Chapter Two: Beginnings

Ron slid a hand nervously through his hair, trying desperately to flatten it, though to no avail.

"Oh…erm…hi Harry. Wasn't expecting you so soon. Gave us, er, me a start. Not that we, I mean, I was doing anything that couldn't be, erm, interrupted…" He trailed off with a sideways glance at Hermione, who had managed to tuck in her shirt and straighten her skirt by this time.

"Right, we were just…catching up on some studying!" she proclaimed, relief etched on her face as though she were quite pleased at having come up with a response.

"Oh, you were catching up all right, but unless the subject was anatomy, I doubt it had anything to do with studying," a grinning Harry responded, reveling in the suddenly blanched faces of his two friends. "Come on guys, you don't have to lie to me! I've been expecting this to happen for ages."

"You mean, you're not upset?"

"Don't be a git, Ron. Of course I'm not upset. In fact, if you two got together anytime before August, then…" Harry tapered off at the glare Hermione was giving him.

"You made a bet, didn't you?" Harry self-consciously lowered his gaze and scuffed a foot on the hardwood floor. Now he was in for. Taking his movements of submission as an affirmative to her query, Hermione prepared to begin her tirade. "That is so immature! Leave it to a bunch of boys to place a bet on something as serious as this! How could you use our personal lives as a way to make money?" The red tinge on Hermione's face was not so much embarrassment as indignity.

Seeing his friend take another deep breath and raise an accusing finger, Harry quickly cut her off, hoping that an interjection on his part wouldn't fan the flames of her fury. "Actually, this is between me and Ginny, so it wasn't a 'bunch of boys'. And it isn't a bet for money, either."

"What is it for, then," Ron asked, confusion written, as it quite often was, all over his face.

"Er…"

"Basically," said a voice from the door, making them all jump, "it is for service. Whoever loses has to do whatever the winner says for a week. And, as it so happens, I am the winner!" Ginny sauntered into the room with a wide grin stretched across her delicate face and triumph sparkling in her chocolate-brown eyes.

"Now hold on just one minute! How do you know you've won?" Harry demanded.

"Because, Harry," she explained in a tone which she usually reserved for small children but which was, in her opinion, justifiable and entirely appropriate in the context, "I was the one to set them up. Well, kind of anyway. It happened four days ago and, if I remember correctly, I bet you it would happen in August. Therefore, I am the winner."

Harry's eyes grew wide in disbelief, but the twinkle in his green orbs revealed his admiration for her tactics. "Well, Miss Weasley, looks like you've got the makings of a great Quidditch captain. Proactive and a great tactician, seems too good to be true! And if you can talk some sense into these two," he continued, gesturing in the direction of Ron and Hermione and ignoring the displeased "humph" coming, presumably, from the latter of the two, "then I am impressed beyond all words. I've been trying to get them to admit their feelings to themselves never mind to each other for years. I guess I was never one for diplomacy." His face was now reflecting Ginny's own lopsided smile.

"Well, Harry, maybe she will make captain this year."

Harry turned to Ron with a questioning gaze. "Doesn't that position usually go to a seventh year?" he implored. (A/N: I know that the captain isn't usually a seventh year, just bear with me, k?)

"Oh, Harry, I completely forgot," Ginny exclaimed, drawing his attention back to her. "Dumbledore asked me if I would like to skip a grade and go right into seventh year. I would have told you sooner, but I wanted to make sure I was definitely qualified before letting anybody know. I've only just received my grades for the tests I have been taking to see if I made the cut. Apparently," she continued, the hints of a Weasley blush spreading faintly across her cheeks, "I received some of the highest grades in over fifty years."

"That's great! You'll be in our year now! Congratulations on the grades, too. Your mum must be really proud." With that, Harry did something that surprised both Ginny and himself; he wrapped his arms tightly around her and, as he pulled her close to him, he became suddenly and uncomfortably aware of just how much his best friend's little sister had grown up.

After the initial shock of contact, Ginny pushed up on her toes and tucked her head under Harry's left ear. He could smell the lavender of her shampoo and found it quite intoxicating. Her red mane of hair cascaded down her back to well below the shoulders and he noticed for the first time just how many shades of ginger became apparent as the light sparkled off it. Her soft, slim body seemed to fit perfectly in his hold and he found himself not wanting to let go. It appeared that she felt the same way, for they stood for long moments locked together, breaking apart only when Ron made a somewhat strangled "hm-hmm" sound.

Stepping back and looking down at the younger girl, Harry felt his face flush. Still, he held her gaze for a few more moments before turning with a slightly guilty expression to look at his two other friends. He wasn't sure why he felt guilty, though. Or maybe he did, and he just didn't want to think about it. He had, after all, just had a sudden awakening as to the fact that Ron's "baby" sister had indeed matured. Into a woman, no less. Stop it! Harry scolded himself. It's just Ginny. Plain, old, remarkably beautiful Ginny. Wait, where did that come from? Alright, only a momentary lapse in judgment. No big deal. I just have too

"Harry? What is it? You've got this really strange expression on your face."

Ron's voice cut short Harry's reverie, snapping him back to attention and, upon realizing what he had just been thinking and who he was in the room with, causing a deep red to stain his cheeks.

"Er, nothing. I was just…never mind. I'll just leave my stuff here then, shall I? You know, give you two some privacy." Harry wanted nothing more than to escape to the comfort of quiet reflection, something he had hoped never to have to do again after an entire month of just that. He felt as though, with only a few minutes with Ginny, he had stumbled upon a very complicated emotion that really had no business leaving the early retirement Cho had put it in. He needed to clear his head before it exploded or, worse, he did something to further embarrass himself. Turning abruptly, he maneuvered his way past Ginny, careful not to so much as disrupt the air particles around her, and stepped out the door.

"Oi, mate," Ron called to the retreating back of his best friend. "Mum says that you can have the twins' old room. Don't worry," he continued, guessing at what had caused Harry's flushed cheeks to pale, "we've already de-contaminated the room. Completely devoid of all unwanted specimens and spells. Just don't open the bottom drawer of the dresser. Or the closet. And stay out from under the bed!" He gave a grim smile and added, though almost painfully, "You can still stay in my room if you like. I just thought, you know, what with me and Hermione…" He trailed off with relief as Harry gave him an understanding look, grabbed his things, and made his way to the door, calling over his shoulder, "I'll see you after I unpack. That should give you a good hour. Use it wisely!"

Ginny exited the room with him and, after exchanging glances, joined him in a laugh.

"Come on, I'll help you get everything to the room. Right this way."

Harry obliged, though was quite aware that he was now alone with the girl he should definitely not be thinkingabout in any sort of romantic manner. And he wasn't, anyway. Not anymore, at least. Oh, what the hell, he was as thinking of her in that way right at that moment.

"Here we are," Ginny announced, throwing open the bedroom door.

Fred and George's room was a good deal larger than Ron's, though that was to be expected seeing as two people once occupied it. The two double beds had been pushed together against the wall to create one big one, obviously for Harry's comfort. He was curiously pleased that anyone would bother doing something like that for him, having never fully gotten used to the idea that simple niceties such as this were part of every day life for the people that cared about him. A desk was set below a large window looking out over the garden, which was presently overrun with gnomes. A few Quidditch posters littered the walls, mostly displaying beaters. Not surprising. Against the wall and across from the bed were a dresser and a small bookcase which, by the looks of it, had been employed to hold something other than texts. Harry suspected that that 'something' was the concoctions developed by the twins in secret, and he had no desire to know exactly what that may have entailed.

"Great. Thanks for helping me with my stuff." Harry dropped his possessions on the floor and viewed them critically. "I don't feel much like unpacking just yet. Besides, I wouldn't want to rush whatever 'studying' those two are doing upstairs. How 'bout a game of Wizarding chess?" Though only moments before he had been hoping for some alone time, the prospect of facing whatever emotions were raging inside him was grim. And besides, he reasoned with himself, I will just end up dwelling on the war, and that is the last thing I want to do now that I potentially have a way of distracting myself.

"You're on. Care to make any bets as to the winner?" Seeing the playful grimace on Harry's face, she laughed and hit his arm lightly. "Scared, are you, Potter? How very un-Gryffindor-like of you!" The last bit ended in a shriek as Harry gently grabbed her around the waist, hoisted her over his shoulder and, walking downstairs in search of the chess set, shouting "Ten quid, then?"

Through helpless giggles, Ginny managed to gasp out "Put me down, Potter!" several times. He, however, responded by holding her more tightly and laughing along with her.

Neither of them noticed Mrs. Weasley's stunned, yet extremely pleased, expression as she viewed all of this from the kitchen. With a silent chuckle, she decided it was a wonderful time to take a walk and, grabbing her shawl, she exited through the back door.

Upon finally entering the living room, Harry plopped his passenger on the couch and promptly ducked as a pillow whizzed through the air toward him.

"Hey!" he cried with an attempt at sounding indignant.

All thoughts of chess disappeared as he took up what Ginny had just swung at him and proceeded to advance on her. She let out a small giggle, which quickly turned into a gasp as Harry came to stand over her.

"Now Harry, surely someone as valiant as yourself would refrain from hitting a girl!" Her eyes were wide and innocent, but the boy standing before her could see the glint shining in them.

"No, surely never a girl," he replied, keeping a straight face. "However you, Ginevra Weasley, I would not stop to reconsider." With that he tossed the pillow at her as she simultaneously shot her hand up and grabbed his arm. This series of actions caused Harry to lose his footing and fall forward, landing on top of a very stunned Ginny. Their faces were inches from each other, and Harry found himself wondering if the girl beneath him still harbored any of her old feelings for him.

Thankfully, his train of thought ended right there. A loud thumping on the stairs indicated the arrival of a third and fourth party, sending Harry and Ginny jolting apart. When Ron and Hermione reached the bottom of the stairs it was to find their two friends sitting on extreme opposite sides of the couch apparently very interested in the pattern of the upholstery.

Exchanging puzzled looks, Ron and Hermione sat down in armchairs across from Harry and Ginny.

"Hey, mate, I thought we could play a little chess," Ron offered into the silence.

Harry nodded eagerly, quickly moving to set up the pieces. The awkwardness in the room broke instantly. Ginny opened a magazine and, gesturing to Hermione, the two set about comparing fashion and discussing the articles they came across as the boys argued with their chesspieces as to where they should move.

The afternoon passed quickly in this manner with no further incidents to speak of. The four friends caught up on each other's lives, speaking fondly of years passed and excitedly of the coming journey back to Hogwarts. A delicious (but of course!) dinner followed with the entire Weasley family present. Well, excepting Percy. Bill, Charley, Fred, and George had apparated home to see Harry and enjoy the feast.

When yawns had become apparent all around the table, Mrs. Weasley sent them all upstairs to bed. Harry was surprised to find that the room opposite his own was Ginny's, and even more startled to discover that she would be sleeping alone since Hermione had been given Bill and Charley's old room. Not that this knowledge had any significance. At all.

Feeling a bit sorry that he had not unpacked that afternoon, Harry searched through his trunk for his P.J. pants and Chudley Cannons shirt that he usually slept in. He decided after a half-hearted attempt at finding them that he was better off just sleeping in his boxers and organizing his clothes the next day. When he could actually keep his eyes open. He barely had time to strip down to his boxers and crawl into bed before he lost consciousness altogether, falling into a restless sleep.

He was standing in a graveyard. But not just any graveyard. This one he knew well, having visited it once in real life and countless times in his dreams. Nightmares, more like.

He tensed, waiting for the shrill voice that he knew would come any moment, giving the order that would haunt him for the rest of him life.

"Kill the spare"

There it was. He swung around to face Voldemort, feeling in his pockets for his wand. But it wasn't there. It never was in his dreams.

Anger and hatred blazed deep within him, the emotions so pure that they threatened to consume him. He wondered vaguely what would happen if he let them, but knew, somehow, that in doing so he would be giving in to Riddle.

His eyes began to tear as he watched, in slow motion, as a green light streaked through the air, making its way toward Cedric.

'I have to save Cedric' was the only thought racing through his mind. 'This time, Cedric won't have to die'.

Harry made an attempt at pushing his Hogwarts companion out of the way of the killing curse, but his body refused to obey even the simplest of commands. The tears were now rushing harshly down his face, scalding hot and salty as they came to trace the outline of his lips.

'NOOOOOOO' Harry screamed as Cedric was hit by the curse. His throat felt hoarse from the many emotions boiling within him, tightening as a fresh wave of tears rolled down his cheeks.

Then he saw a golden sun, ringed in red flame. It threw into relief the shadows of the graveyard and shined through the fog. He felt suddenly comforted as the horror of what had just happened melted away.

"Harry, it's okay. Wake up!"

He came to, gasping for air as though emerging from the depths of the Giant Squid's lake. Bolting upright, he came face to face with Ginny, who had sat uncertainly beside him on the bed in order to wake him from his nightmare.

Harry's hand flew immediately to his face, remembering the sobs that had shaken him in his dream, and was relieved to find them dry.

Ginny moved as to get up from her seat, but was pulled back down by Harry's hand on her arm. With surprise, she turned to look him in his eyes. She saw immeasurable pain and loneliness in his green orbs, reminding her instantly of her own feelings during her first year, when Riddle had made her do such horrible things.

"Oh, Harry! It's not your fault!" She seemed to know instinctively that he had been blaming himself for something entirely out of his control. She pulled him into a tight embrace and was slightly surprised to find that he held her with as much enthusiasm as she did him. Her heart skipped a beat and a flush began to creep up her cheeks as she became aware that Harry was dressed in nothing more than a pair of boxers.

Get a hold of yourself, Ginny! The last thing Harry needs right now is you throwing yourself on him and kissing him senseless. Something I am dangerously close to doing right now. Concentrate! He needs your support. Besides, I thought you were over him…

Her thoughts sobered as Harry pulled away and looked at her with those eyes again, all the time grasping her hand. Seeming to sense that he didn't really want to talk about what he had witnessed in his nightmare, she gave him a soft smile and began to massage his hand with her thumb.

"As the winner of the bet, Idemand that you stop blaming yourself for things that you could not have prevented!" To her relief, Harry gave her a faint smile and seemed to relax.

"Your wish is my command. Just, could you..." he trailed off, averting his eyes.

"What is it, Harry? You know you can ask me anything, right?"

"Yes. I know. I was wondering...if you could just stay with me. Only for a little while." He lookedso embarrassed by his display of weakness that Ginny couldn't help but pull him into another hug, sliding down to lie next to him.

"Of course, for as long as you want," she whispered softly.

Ginny awoke the next morning from the most pleasant sleep she had had in years. It had been filled with dreams about a certain blacked-haired, green-eyed boy. Whom she had completely gotten over. Only to find that she was, in fact, head-over-heals in love with him. She could almost still feel his arms around her as she snuggled into her blankets. Only, those weren't her blankets. And, she realized with a start as she opened her eyes, that was definitely not the color of her bedroom walls.

And those WERE Harry's arms around her!

She could feel his warm, even breath against the back of her neck, tickling her softly. Her back was fitted perfectly against his solid, not to mention naked, chest and his arms were draped leisurely around her, one under her, the other on her waist and dangerously close to her bottom. As she stirred, Harry pulled her small body closer to his, tightening his grip on her.

I must have fallen asleep in his bed last night! Nice observation, Captain Obvious. What else would explain my being here?

She considered, though only for a moment, getting up and sneaking back to her own room. Judging by the darkness out the window it was still at least two hours until dawn. She could just rest here in his arms for a little bit longer. It felt so good to be held, and it seemed his presence was keeping away her usual Chamber of Secrets dreams. He, too, was in a peaceful slumber and she decided, for all intents and purposes (namely to justify her staying in his bed a little longer), to attribute the lack of nightmares to herself. And she was quite right on that point, though she had no way of knowing for certain.

Just a little longer, she thought with a yawn. And she promptly fell asleep.

Please review! I welcome constructive criticism. Also, I am not English, so any advice on words I should be using in their conversations would be great!

This is my first story on fanfiction and I was wondering why I can't seem to find it when I search for the title. My author name doesn't come up either. Does anybody know why this is happening? Please enlighten me!