Chapter 3: The Room of Requirement
Harry woke up feeling very confused. He squinted, trying to make out the shapes as he groped for his glasses on the side table next to him. He put them on and tried to sit up, only to collapse down again clutching his head. He decided to survey his surroundings from a lying down position instead.
The room he was in was decorated in rich reds and purples. Ornate mahogany furniture was placed in the room, and in a fire was still burning underneath a marble mantle. Something stirred next to him, making Harry freeze. Oh my God. He thought. Please no, please don't make it true! Some form of a memory from the night before began to form in his head. Slowly he turned and saw Ginny's sleeping face next to him.
"Oh no…" he said aloud. "Oh no…Ginny! Ginny wake up! Gin, come on!"
"Mmmm…just five more minutes, Mum,"
"Ginny! Please!" Harry said frantically. Her head finally registered his voice and her eyes fluttered open.
"Harry! Harry! Oh my God, did we…?" she asked, horrified.
He looked under the covers. "Oh, Ginny…yes I think we did…"
The two of them sat up staring into space for quite a while after that. Harry noticed that Ginny leaked a few tears. He felt absolutely awful inside.
Finally she managed to collect herself enough to say "Turn around while I get dressed, Harry." He obliged and reached for his own pants too. He pulled them on slowly, trying to recall all of the earlier night's events. We were in the common room, he thought. And she was crying…and then, oh! Then Seamus brought that Vodka stuff! He saw his empty bottle lying on the floor and grabbed it, reading the label thoroughly.
"Madam Victoria's Vivacious Vodka will bring out the best feeling in you! Wash away your inhibitions in two sips flat! Remember; With Victoria in the Mix, you'll always get your fix!"
So it had been the vodka that made them do it! Wait, no…It just had said that it washes away inhibitions, not creates new feelings. For a second he felt elated. Ginny liked him back! However, he then noticed the vodka bottle had a Hangover-Eliminator charm on the label as well. He quickly performed the charm on himself.
Just then Ginny was finishing up and about to leave.
"Wait, Gin!" Harry said. She was crying softly again. He ran up to her, and put his arms on her elbows.
"Ginny, Gin, would you look at me?" She looked up, drying her tears. "Ginny, I'm so sorry about last night. This was the last thing on my mind, and I would never want to hurt you! You're my best mate's sister…" ARGH! Ginny thought at that moment. That's exactly WHY I'm crying, idiot! Because I just wasted my first time on someone I lust over but doesn't feel anything towards me. However, Harry hadn't finished.
"…but I've just realized something else too. I really like you Ginny. You're smart and beautiful and you can always make me laugh, and you're always there when I need you and you understand me better than anyone else. I wish that we could have started off slow, but that damn vodka…" Ginny was amazed. Was she hearing right? Harry liked her too? But then she realized,
"The vodka? It had something to do with this!"
"Yea…it takes away inhibitions…so we just acted on raw emotion."
"Oh…" she said quietly. "So, you do like me Harry?"
"Yea Ginny," he said smiling. "I like you a lot." He brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face, and leaned in, caressing his lips over hers. My God, she thought. This is amazing…I can't believe I can barely remember last night! Finally they pulled apart for a breath. Ginny hugged Harry tighter and rested her head on his bare chest. Then she giggled.
"This would all be so much better if I didn't have such a splitting hangover." she laughed.
"Oh! Hang on a sec, there's a hangover charm on the bottle!" Harry gently pried himself out of her arms to go fetch it. Within a few minutes he had cured her of her headache, finished dressing, and the two left the room they had spent their first night together in; The Room of Requirement.
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It was a weekend, and everyone else was hung-over and just waking up as well, so no one really noticed Harry and Ginny's late arrival down to the Great Hall. It was well after ten when Hermione and Ron sauntered in, Ron looking weary eyed and still stretching.
"G'morning Harry! Ginny!" Hermione said brightly.
"Shhh, shh! Mione! Not so loud!" Ron pleaded. She rolled her eyes.
"Serves you right, drinking so much last night!" She crossed her arms and plunked down next to Ginny.
"Hey, Ron! I learned a new charm to help with hangovers! You want it?" With grateful consent from Ron, Harry pointed his wand towards him and muttered "Cranium Cleanse!" he said with a flick. Immediately Ron felt relief.
"Thanks Harry! I'll have to remember that one!" he said gratefully. "So what'd the two of you guys do yesterday after you got back?" he asked innocently, loading his plate with sausages. Harry panicked, trying to come up with a good cover story, but Ginny cut in, stuttering a bit.
"Oh, ah…we just came back and I read some magazines and, erm…Harry, didn't you go fly around a bit or something?"
"Uh, yea…I thought the fresh air might be helpful." Ginny gave him a look, and he nodded. They needed to talk, but not right here. He was about to excuse himself when Ron said quickly, "Hey, but I didn't see you get into bed last night! Where were you!" Harry froze. Quick, Harry! Think! he urged himself. Then it hit him; "Oh, I went for a walk with my cloak and didn't get back till late. Then I got up earlier then you this morning, didn't I?" He had gone in and changed this morning while all his roommates slept soundly.
"Oh! Didn't think of that!" Ron said with a grin.
"Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to go start, uh…doing my homework. Or something…erm, see ya later!" Harry stuttered, and walked quickly out the door and into the Great Hall, sitting on a railing to wait for Ginny.
She emerged a few minutes later, looking around. She smiled when she noticed him.
The pair walked the halls a bit, searching for a place that would be quiet. Although there was hardly anyone around, they didn't want to take their chances that someone might walk in on their conversation. Finally they settled on a deserted classroom that looked as thought it had been an Ancient Runes class before.
"So…" Harry said, sitting down at a desk.
"So." Ginny repeated.
"I don't think we should," they both started at the same time.
"Tell Ron?" Harry finished.
"Tell Ron," she agreed with a smile.
"I suppose you and I are a secret then, Gin?"
"Sounds like it," she said and grinned. She was too irresistible, and Harry simply pulled her close for a long kiss.
