A/n: Here it is, on Tuesday as I prmised. Actually, I wrote this before I even posted chapter ten, but I couldn't post it too soon, so I figured the wait wouldn't kill you all. (besides, one person even mentioned that I update to quickly…) Oh, and on the updates I have a general question for you all that I really hope that you will answer: do you all think I'm updating ot closely together? I mean, I do update rather quickly, but that's because I figured that sooner is better. But perhaps if I waited it would give you each a chance to review so that I can meet my goal of 300 reviews. (of which I have 31… 269 to go! Hehe!) Well, just a thought, please tell me what you think. But in the mean time, here is chapter eleven!

Sanity of of the insane

Chapter Eleven

The room of requirement

Ginny sat in the common room, doing her arithmancy homework. It was hard, tedious work, but she knew she had to get it done if she wanted to get top marks on her O.W.L.s. It was late at night, and everyone had long since gone to bed, so she was alone. For a moment the fire flickered, she looked up but there was no one there. She had the creeping suspicion that someone was watching her. She shivered and pulled her cloak a little tighter, looking around uneasily. She could sense something in the room, and she didn't like it.

Trying to ignore her intuition, she turned the page in her book and started working on a particularly tricky problem. The feeling was soon forgotten as she engrossed herself in her work. But when she'd finally finished, and closed her book, the feeling returned. She looked around, her eyes flitting with utter vigilance. There was nothing there, at least nothing she could see, so she forced herself up. Her stomach made a low rumble and she decided that going to the kitchens wouldn't be too bad at the moment.

She glanced at her watch, it was just past midnight. Good, all the boys should be asleep, so she could probably sneak up to the boys dorm and grab that map of Harry's to find the kitchens. She knew it had to be on there, Fred and George used to go loads of times. She looked around one more time, before creeping up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. At the top of the staircase, she eased the heavy door opened and stepped through. Four of the beds held sleeping boys, but one was empty. With a sinking feeling, Ginny realized that the empty bed belonged to Harry. That meant that he was still out and about. Deciding that she could get the map and put it back later, she crept over to his trunk and eased it open.

Unfortunately the trunk was old and a bit rusted at the hinges and creaked loudly. Ginny cringed and looked around quickly. No one stirred, so she let out the breath she had been holding. There, on top of Harry's robes was the map. Ginny quickly grabbed it and tucked it in her robe pocket, and eased the trunk back shut. Silently she crept out of the dorm, keeping an eye on all of the boys who were sleeping, making sure none of them stirred. When she finally backed out of the doorway and closed the door, she sighed with relief, it hadn't been too hard. She twirled around and was stopped short by a voice to her left.

"Ahem. Going somewhere?"

Ginny's blood ran cold with fear as she twirled around. There was no one there, but surely she'd heard someone… Just as she was sure she was having some sort of breakdown, there was a stir, and Harry emerged out of thin air.

"Harry?" Ginny gasped, "How'd you do that?"

"Invisibility cloak." He said simply, looking her over quickly, a smirk on his face. "So, what, exactly, were your plans with that map?"

Ginny blushed and pulled the map out of her robes.

"I'm sorry Harry, I was just, I mean, I was going to go find the kitchens for a snack…" She looked down shamefully, not able to meet his eyes.

But instead of him yelling at her about stealing his things, he laughed.

"Well, if you wanted to go, all you had to do was ask."

"I didn't know you were there watching me. I am quite capable of taking care of myself you know…"

"Yea, as long as you can come steal my map!" His green eyes sparkled with laughter.

"I'm sorry Harry. I really didn't think about it. Are you mad?"

"Yes. Horribly so!" Harry drew himself to his full height and stood over her imperiously, then doubled over with laughter. "No, Ginny, how could I be mad at you?"

"Well, if you need any tips, feel free to ask Ron, he doesn't seem to have any problem at all being cross with me!" Ginny smiled.

"Yea, but he's your brother. Anyway, don't you want to go to the kitchens?"

Ginny's stomach growled again. "Yes, obviously!" She laughed.

"Well, c'mon, I'll lead the way… oh, and you might want to get under here, so no one will see us…"

Ginny glanced at the cloak Harry was holding up.

"Are you sure there's room?" She bit her lip.

"Well," Harry smiled, "it'll be a tight squeeze, but I'm sure I'll manage. I mean if I can handle being that close to your brother for any length of time, you'll be no problem!"

Ginny grinned and stepped under the cloak.It was indeed a tight squeeze, in the end Harry had had to wrap his arm around her so that he could hold the cloak closed. Ginny didn't think it was an entirely bad thing either, it was actually rather nice, to be walking down darkened corridors with Harry wrapped around her.

"Here we are!" Harry pulled the cloak off of the two of them in front of a portrait of fruit. Ginny must have looked as confused as she felt because Harry said, "Just… tickle the pear until it giggles."

Uncertainly, Ginny reached up to the pear and tickled it, feeling a bit ridiculous to be tickling a picture. After a moment it shook with giggles and a door knob appeared. Delighted that she'd actually gotten it to work, Ginny opened the door to reveal the kitchens. It was large and crowded with house elves bustling about, apparently very vexed about something. Suddenly, out of no where an elf with large green eyes and batty ears appeared.

"Harry Potter sir!" It squeaked. "Dobby is pleased to see you sir, but you must leave quickly!"

"What's going on Dobby?"

"Ah, Harry Potter sir, 'tis a sacred house elf tradition, that I cannot tell you sir. But we is busy! So you mustn't come in here." And with a look of grievance, the elf pulled the door closed, and Ginny heard a faint clicking noise.

"Well," Harry said, looking surprised, "I definitely didn't see that coming!"

Ginny giggled. "Well, I guess that means no food for me!" her stomach rumbled again. "I guess I will just wait until—"

"Now, you just wait a minute. Who says your not going to get any food? The kitchens aren't the only place to go for food, y'know!" Harry smiled and wrapped the cloak around them both again and led her off in the opposite direction.

"Where are we going?" Ginny asked, after it felt like they'd been going back and forth for ever.

"Shh, I need to concentrate for just another moment… ah there we are." He pulled open a door that had just appeared.

"oh, I forgot about this room!" Ginny smiled, walking in.

The room was set up with a squishy couch and a plate of sandwiches and chocolate eclairs, all set before a roaring fire.

"Oh, this is… nice…" Ginny blushed slightly, noticing that there were some candles scattered around, and the room smelled of lavender.

"Ah, it'll do. Not much for the food, but you did break my concentration." He poked her in the side.

Ginny squealed and ran away from him.

"Why do guys always do that?" she demanded, but her eyes smiled.

"So that girls will squeal." Harry answered simply.

Ginny rolled her eyes and sat on the couch, grabbing an éclair. She patted the spot next to her, indicating that Harry should join her.

"Ah, you'll spoil you're appetite if you eat all that chocolate first…" he warned, grabbing himself a sandwich.

"Okay Dad!" Ginny laughed, taking another bite of her éclair.

After three more eclairs, Ginny was fully satiated, and sat back on the couch comfortably. To her delight Harry sat back next to her, so close that she could feel his warmth. Carefully, not wanting to ruin the moment, she let her head rest against his shoulder, hoping he wouldn't push her away. He didn't. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her, and she felt her pulse quicken. She never wanted the moment to end, she felt as though she could sit there, just like that for ever, and never have to move.

"Ginny?"

"Mmm?"

"I was wondering.. I mean, I talked to your brother…"

"That's good, I mean you can't continue to avoid him forever."

"You were right."

Ginny grinned. "I usually am"

"Oh, hardy har har. No, but seriously, your brother was very, approving of… us. And now that every thing is… o.k. I figured that it was time that I… ask you out."

"Really?" Ginny felt her palms begin to sweat.

"Yea," Harry looked down at her nervously. "So, Ginny, will you?"

"Will I what?" Ginny grinned, somehow enjoying making light of the moment she'd anticipated her entire life. Apparently Harry didn't know what to say, so she decided to be straight with him. "Harry, I would love nothing more than to be your girlfriend."

"Oh, really? I was going to ask if you'd get off of my arm, its going to sleep…" He jested, picking up the slack.

"Oh, well, in that case…"

"No, no. I was only joking…"

"I know." Ginny snuggled into him. "So, now we're… a couple?"

"Well, I hope so."

"Really, why is that?"

"Because," Harry turned her face up to his, "If we weren't I wouldn't be able to kiss you."

"What makes you think that you can now."

"I think I'll risk it."

And with that, before Ginny could protest, Harry bent his face over hers and brushed his lips softly against hers, in what was his first kiss.

Some time later, the two of them emerged out of the room of requirement, smiling and holding hands. Harry wrapped the invisibility cloak around them carefully, and pulled out the map.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Ginny watched the little lines weave themselves across the page, grinning when she saw that the two dots labeled with Harry's and her own names were so close together that it looked like one dot.

"That's odd…" Harry mumbled, looking down at the map, confused.

"What?"

"Look," he pointed at three little dots on the map moving quickly along the seventh floor corridor, "It's Malfoy, Creevey and Dankst. What are they doing up there at this time of night?"

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know, but I have a feeling we're going to find out…"

"You bet." Harry smiled and pulled her with him under the invisibility cloak at a fast pace, headed for the seventh floor.

When they got there, Ginny gasped. Standing at a corner talking was Ron, Harry and Hermione.

"Wha—"

"Shhhh Ginny. Look," Harry whispered, pointing at the three dots on the map. "Its them, they must have used a polyjuice…"

Ginny strained to hear what they were saying.

Emily/Hermione was obviously upset about something, and was telling the other two off.

"You imbeciles! I should have known, if I wanted something done right, I'd have to do it myself!"

"Ah, calm down!" Dankst/Ron rolled his eyes. "We'll get your precious map then. Just not tonight."

"Don't you tell me to calm down." Emily/Hermione snapped. "All you two had to do was get the stupid password, but you screwed that up, didn't you?"

Before Ginny could stop him, Harry threw off the invisibility cloak off of himself, leaving her covered, and advanced towards the group, obviously planning something.

"Potter?" Harry asked, looking at Malfoy/Harry. "What are you doing here?"

Malfoy/Harry spun around to glare at him. "What are you talking about Potter?"

"Don't disgrace me by giving me that mudblood lover's name!" Harry spat. "Emily, what's he doing here?"

For a split second, Emily/Hermione looked confused then she narrowed her eyes, looking from one Harry to the next.

"Alright, Potter, you've had your fun, but now it's over." Malfoy/Harry pulled out his wand and aimed it at Harry.

"Well, Potter, you think that you can scare me with that little toy? Ha! Why don't you run along to Dumbledore now, like you always do and tattle on the big bad Slytherins?" Harry smirked at him, giving a very impressive show.

"Why, you…"

But Malfoy/Potter stopped talking when Emily/Hermione turned to glare at him.

"So, Potter, you thought you'd be clever, and you'd sneak around here and get our plans. Well, I'll show you!" Emily/Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it at him. "Locomotor Mortis!"

Malfoy/Harry froze and fell to the ground like a brick. Ginny had to suppress a giggle, Harry really was ingenious in his plan.

"Come on Malfoy, let's go…" Emily/Hermione started then stopped as she watched the Harry on the ground's hair slowly turn to white. Quick as lightning, she reached out and stuck her wand to Harry's throat. "Don't move Potter, or you'll regret it."

Ginny blinked. She had to do something, and fast! She pulled her wand out of her inner pocket and took aim at the girl who was starting to resume her own appearance. After a breath of consideration, she whispered "Stupefy!" and watched with satisfaction as the girl dropped solidly to the floor. Harry rounded on Dankst and shouted, "Expelliarmus! Accio wand! Stupefy!" In a succession of sparkling light, the boy fell to the ground, unconscious and wandless. Harry turned back to Malfoy, who was fighting the affects of the body bind that his own comrade had put on him. "Stupefy!" Malfoy's eyes rolled back in his head.

"Thanks Ginny!"

Ginny grinned. "No problem! Now what to do with this lot?"

"Oh, I have an idea…"

Crabbe and Goyle stepped out of the Slytherin common room in pursuit of breakfast, but stopped short as they realized what was lying before them. Tightly bound with red ribbons, were a writhing Emily, Draco and Ted, and beside the bow that topped the lot off, was a note.

To all you Slytherins:

Consider this your (extremely early) Christmas present, it isn't really worth anything, in fact it will probably end up costing you in the end, but don't worry its no less than you deserve.

Happy Christmas

Gryffindor

A/n: Fluff! Woo hoo. You all knew that was coming, I'm a fairly predictable person, sometimes. Lol. To anyone on this story who reads my other, I know I said that I would update today, but I'm having a bit of difficulties writing it (I couldn't write all weekend as I was out of state), so I will try to have it ups by Thursday, but def. By Friday. Thank you all for reading this chapter, and I hope that you will all review. Now, of course to the individuals in themselves…:

Fleury: It is absolutely the thought that counts, as it pushes my review number up and gets me closer to my goal! Thanks for reviewing!

Hplovesme: well, did I get it? Huh huh? Did I? lolz tell me about in a review thanks for reviewing!

Alphaphi: On the contrary, it never said in the books that if you are a prefect in year 5 then you are a shoo in for year 6... just as it is not so for the prefects are automatically head boy, I mean Lupin was the prefect, but James was head boy, so where did that come from? Just saying! Thanks for you review, please continue reviewing!

LunaLovegood2: thanks I didn't particularly like chapter ten, but it is the reviewers opinions that count! Thanks for you review.

Yonavi: erm, hate to sound oblivious, but what is your name that you have been reviewing ttifbm under? Well, any who, I am now in love with you (not literally of course…) because you have made my dreams come true, lol. I guess I'll respond to each of your reviews:

I have to go, I'll respond to your review in my next chapter because my mom is being a cow. Sorry everyone but heres the chapter… grr..