Quidditch. Harry's pasty white was replaced by a bright red. He could hear Claire's laughing in his head. Still embarrassed, he stepped back from Hermione's bed and went to complete his task.

He opened the curtains to Ginny's bed. She was lying on her back, her face turned towards Harry. Her hair was a little mussed up, and her cheeks were flushed pink. She was breathing steadily. Just lying there, Harry knew she was something special. Seeing Ginny in such a vulnerable state made Harry feel extremely protective. He wished that he could lay down right next to her, take her in his arms and spend the whole night like that, and all the nights after.

Harry… said Claire. Harry ignored her. Harry? He was still wrapped up in his own world. HARRY! yelled Claire.

"What!" Harry yelled out loud. Suddenly, Ginny's eyelids fluttered.

Ah! I thought you said they couldn't hear me!

They can't, replied Claire. Harry was still worried, and stood there, slightly shaking.

"Harry?" mumbled Ginny, sleepily. Harry almost replied, but then it dawned on him. She was having a dream about him! "Harry…Harry, don't leave me." He felt like he was going to burst—he wanted to reply and tell her he wouldn't…she sounded so lost. "Thank you, Harry. Thank you. I just…I just don't ever want to be without you…all right? You'll stay? Promise?"

"I promise," he whispered.

Oh good god, interrupted Claire. This is turning into a damned romance novel. A bad one at that. 'Member what you came here to do, you sentimental fool?

Yeah, I remember, replied Harry, slightly embarrassed. Taking his wand from out of his front pocket, he positioned it above Ginny's temple and recited the charm. He paused, waiting for something to happen.

That's it, said Claire. Now get out of there. Harry nodded. Taking one last look at Ginny, he drew up her curtains, walked out of the room, down the stairs, up the boys' stairs and into the dorm. Claire smiled at him when she saw him.

"You did it!" she said.

"Yep," he replied.

"Feel better?"

"Yeah…a lot better," he replied, thinking about the dream of Ginny's that he had witnessed.

"I bet! So, time for you to go beddy-bye, eh?"

"Beddy-bye?"

"Yeah…does the ickle Harry want to go beddy-bye?" she said, with an annoyingly sweet baby voice.

"Yes, ickle Harry does want to go to beddy-bye…so…it's time for you to leave," he said, reminding Claire, as it seemed that she didn't realize that's what Harry "wanting to go to beddy-bye" entailed.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay so you can hold me in your arms?" Claire giggled and began her next sentence is a fake falsetto. "Harry…Harry, do you love me? Will you stay? Promise? Promise?" Harry glared at her, but he couldn't help smiling at the same time. "Ooo, Harry…nice broom…" Now she was going too far.

"Get out!" he half laughed, half yelled. She grinned and then disappeared with a SWOOSH! Shaking his head, he pulled the covers over him and fell fast asleep…his dreams filled with images of Ginny and him, sleeping in each other's arms…

A/N 2: All right, even though I have been horrible and haven't updated in years, you should still review, because then I'll feel even more guilty and will update the next chapter faster. Es verdad!

Thank you to:

The Flying Moose: I love you too, m'dear. Here's a muffin. :hands you a big, warm poppy seed muffin from Perkins: Cya in gym!

MyOwnLittleWorld: You are seriously one of my favorite reviewers, and I love your stories. I'm not just trying to suck up because I'm a horrible person (well, at least, that's not the whole reason) I really do appreciate it when you review.

JerryGirl: Tara, you do too take random boys up into empty rooms. Sorry that I just updated—I got tired of waiting for you to beta. So, guys, all the mistakes in this story? ALL JERRYGIRL'S FAULT.

Harry's4menotu: Whoa! Angstness! Hey, but before you hang yourself, review? I WAS JUST KIDDING! Sorry, I'm having a really cynical sense of humor today. Don't hang yourself. (Hey, if you get Harry, can I have Ron?)

Tennisaddict107: D'you even read my fanfics anymore? I hope you do, 'cos I love your reviews. I really need to send you some chappies to beta since you're so awesome at it. When are you going to work on YOUR writing?

Goatmamma123: I don't know who you are. Stop calling me. Just kidding, love! Thanks for reviewing! Give Alice a kiss for me! But review first!