Chapter 8: Suspicion.

Harry Potter was deeply confused. It had been two weeks since he realised that he loved Ginny Weasley and now he did not know what to do about it. He wanted to tell her but he could not.

It was surprising that Harry Potter felt that way. He was marked Voldemort's equal when he was just a baby. He had defeated the most feared wizard four times in the past few years; he had experienced things many fully qualified wizards feared, yet he was not able to confess to the girl of his dreams that he loved her.

Harry wondered why now, of all times, did he realise that he loved Ginny; now when she got over her crush for him; now when she started dating; now when she started talking to him, and got close to him...

In a way Harry was glad she got over her crush. That is why he got a chance to talk to her; that is why he got to know her...that is why he fell in love with her...

Harry had got really handsome in the past year; he had a great masculine body because of Quidditch, a wonderful voice that made all the girls weak in the knees, and strikingly green eyes that mesmerised anyone who looked into them. In short, Harry was the most handsome boy in Hogwarts, a boy who could have any girl he wanted...yet the only girl he actually wanted, was the one he could not have.

Apart from that, Harry had another problem to deal with. He wanted to talk it out with someone, and Ginny was the best option. Ginny would always talk to Harry, share his problems and gave her opinions, which were quite sensible. She would not over-react like Ron or run off to a Professor or a book like Hermione, and unlike both of them, she would believe him for things that may sound...peculiar.

Harry knew he needed to talk with Ginny to share his concern, as soon as he can...the only problem was that he had hardly seen Ginny in the past two weeks...

Harry stood in a dark open field with no stars or moon looking on. There were people around him, people fighting, people falling, and corpses. Harry knew this place too well; he had visited it many times in his nightmares. This was the place, the graveyard, where Harry witnessed Voldemort's return, and he was back here again, in the middle of a battle.

Harry heard a spell being shot towards him.

"Protego." Harry said, conjuring a shield around him.

Harry responded with a stunning spell, which his opponent easily dodged. Harry ran towards the nearest shelter, as his current opponent was taken care of by Remus Lupin. Harry's main objective was to find Voldemort, while the Aurors and the Order members held off the Death Eaters. He did not have much time since they were outnumbered, so he had to take care of Voldemort before they were all dead. Knowing Voldemort, Harry knew he would probably be hiding in the house, so Harry darted towards it, but before he could reach it, an awful, hissing voice sounded behind him.

"Looking for me?"

Harry turned to face Voldemort. They were in a secluded corner quite far away from the fight going on in the graveyard.

"Voldemort." Harry said his face set.

"So, so, so. Harry Potter. What brings you here today?" Voldemort said his voice full of hatred.

"Your death, perhaps," Harry said, venom dripping from his voice.

"So you think you can kill me," Voldemort said with a smirk.

"I vanquished you when I was a baby, didn't I?" Harry replied, his voice full of sarcasm, wiping the smirk off his opponents face.

"So I recall. That would not happen again, I assure you Harry." Voldemort said, "There is no mother of yours to protect you today."

"I will always have a mother to protect me, you just don't realise that. I will always have people who love me, whose love will protect me...unlike your father," Harry said, smirking as Voldemort face became furious. "Who, as I recall, left your mother, even before you were born...who disowned you."

Voldemort eyes filled with rage. His temper reached the top.

"YOU WILL DIE TODAY POTTER," Voldemort said raising his wand to kill Harry...

But Harry was quicker. Within a jiffy, he pointed his hand at Voldemorts chest, and recalling everyone's love for him, his parents', Sirius, Remus, Mrs. Weasley, Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione,...Ginny's...he muttered the two words, that would kill Voldemort once and for all.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!!" Harry said, the moment he saw Voldemort was unguarded, and was glad to see that the spell hit him.

Harry, however failed to notice that during this instant, the same spell was directed towards him, but before he knew, a figure stepped in front of him, taking the full impact of the spell and falling to the ground...laying completely still...

Harry looked down at the figure. It was a girl with red hair.

"GINNY!!!" Harry yelled, kneeling down next to her. She was cold, and Harry knew she was subjected to the killing curse. His hatred towards Voldemort increased, as he sat on the ground, holding Ginny to his heart, immense pain coursing through him...

"NO!!! GINNY!!!" Harry yelled, hoping against hope that she would come back...

"Ginny!..." Harry sat up on is bed, sweating and shaking.

Harry looked around frantically in the room breathing heavily. It took him a moment to realise that this was all a dream; that he was in his dormitory. He looked over to the clock on his side table which read '5:30'. It was still pretty dark out side. Harry stood up and went over to the jug, pouring some water for himself.

It was Saturday, so he would not have to worry about classes; but the nightmare left him shaky and unable to sleep again. He tried to convince himself that Ginny was perfectly fine, but he wanted to go over to see her, just to be sure.

He headed down to the Common Room to sit in front of the fire and think for sometime. But as he entered the room, he realised he would not be alone. By a table in a corner, sat a girl with bright red hair, pouring over some books. Harry silently approached her, sitting down beside her. She was so engrossed in her work that she failed to notice him.

"Hello Ginny." Harry said softly.

Ginny jumped knocking over her he books and inkbottle.

"Harry James Potter!!" She shrieked, holding a hand to her heart, trying to regain her breath.

"That's me all right." Harry said grinning.

"Don't-ever-do-that-to-me-again." She said saying each word clearly. "So how are you up so early?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Harry answered as she rearranged her things.

"I was just studying. I have my OWLs coming up, and I missed a lot of classes..." Ginny said as Harry lost his grin. "So what about you?"

"Bad dream." Harry said simply, looking at the fire.

"Wanna talk about it?" Ginny asked looking at him.

"No..." Harry said recalling his dream. He certainly did not want to share it...not with her anyway.

"It will help." She said sincerely, holding Harry's hand.

Harry looked back at her. Her honey-brown eyes emanating such warmth—such love.

'Merlin...I love her more than I thought,' Harry thought. 'I don't want to lose her...'

"Harry...Harry!" Ginny said waving a hand in front of him, bringing him back to earth. "Are you OK?"

"Wha...Oh yeah...I'm fine." Harry replied giving her a smile.

She, however, looked unconvinced but did not push it.

"So..." Harry started, "Long time no see."

"I've been busy...with OWLs and all." Ginny replied looking back at her book.

"I see you're turning into Hermione..." Harry said grinning.

"I am not...I just have to study hard. I do need to pass." Ginny said giving Harry a pointed look.

"At the top of your class..." Harry said looking at her and smirking.

"Harry..." Ginny warned, looking at him from the corner of her eyes.

"OK, OK..." Harry said taking his eyes off her.

They stayed silent for sometime, with Ginny reading, and Harry looking everywhere else, until Harry asked.

"So...how was the ball?"

'Do I want to know?' Harry thought a bit sadly, looking at Ginny again.

Ginny stayed quiet for sometime, and Harry was beginning to think that she did not hear him, when she said,

"It was good, Simon kept me entertained."

'Simon...' Harry thought, saying the name as if it was poison.

"How was yours?" Ginny asked interrupting his thoughts.

"Not much fun, I didn't realise when Susan left." Harry said, looking at the window.

Ginny stared at him.

"What?" He asked looking at her.

"Is it your and Ron's personality or your stupidity because of which your dates leave you?" She asked with a playful smile.

"What? Hermione left him too." Harry asked surprised.

"No, No. I am talking about the Yule ball." Ginny said laughing.

Harry smiled. He loved her laugh.

"No...It was...I wasn't too attentive to her. I was busy admiring someone else." He said.

Ginny's grin faltered.

"Oh." She said returning to her book.

They were met by more silence. Harry was deciding how to and more importantly whether to share his suspicion. In the end, he decided to do it.

"Ginny..." Harry stated, looking down at the quill he was playing with. "I have a problem."

Ginny faced him, worry etched over her face.

"What is it?" She inquired.

"It's just...it's...oh forget it...its stupid." Harry said looking back at the window.

He looked back at her when she shut her book and held his hand.

"Tell me Harry," She said looking into his eyes, giving him confidence. "Tell me what's wrong."

Harry sighed.

"It's Voldemort." He said simply.

Ginny looked confused.

"What about him?" She inquired looking at him curiously.

"It's just...I think he's planning something big." Harry said looking away from her.

"Why would you say that?" She asked curious.

Harry looked back at her and said,

"Well...there has not been any big activity...apart from the attacks and all...but not anything big...anything massive...The weapon is also destroyed, and he is out in the open...so he can't be "staying low"...I think he is planning something big..."

"But if he was....the Order would know, right?" Ginny said, thinking hard. "They will definitely do something."

"Dumbledore definitely knew about the Philosopher's stone, about the diary....but he didn't do anything..." Harry said. "I am not blaming him or anything, I am just trying to say that may be...may be...I don't know...may be something will go wrong...I have this weird feeling..."

Ginny grip on his hand tightened. She looked down to the floor and then back up at Harry.

"Harry..." She said. "What do you think he's planning? Do you think...do you think You-Know-Who..."

Harry interrupted her,

"Ginny, say his name."

Ginny looked at him in confusion.

"Say his, name Ginny. Voldemort, say it." Harry said looking at her, trying to make her understand.

Ginny looked at the floor again, and stayed silent for a long time. Harry placed his free hand over hers causing her to look into his eyes.

"Remember Ginny you once said that I am nothing more than a sixteen year old boy," Harry said to her.

Ginny nodded, blushing and looking down on the floor.

"I—I am sorry if I offended you." She said timidly.

"No, no, you didn't offend me." Harry said. "In fact I loved it when you said that...no body has ever said that to me you know."

Ginny looked at him, trying to figure out if he was sincere.

"Anyway," Harry said. "It's just like that, he is nothing more than a mere human being who craves power. Look he was beaten by a mother's love for her baby, vanquished by it. See he is no one great, a mere human, just another man who has gone to the extreme for power. Don't fear him Ginny...say his name."

Ginny stayed silent again, looking at the floor. She then looked at Harry and asked,

"Do you think...Voldemort is planning to attack Hogwarts?"

Harry furrowed his brows before answering,

"No, I don't think so. He will not simply bring his army and attack Hogwarts, especially with Dumbledore around. Besides Hogwarts is now under more protection due to the chance of attack and Voldemort knows he has no chance..."

"So where do you think?" Ginny asked thinking.

"I don't know...but all I know is that it will be massive. And I will be there." Harry replied brow still furrowed.

"How do you know?" Ginny asked curious.

"Its kind of a tradition by now..." Harry replied thinking. "I have to duel with him at least once a year..."

Harry looked back at Ginny grinning.

"That is not funny." She said grumpily.

Harry took his hand and ran it through his hair.

"I want you to be careful Ginny..." Harry said thoughtfully. "It will be really bad."

"Harry...Dumbledore would probably know...I am sure it will be Ok." Ginny said comforting him.

"I hope so too." Harry replied looking out the window.

They heard footstep from the staircase disrupting the peaceful and companionable silence between them. Ginny gathered her books and packed her bag.

"It will OK Harry, don't worry...I have to go, I'll see you later." Saying that, she kissed Harry on the cheek, and left for her dormitory.

Harry sat on the chair in a daze his hand touching the spot where Ginny had kissed. He did not notice Seamus' futile attempts to greet him, or Ron's when he came down trying to do the same. He just sat there, reliving the moment when his dream girl kissed him, wanting to tell her that he loved her....if only he was not so bad at Matters of the Heart...

Both teenagers went on with their day, busy with work, fun and friends, unaware that their suspicions were about to come true.

A/N: There you go another one. Thank you for your reviews.

I have the next five chapters written down, so if I get at least 10 reviews for this chapter by Sunday I will post the next chapter. I am going on vacation in a few days for about 2 months so I am giving you a chance...

Please Review.

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Bye.