Ginny woke up the morning feeling very refreshed. She had thoroughly enjoyed the time she spent with her father, and was sad to see him leave. Hermione, however, she still had mixed emotions about. Half the time, she saw Hermione as her closest female ally and best friend, but the rest of the time she couldn't help but see Hermione as the person who tore her family apart. She didn't feel like she could express those feelings to Harry, though. She knew that Harry and Hermione had formed their own little family, and talking Hermione down in any way would only cause tension between herself and Harry. And tension with Harry was the last thing she needed.

Ginny looked over at the team's calendar from her bed. The only thing marked for the day was uniform fittings and practice for the team. She let out a sigh of relief at the thought of the easy day before her. She was feeling emotionally spent, and an easy day was exactly what she needed. Ginny lay back down in bed hoping to catch a few extra minutes of sleep. The owl tapping on her window had other ideas, apparently. She got out of bed and opened the window to let the owl with the package in.

"These must be the uniforms," Ginny said excitedly. She quickly got dressed and ran downstairs with the package.

"Good morning!" Ginny said as she walked into the dining room where the team was eating breakfast.

"What's that?" Wesley asked with a mouth full of eggs.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Tank said, never looking up from his own breakfast.

"Yes, Dad," Wesley said, sounding a little annoyed.

It dawned on Tank what he had just done. "Sorry, with the kids being here yesterday the old habits came crashing back."

"What's that?" Jeff asked, pointing at the parcel Ginny was holding.

Ginny smiled broadly. "If I'm not mistaken, these are your uniforms."

"Well let's see; open them up," Dustin urged.

"Alright," Ginny said excitedly. She tore open the parcel and the package enlarged before her. She smiled as she saw the beautiful blue and red robes revealed. She pulled the one on top out and held it out at arm's length. Somehow, holding the uniform in her hands for the first time, everything seemed real. In less than a week the team would be competing in their first match. That was when it hit her: they could lose in the first round. She didn't know whether that thought made her happy or sad. She would be able to be with Harry, finally, but that also meant settling things with Ron. And even forgetting everything that was going on with Harry, she would really miss living with the team. They were all a family, in an odd, dysfunctional kind of way.

"Earth to Ginny," Jacob called.

Ginny shook her head. "Sorry about that."

"You look like your best friend just died," MJ commented.

"It just hit me that this will all be over soon," Ginny explained. "Even if you guys make it all the way to the finals, we move out of the house Friday morning before the party."

"Way to bring everybody down," Dustin said. They all sat in silence for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts.

"You guys should try these on," Ginny finally spoke up. She distributed them to everyone and they all disappeared to go change. Ginny sat down in the living room waiting for them to come back, starting to contemplate for the first time since she left school what she really wanted to do with her life.

"What do you think?" Harry asked. Ginny jumped about a mile in the air. She hadn't even seen him come back downstairs.

She smiled at him coyly and stood up. "Well, let me get a good look." She circled him, examining him from all angles. "Looking good, Potter. That uniform is dead sexy if I do say so myself."

Harry blushed at her remark. "Thanks… I think."

Ginny continued to be amazed at the things that left her lips without her consent. She was starting to sound like a scarlet woman. What scared her the most, though, was that she didn't think she minded.

"Come on, Potter," Tank called as he walked down the stairs followed by the rest of the team. "We're wanted out on the pitch."

"Coming," Harry answered. He looked at Ginny one more time before walking away. Ginny felt like she could melt under his gaze. The intensity of what she felt for Harry continued to shock her. She felt like she would do anything he ever asked her to, and she still wasn't even completely sure of how he currently felt about her. She let out a long sigh and sank back down into the couch. Nothing was ever easy when it came to Harry.

After a few more minutes of stewing in her thoughts, Ginny made herself get up and start her daily routine. If she couldn't get her mind off of Harry, it was going to be a long day no matter how much work she actually had to do.

The next morning Ginny woke up ready to face the day. Her sleep hadn't been plagued by nightmares, and she only had one big task facing her. Of course, that task was accompanying a reporter around the manor all day, and that had the potential to be disastrous, but Ginny felt like she could handle it. She had handpicked the reporter, Maggie Jones, that was assigned to come. She vaguely remembered Maggie from her days at Hogwarts, and Ginny knew she was a very sweet person. A very sweet person that was known for portraying a positive image with all of her articles, even where there was none to be found. Ginny couldn't help but feel proud of herself when she thought about all of the hard work she put in to get Maggie there instead of someone horrible, like Rita Skeeter.

Ginny rolled out of bed and got dressed, taking a little extra time getting ready than she usually did. She tried to tell herself that it was incase Maggie brought a photographer with her, but the little voice in the back of her mind knew it was because she remembered exactly how pretty Maggie was. Okay, it wasn't even necessarily that she was pretty as much as it was that she resembled Cho Chang. Ginny couldn't remember, but their mums might have even been cousins or something. She didn't want to be jealous or insecure, but with her relationship with Harry still so fresh and untested; she didn't want to take any chances.

By the time Ginny got downstairs, the team was already outside at practice. She went into the living room and waited by the fireplace where Maggie was due to arrive. Right on time green flames exploded in the fireplace, but it wasn't Maggie that stepped out.

"Ginny Weasley, it is so good to see you!"

Ginny was so surprised she wasn't exactly sure how to react. "Padma, it has been awhile," she said slowly.

"I was just talking to Ron back at the Ministry, and I was telling him how long it's been since I've seen any of you guys. I still see Lavender a lot since she and Pavarti were so close, and I run into Luna from time to time since we're in the same field of work, and of course I work with Colin now, but your crowd has been absent every time we've gotten the old school gang back together," Padma said.

Ginny could tell that if she didn't interrupt her she would never get the chance to ask why she was there. "Not to be rude, but what are you doing here?"

"Oh!" Padma exclaimed. "Maggie wasn't feeling well, so our boss gave me the assignment. He said that you had been very particular about who came today, and he assumed that since you knew me you wouldn't have a problem with me coming instead. I hope you don't mind, this is my first really big assignment and I don't want to mess it up."

Padma was a little more outgoing than Ginny had remembered her, but Ginny just assumed that she had changed after the war, just like she had. "I'm sure everything will be fine. The team's out at practice now, so why don't we sit down and set everything up?"

Padma nodded and sat down on the couch with Ginny. "I thought it would be best if I had one on one interviews with everyone first, and then I could just observe them in their day to day activities. I think I'll have everything I'll need to write the article after that."

Ginny nodded. "That should be fine, as long as you're clear that the questions need to stay Quidditch based."

"I can't ask anything about their personal lives?" Padma asked, looking skeptical.

"I guess you can play it by ear a bit," Ginny replied hesitantly. "I think it'll all depend on the guy as to how much you can ask. MJ and Tank will probably answer any question you throw their way, but Harry and Jacob probably will want to avoid all personal questions."

"You think Harry wouldn't even talk to someone who he knows about his personal life?" Padma asked brightly.

Ginny was starting to doubt the reason Padma was there. It was looking like Maggie wasn't sick at all; that the editor just thought he would get more information about Harry from Padma. "You won't get much out of Harry at all," Ginny said firmly.

Padma's face fell slightly, but she was quick to recover. "So, now we just wait?"

"Well, Mr. Perry arranged for the guys to finish practice at different times today, so I believe you'll get Wesley and Jeff first, followed by Harry and Tank, and then finally Dustin, MJ, and Jacob. As long as Coach Mason lets them out on time, the first wave should be heading our way in a little over half an hour."

Padma smiled. "Good, then we have time to catch up a bit."

Ginny raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Is this catching up officially or unofficially?" she asked.

"Unofficially, of course," Padma assured her.

"Well then, how have you been?" Ginny asked.

Padma sighed, and suddenly she seemed to Ginny to be exhausted and much older. "As well as can be expected I think. I'm sure you know how hard it is to move on when you lose someone you love."

"I do, unfortunately. But I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my twin," Ginny said. She suddenly wasn't nearly as annoyed by Padma's prior perkiness, and she felt like she was talking to someone who understood where she was coming from. "There were days last year when I just didn't want to go on anymore."

"I know exactly what you mean. I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if I'd been back at school for another year. There are too many memories there." Padma shook her head and sighed again. "And you were head girl, weren't you?"

"I was."

"I don't know how you did it all."

Ginny laughed dryly. "Neither do I. Honestly, a lot of last year is a bit of a blur to me. I know I went to classes, attended meetings, played Quidditch, and took my N.E.W.T.S., but I don't really remember doing much of it."

"I was acting the same way for a bit, but then I just threw myself into my work and I haven't looked back since," Padma said, smiling brightly again.

"Well, I'm glad you're doing something you enjoy," Ginny said sincerely.

"So, what do you plan to do when the World Cup is over?" Padma asked.

Ginny had to stop herself from saying start a relationship with Harry. She frowned at the actual reality of what she was going to do when the World Cup was over. She had been able to forget about it when she first started working, but now it seemed to be everywhere she looked. "I'm not sure yet," Ginny said with a forced smile.

"I'm sure you have the grades to do anything you want, and with your connections at the Ministry I doubt you'd ever have a problem getting a job there," Padma assured her. "And if you ever want to work for the Prophet I'd put in a good word for you," she added.

Ginny had to fight not to laugh at the thought of herself as a reporter working for the Prophet. "Thanks." She looked over at the clock on the wall. "Jeff and Wesley should be coming in soon."

"Anything I should know about them before I get started?" Padma asked.

Ginny thought about it for a moment before responding. "Well, Jeff grew up in France with his dad. He's actually good friends with Ron."

Padma's eyes lit up. "Oh, really? Ron was looking very good when I saw him earlier." Ginny was concentrating so hard on not laughing she almost missed Padma's next question. "Is he seeing anyone right now?"

Ginny shook her head. "Nope, he's been single since his Hogwarts days. He spends most of his time at work these days; he's very dedicated to his job."

Padma pulled some papers out of her bag and began to shuffle through them. "I heard a rumor that Ron hasn't spoken to Harry since the leaving Hogwarts," she said nonchalantly, not looking up from her papers.

Padma was so casual about how she asked that Ginny almost answered her completely honestly. Fortunately, she caught herself before she revealed anything she would have regretted. "They're both very busy and are going in two different directions with their lives," Ginny answered.

"Since they're both working in Quidditch?" Padma asked, cocking an eyebrow at Ginny.

Fortunately, Ginny was saved by Jeff and Wesley walking into the room. Ginny jumped up from the couch and walked over to them. She ushered them both back over to where Padma was sitting. "Padma, this is Jeff Collins and Wesley Wright, the beaters for the English National Team. Boys, this is Padma Patil, the reporter from the Daily Prophet."

"It's wonderful to meet you, Ms. Patil," Jeff said, extending his hand.

Padma shook his hand and smiled charmingly. "It's Padma, and the pleasure is all mine. Please, sit down. I want you all to be comfortable while we do this." Jeff and Wesley sat down and Padma pulled out a Quick Notes Quill. "I was planning on talking to all of you separately, but I don't see any problem on doing the two of you at the same time if you don't."

"Not at all," Wesley replied automatically. "Jeff and I are a team."

"That's wonderful," Padma said sweetly. "Are both of you married?"

"I am," Wesley said.

"I'm not," Jeff added with a wink.

"I'll have to remember that," Padma replied flirtatiously. It was all Ginny could do to keep from rolling her eyes. "So, are you guys excited about your first round match?"

"Definitely," Jeff said. "I know that the World Cup isn't going to be the same as years past, but I think we can all make this year's special. We're playing to honor those we lost in the war, and to give everyone something to cheer for again. I think you could say England was hit hardest by the war, and we want to give our countrymen something to be proud of."

"That's so touching," Padma gushed.

"I was actually in the running to be on the national team before they cancelled all Quidditch," Wesley spoke up. "I almost didn't try out again because it was hard not to think about my friends I was trying out with that didn't make it through the war, but I think they would have wanted me to."

"Do you guys like living here?" Padma asked.

"I miss my wife and my son, but living here is like being back at school," Wesley said. "I love it, but I wouldn't want to stay here any longer than I have to."

"I love it here," Jeff said. "I didn't spend much time in England until I was out of school, and this is the first real home it's felt like I've had here."

"You grew up in France, right?" Padma asked.

Jeff smiled proudly. "I did. It was just me and my dad growing up, but I can't complain. Dad always taught me to be the best I could be, and now I'm here playing for the English National team."

Ginny was trying not to laugh at the sappiness of the answers being fed to Padma. She knew that there was some genuine feeling behind them, but she thought the guys were laying it on a little thick.

"Hello," Tank said cheerfully, walking into the room.

"Are you done with practice already?" Jeff asked.

"Yep!"

Padma stood up and walked over to Tank. "I'm Padma Patil with the Daily Prophet. You must be Taylor Thompkins, keeper and captain of the team."

"One in the same," Tank replied. "But please, call me Tank."

"So, are you done with us?" Wesley asked.

"For now," Padma replied cheerfully. "Will I be seeing you two at the party on Friday?"

"Lori and I will be there," Wesley said.

"I'll be there, but I'll be dateless," Jeff said.

"Well, maybe I'll save you a dance," Padma said smiling. "I'll see you two in a little bit." Jeff and Wesley nodded and headed up to their bedroom. "Isn't Harry supposed to be with you?" Padma asked, frowning.

"Well, he was," Tank said slowly. "But he really wasn't feeling well. That's actually why I'm here a few minutes early. Coach Mason excused us because Harry looked like he was going to faint."

"So, I won't get any time with Harry?" Padma asked.

"If Harry's not feeling up to an interview there's nothing I can do about it," Ginny said firmly.

"As long as you're not just trying to hide him from me," Padma joked, but Ginny could tell that she was serious.

"I'll just go check on him," Ginny said. She hurried up the stairs before Padma or Tank could say anything else to her. She headed straight for Harry's room, worrying the entire way that she would have to explain to Mr. Perry why Harry was too sick to play in the first match. She reached Harry's room and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in," she heard Harry call. Ginny wasted no time in heading into the room. She was surprised to see Harry sitting on his bed reading a book, looking perfectly fine.

"Are you okay?" Ginny asked, no longer feeling quite as concerned for his well being.

"Oh, I'm completely fine," Harry said, not looking up from his book.

"So you are just trying to get out of the interview?" Ginny asked.

"Did you not get my note?" Harry asked. Ginny shook her head. "I got another threat today; this one mentioned you."

Ginny sat down on the edge of Harry's bed, fearing her legs would give out on her. Her voice was shaking when she tried to speak. "So they know about us?"

"Looks that way."

"Why aren't you more upset about this?" Ginny asked harshly.

Harry sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Because all it said was 'don't talk to the press or I'll tell them about Ginny.' There's nothing I can do about it other than just not talk to the press."

"Can I see the note?" Ginny asked.

Harry shook his head. "It destroyed itself after I had finished reading it. I think it was on some kind of timer after I touched it."

"You're being too calm about all of this," Ginny said. "This is just like when we found out what Ron did with your letters." She found Harry's relaxed state to be annoying. If she was freaking out, she wanted him to be freaking out with her.

Harry took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm sorry, but I can't allow myself to get worked up over something I can't control. One of the things Dumbledore taught me was how to control my emotions. I spent too much time in the past lashing out at people I loved in anger."

"You mean he taught you how to suppress your feelings," Ginny spat. "You've never been able to really say how you were feeling. You've never been able to let me in!"

"Is that what this is about?" Harry asked. "You think I'm holding back how I feel about you? I've told you how I feel about you!"

"No, you've told me how you felt about me," Ginny replied. "You said yourself you weren't sure if you were still in love with me." Ginny didn't want to be angry with Harry, she really didn't. But suddenly, all of her fears and insecurities were coming to the surface and she couldn't stop the words that were coming out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry if I'm not as in touch with my feelings as you are. I'm sorry if I'm not ready to just proclaim to the world exactly how I feel about you because I don't know!" They were both yelling now, and Ginny was grateful that Tonks had cast a permanent silencing charm on Harry's bedroom because of his night terrors.

"I'm not saying you have to profess your undying love for me," Ginny began.

"Good thing too," Harry cut her off, "since if I did we'd both lose our jobs! Or is that what you want?"

"Of course it's not what I want!" Ginny exclaimed. "I'd never want you to have to stop doing what you love, and I don't want to lose my job, either!"

"Well that's not what it sounds like," Harry retorted. "It sounds like you want me to go downstairs and proclaim to the reporter that I'm madly in love with you, damn the consequences!"

Ginny felt her anger growing. She didn't even care anymore about the person who was threatening them; it was just about the furthest thing from her mind. "That's not what I said!" she cried angrily. "You're making it sound like I'm just a selfish little girl!"

"Aren't you?"

Ginny fought the tears back in her eyes. She was determined that she would never let Harry see how he could make her cry again. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down before speaking again. "I came up here to make sure you were okay. It's obvious you are. I'm going back downstairs now to deal with the reporter." Harry didn't respond so Ginny just headed for the door. When she reached the doorway, she turned around. "Padma Patil is the reporter, by the way. She really wanted to speak with you." Ginny walked out of his bedroom and fought her urge to slam the door behind her.

She went back downstairs and found Padma talking and laughing with MJ, Dustin, and Jacob. "How are things going down here?" she asked politely.

"Oh, we're doing just fine," Padma said smiling. "I'm just wrapping up talking with these three."

"Good," Ginny said, forcing a smile.

"How's Harry feeling?" Jacob asked, looking concerned.

Ginny tried her hardest not to let her anger with Harry show. "I think he's just been working too hard lately. It's nothing a little bed rest won't cure."

"Well, I'm going to take a short nap before lunch," Jacob said.

"I think I'm going to do the same," Dustin said. "Are you sticking around for awhile?"

Padma nodded and smiled. "I'll be around until you all go back out for your late afternoon practice, so please just stick to your normal schedules."

"In that case, I'm going up too," MJ said. "I'll see you two lovely ladies in a little while."

The last thing Ginny needed was to be left alone with a reporter right now, friend or not. If Padma started questioning her about Harry, who knew what she would say with her emotions still so raw and fresh. She watched Padma pack up her notes and quill, racking her brain for an excuse to escape to her bedroom. Unfortunately, she couldn't come up with any good, logical reason to leave a reporter alone in the manor.

"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, on the record?" Padma asked suddenly.

Ginny was reluctant to agree, but she didn't want Padma to think she was hiding anything. "Sure, I guess."

"What's the dynamic of the team like?"

Ginny smiled her first genuine smile in what felt like ages. "They're a family. I grew up with six brothers, and living with these guys reminds me of that. Only, my brothers fought more."

Padma chuckled. "That was the impression I got as well. Who do you think is the best player on the team?"

Ginny's smile slowly evaporated. She didn't know what exactly Padma was trying to accomplish by asking her that question. "I don't think I can answer that; I don't even watch their practices."

"So, do you think you could talk Harry into coming down to talk to me for just a minute?" Padma asked.

Ginny put on another fake smile and shook her head. "He really just isn't up to it today."

It looked like Padma's bubbly personality disappeared the second the words left Ginny's lips. "Are you sure you just aren't hiding him?" she asked with a scowl. "The public has a right to know what's going on with Harry. Not to mention my boss is going to kill me if I don't have a single comment from Harry in my article."

Ginny was taken back by Padma's accusation, however accurate it may have been. "He really just isn't feeling well," she said again with a clenched jaw. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go check on lunch." Ginny left Padma behind in the living room and walked into the kitchen. She leaned against the wall, using all of her might not to collapse on the floor. Her day had just gotten very, very difficult. She allowed herself a few minutes to close her eyes and stew in her thoughts before having to deal with reality again.

"Dobby?" Ginny called.

Dobby instantly appeared before her. "Yes, Miss Wheezy?"

"Will you make sure someone takes some lunch up to Harry's room? And I need you to make sure they tell him to stay up in his room until after the reporter is gone. Tell him I'll send someone up for him when it's safe."

"Yes, Miss Wheezy. It won't be any trouble at all," Dobby said enthusiastically. "Dobby only wishes he could take it to Harry Potter himself."

"Thank you, Dobby," Ginny said. Dobby smiled at her again before disappearing into the second kitchen.

Ginny closed her eyes and tried not to let everything get to her all at once. "This is going to be a long day."

By the time Ginny made it up to her bedroom that night, she was about to crack. She felt like she had been fighting not to cry ever since her fight with Harry. Padma had stuck around the manor until just before dinner; talking with the guys and watching them play. Ginny had practically had to beg her to leave. Ginny had skipped dinner so she could finally be alone and let out a good cry. Her mum used to tell her that sometimes all it took to make things better was a good cry. Thinking about her mum was all the leverage Ginny needed to send her over the edge. The tears started streaming down her cheeks, and Ginny made no effort to stop them. She lay down on her bed and tried to muffle her sobs with her pillow. The last thing she needed was someone coming upstairs and finding her in her current pathetic state.

She wasn't sure how long she had been crying when the tears finally stopped. Her mum had been right; she did feel a little better now. Unfortunately, crying wasn't going to solve her current problems with Harry. She had no idea how everything had gotten so bad. She hadn't even realized she was feeling the things she told him until after she had already said them. She sighed and rolled off of her bed. If she was going to sleep this early she was determined she would at least change clothes. She quickly changed into a tattered old nightgown she'd had had since her third year. It was much too small now, but being a Weasley she'd always been frugal. She crawled back into bed and pulled the covers up around her chin, trying to keep all of the bad thoughts away.

It appeared, however, that even the comfort of her bed couldn't keep Harry out of her thoughts. It was times like this when she couldn't even remember why she loved him. Half the time he didn't even act like he cared one way or the other whether they were together. Of course, the other half the time he acted like she was the most important thing in the world to him. But that was Harry, her Harry… always confusing, never simple.

She could remember the first time she saw him like it was yesterday. She had been standing at the train station, waiting to cross through the barrier, when he appeared. He had looked so lost and alone. He was so polite when he asked her mum how to get through to the other side. She had never told anyone, but she knew he was special before she knew who he was. Of course, that only helped fuel her crush on him. But her crush had changed after her first year. She didn't think it was possible to describe her feelings for Harry as only a crush after he saved her life.

After everything that had happened with the diary, Ginny kept most of her secrets to herself. It was for that reason she didn't tell anyone until Harry that someone had visited her when she had been about to die. She hadn't told Harry, but the woman seemed to know that she was meant to be with Harry; that being with Harry was the reason she needed to keep on living. She didn't want to scare Harry with that information when he was just starting to trust her again. But she could still remember the look on Harry's face when she first woke up perfectly. He looked so relieved to see that she was alive. That one look kept her hope alive much longer than it would have otherwise.

Of course, hoping that Harry would one day love her had never been an easy thing. She could vividly remember watching him fall from his broom during his third year. It terrified her that he could die without ever really knowing the depth of her feelings for him. She couldn't stand the thought that he might die without ever really knowing how much he was loved.

If she was honest with herself, though, she knew that she didn't really start to love him until her fourth year. It would be just her luck that she would start to really fall for him when she was going out with another boy to keep her mind off of him, and while he was at his moodiest. It was just a sign that their relationship was always going to be complex. The good news from that year had been that she was finally able to start talking to him like he was a normal person. Somehow, really loving him had made it possible for her to treat him like a real person instead of the hero who saved her life.

Somehow, it was Sirius's death that really ignited their friendship. When he showed up at the Burrow that summer, he was moody and was snapping at everyone. Ginny knew that he needed someone to put him in his place, and everyone else seemed to be too scared to say anything to him. She knew that even though he might not like her yelling at him, he would respect her for it later. And she was right. After that summer they had been real friends, not just acquaintances.

So she kept going out with other boys to keep her mind off of him. She knew that no matter how much she may love him, he just wasn't ready for her yet. Dean lasted the longest after Michael, but he was too close to Harry for her to really focus on him. After that there was a long string of boys: Zacharias Smith, Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot, Geoffrey Hooper, Stephan Cornfoot, Kevin Entwhistle, Harold Dingle. None of them meant anything to her and none of them lasted much longer than a trip to Hogsmeade, but she had to do something to keep her mind off of Harry.

But then her sixth year she just stopped going out with other people all together. She knew that it wasn't fair to keep stringing all of the other boys along when Harry was the one she really wanted. Ginny determined that she was just going to be happy with only having Harry's friendship. That was one of the happiest years of her life, until the war started to really pick up. Those nights she spent alone with Harry, sitting in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, were some of her very favorite memories. There were no pressures, no pretenses, just the two of them sitting in comfortable silence. Ginny didn't think things could get any better. That was until he asked her out.

Somehow, life had managed to get in the way of their happiness. Right when she should have had everything she'd been waiting for, things had fallen apart. They spent too much time secretly still loving one another while staying away because they thought that was what the other wanted. He hadn't come to her with the problems in his life, and she hadn't believed in him and their relationship. Not that he had given her any real reason to believe in their relationship.

Now she was finally supposed to have what she had been waiting all this time for, and life was getting in the way again. First it was just the rules, but now it felt like there was a mountain between them. Ginny didn't know how the barrier had gotten there, but it had made it's presence known earlier that day. Maybe after all they'd been through they still didn't trust each other. Maybe they couldn't ever trust each other again.

When Ginny pictured her future she saw Harry. She saw the two of them, sitting on the back porch of a house, overlooking a garden with little kids running around. She could see them kissing the way they had on the Quidditch pitch. The problem came when she tried to picture Harry's future. Sometimes, she saw it the same as she saw her own, but other times she saw Harry sitting on the back porch with Hermione, playing with baby Lily.

She could just picture Harry telling her he loved her everyday for the rest of her life. Oddly enough, she could also hear him telling her to wake up every morning. She could even feel him shaking her, trying to get her to wake up.

Ginny slowly opened her eyes. She tried to scream when she saw someone sitting on the edge of her bed, but a hand quickly covered her mouth. When she calmed down the hand was removed.

"Harry!" she hissed. "What are you doing here?"

"I ruined my bedroom."

Ginny couldn't quite understand the connection between the two things. "There isn't much to destroy…"

"The bed broke and I destroyed my trunk."

Ginny sighed. "Harry, maybe it's because I just woke up, but I don't understand what you're trying to tell me."

"I just had the worst night terror I've ever had. This is the first one I've had since the night I slept in here with you." Harry was refusing to meet her gaze and was talking so softly Ginny could barely hear him. "I can't stand having you angry with me. I don't want to lose you over a stupid fight. Especially since I'm not even sure what our fight was about."

Ginny thought she had cried all she could earlier, but she was wrong. The tears were streaming down her cheeks again. "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice shaking. "I don't know what got into me, but suddenly everything was too much."

Harry moved over so he was lying down in bed next to her so she could cry on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean everything I said. I guess I'm not quite as good at keeping my emotions in as I thought I was."

Ginny let out a choked laugh. "I'll just be happy when the World Cup is over and we don't have to hide our relationship anymore."

"Hopefully, our plan with Ron and Hermione will work as well," Harry added.

Ginny groaned. "I don't even want to think about that right now."

Harry leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm so sorry," he whispered again.

"Promise we'll me we'll never fight again," Ginny said softly.

Harry chuckled and pulled her closer. "I can't do that. With our tempers, we'll probably fight all of the time."

"I was afraid of that."

"I can promise that I'll always be here for you. I can promise that no matter how angry I am with you, I'll still care about you. I can promise that I will never let other people keep us apart again."

"After the World Cup, of course," Ginny added playfully.

"Of course."

Ginny snuggled up against Harry. "Will you stay here with me tonight?"

"I was hoping you'd ask me that." Harry got under the covers with Ginny, and she was only slightly embarrassed at the state of her nightgown. They lay in silence for a few moments, both lost in their own thoughts. "I wish this is how it could always be," Harry said suddenly. "Just the two of us, in our own little world, away from everything."

"One day," Ginny replied sleepily. "How'd you get here, by the way?"

"Invisibility cloak," he answered.

"So no problems in the morning?"

"Nope."

Ginny's eyes were closed, but she smiled at the thought of getting to spend a simple night together. She relaxed into the safe feeling of being in Harry's arms. "Good night, Harry."

"Good night."

A/N Well, once again I pushed my Sunday deadline, but I haven't broken it yet! As always thank you for your reviews, and please continue to let me know what you think. I do have some exciting news... I've been looking into posting this story on other fanfiction sites, and before I do that I've been revising all of my earlier chapters. Lately it feels like the characters have taken over for me, and I'm trying to go back and add that feeling to the beginning of the story. My goal is to have every chapter at over 5000 words. I'll keep you all updated! A slight teaser for the next chapter... When I sat down to write the next chapter I was planning on writing the Ministry party, but Ginny kept me occupied for the entire chapter, delaying the party. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!