Chapter 4

After playing (and losing) two games of chess to Ron, Harry was starting to get very curious about where Ginny was. He was staring at the stairs when Ron smacked his arm to get his attention.

"Did you hear me?"

"No, sorry."

"Where are those girls anyway?"

"Is that what you asked me?"

"No, but its what you're thinking, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Why don't you go find out and put in a good word for me?"

Harry laughed. "Sure thing."

Harry bounded up the stairs and stopped in front of Ginny's room. He heard stifled giggles coming from inside. He knocked and Ginny opened the door.

"Don't worry, its just Harry."

Harry acted offended, "Gee, thanks!"

"Oh, you silly, I just meant its not Ron."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside the room before slamming the door shut behind him. Hermione and Tonks were sitting on one of the twin beds in a fit of giggles. Harry had never seen Hermione like that. They calmed down once Harry was settled across from them on Ginny's bed.

"So, is Ron the topic of conversation up here?"

Hermione blushed, and Ginny piped up.

"Well, our little Hermione is trying to convince us that Ron doesn't have any feelings for her."

Harry grinned widely.

Hermione said, "Why are you grinning like that? What do you know?"

"That for the first time in your entire life, Hermione, you are one hundred percent wrong."

Ginny let out a great, "HA!"

Hermione paled and stumbled for a retort, "Well – at least – if only he'd SAY something!"

"Don't worry about that. It'll happen. Just promise me that you won't be too hard on him when it does, ok?"

She nodded and looked at the floor.

Tonks hopped up, "Well, ladies. It has been great hearing all the gossip – I'm glad I know what's going on. Now, I'm off to find Remus."

Ginny stifled a giggle as Tonks left the room.

Harry looked at her, "Why are you laughing?"

"We were teasing Tonks about Lupin earlier."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh. I just think she might fancy him a bit."

"Tonks? And Remus?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know – he's so much older than her."

Hermione chimed in, "That's what I said. I don't think either of them would be that illogical."

"Wait, this is Tonks we're talking about. I wouldn't put it past her to throw caution to the wind, but – Remus? He's way too proper for all that. Not that having someone around would do him harm – I know he gets lonely."

"But he has you, Harry." Ginny said.

"Yeah, but I'm not around all the time. It would be great for him to have a girl, but Tonks? I don't know…"

"Oh well, all I know is that romance is in the air." Hermione's brow furrowed as she looked at Harry and Ginny sitting close.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, I think seeing you together is going to take me a while to get used to. Actually no – THAT – is going to take me a while to get used to."

"What?" Harry stared at her finger which was pointing straight at his face.

"You, with a smile on your face. I wasn't sure if we'd see that again."

Harry admitted, "I wasn't either. She has a profound affect on me." He nudged Ginny with his elbow.

"Good. Just don't get carried away and become our beloved brood monster again. I don't think I could take it." Hermione said.

She got up and grabbed her side.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah – I think all the excitement has just made me a bit tired. I'm going to go down and say goodnight to Ron."

"Ok." Ginny said.

Once Hermione was gone, Ginny turned to Harry.

"What did you and Lupin talk about?"

Harry knew that he wanted to tell Ginny about the prophecy, but he also didn't feel up to rehashing it tonight. He decided that now wasn't the time for that talk.

"We just talked about some stuff that's been bothering me. He asked if I was ready to see Grimmauld Place again."

"What did you say?"

"That I'm not ready yet. I don't think I'm ready to accept that Sirius is gone forever."

"I know what you mean. I'll bet Lupin has trouble going there too."

"Yeah, he said that's why Dumbledore let him head up guard duty on Privet Drive. By the way, I wanted to show you something Remus gave me. It's up in my trunk – hang on."

Harry ran up to Ron's room and got the photo album. He got back to Ginny's room and found Hermione and Ron there.

"Hey guys. I was just about to show Ginny this present from Remus and Sirius."

He sat on the floor and the three of them gathered around. He opened the album to the first page.

"Sirius…" Ginny took Harry's hand.

They turned the page and looked at the three Marauders. Harry looked at his father and his two best friends in the picture and then looked up at his two best friends standing over him. His eyes found the scars on Ron's arms and the tired look on Hermione's face as she held her side. They had been through so much. He suddenly felt extremely grateful.

He smiled up at them. "I'm really lucky to have you guys."

Hermione got tears in her eyes. "We love you, Harry."

"I know. I love you too."

Ron put a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed. Harry looked down and turned the page. It was the picture of James on his broomstick.

Ron spoke, "Is he running a practice?"

"He was captain."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Wicked. Hey – I'll bet you'll be captain this year too, Harry – just like your dad."

Harry shrugged. "Maybe."

Ginny interjected, "Oh come on, Harry – you're a shoe-in."

He smiled at her. "Thanks."

He turned the page in the album to the picture of the Gryffindor celebration.

"This is the day Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup."

"Wow…is that your mom, Harry?" Ginny leaned in closer to watch Harry's parents cling to each other.

"Yeah."

She looked up at him, awed. "They look a lot like us."

"I thought the same thing."

"That's kind of weird." Ron had his face screwed up in an unreadable expression.

Hermione elbowed him, "I think it's sweet."

Harry looked back at Ginny. "So do I."

She blushed. He smiled and turned the page.

"This is the last day of school. My dad proposed that day."

"Wow, they were only one year older than us." Ron said.

"Well, technically – they were two years older, Ron." Hermione corrected.

"My point is – that's not far away."

"I know" she said, quietly. "They look really happy, Harry."

"Remus said that everyone could tell they were really in love."

"It's obvious even in this picture!"

"What's on the last page, Harry?" Ginny asked.

Harry took a breath to brace himself before he turned the page. Once he turned it, Hermione and Ginny immediately began cooing.

"Is that you?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah."

Once the Sirius in the picture looked up at the camera everyone became quiet. Harry stared at his godfather wondering what it would have been like to know him like he was beginning to know Remus. He heard Hermione sniff and Ginny discreetly wiped her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. Harry felt the tears well up inside him again.

"I can't believe he's gone."

Ginny turned and buried her face in Harry's shoulder as tears silently fell down her face. Ron put an arm around Hermione who was sniffing more, now. Harry put an arm around Ginny and smoothed her hair to comfort her until she stopped crying. Harry remembered that Hermione had wanted to go to bed.

"Oh, Hermione – I'm sorry – it's late, I didn't mean to keep you up."

"Oh, don't worry about it, Harry. I feel like I know your parents and Sirius a little bit better from looking at those pictures."

"Me too." Harry agreed.

"But I would like to go to bed now." Hermione put a hand to her side again and turned to Ron. "Night."

"Goodnight, Hermione." He hesitated but hugged her.

Ginny and Harry exchanged glances.

"See you upstairs, mate." Ron turned and trotted towards the stairs.

Hermione gathered her things and left for the toilet. Harry stood up and pulled Ginny up into a hug.

"You know that you are loved, don't you?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah." He blushed.

"Sirius would have done anything for you. And I think Lupin probably feels the same way."

"I think you're right."

"I just don't want you to ever feel like you are alone."

"Ginny, right now, that is the last thing I feel."

"Good."

"Goodnight. I'll see you in the morning." He leaned down and stole a quick kiss.

"Goodnight, Harry."

He turned and walked out of the room. Once he was lying in bed and heard Ron's familiar snores, Harry finally felt the weight of the long day. He was so glad to be at the Burrow with the people he loved. He couldn't believe how things had progressed between him and Ginny today. Being with Cho had felt so forced, and he had never truly enjoyed any of it. Being with Ginny felt natural. He couldn't believe he didn't feel nervous when he touched her. Kissing her today had been amazing. Butterflies rose in his stomach just remembering how it had felt. Then all of the sudden he felt guilty.

"Is it right to feel this way so soon after losing Sirius?" He thought and began to feel even worse. Then he remembered the look on Sirius's face in that picture with him as a baby. "No. Sirius loved me – he'd want me to be happy. Especially now." He admonished himself silently.

He allowed himself to drift off with his mind full of the beautiful girl who was laying in bed one floor below him. He wondered if she was thinking about him too.

The next day Harry awoke, relieved that he hadn't suffered any nightmares. He knew Ron was no stranger to his dreams waking him, but now Harry was afraid that Ginny might somehow become incorporated into his dreams. "That's all I need", Harry thought, "Ron waking up me screaming her name." Ron rolled over in his sleep and mumbled something unintelligible.

"Breakfast!" Mrs. Weasley's voice drifted up the stairs, and Harry got out of bed and tossed his pillow at Ron on his way to the door.

"Wake up, Weasley!"

"Huh? Wha?" Ron shot up in bed, totally disoriented.

"Your mum just called breakfast."

That did the trick. Ron's insatiable appetite was apparently more powerful than his sleepiness. He stood up and stretched. In the midst of a yawn, he tried to speak.

"Under ub bere doing today."

Harry chuckled. "I've been living with you for too long. I actually understood that."

Ron ran a hand through his hair as he joined Harry at the door.

"Sounded clear to me, Potter."

The boys hurried down the stairs, spurred by the delightful smells coming from the kitchen. Hermione and Ginny were already at the table. Mrs. Weasley looked up as she filled the girls' plates with eggs.

"Good morning, boys."

"Morning, Mum." Ron slumped down next to Hermione and stole a piece of sausage from her plate.

She looked offended and slapped at his hand. "Get your own!"

Ginny rolled her eyes while she buttered her toast. Harry sat down next to her and whispered, "good morning" in her ear. She turned and smiled at him.

Mrs. Weasley spoke with her back to the group. "Busy day today. I'm going to need your help with a few chores."

"Aww, Mum! Harry and Hermione just got here! Can't we have at least one day off?" Ginny whined.

"Ginny, I need your help today! It won't take long."

"Muuum…" Ron added.

"Quit your whining, both of you." She looked at Harry and her face softened a bit. "Alright, if you can finish it all by lunch you can have the afternoon off."

Ginny squealed, "Brilliant!"

Mrs. Weasley put eggs on Ron and Harry's plates and then turned back to the stove.

"So hurry and finish your breakfast so you can get started."

The four ate in silence (except for Hermione yelling, "Ron!" when he stole her last sausage) and then hurried upstairs to get dressed.

Mrs. Weasley assigned Ron & Hermione to clean the downstairs and assigned Harry & Ginny to change and make all the beds. As Harry followed Ginny up to the first bedroom, arms full of fresh bedding, she murmured, "Just wait until I can use magic…"

He laughed and said, "You'll probably never want to clean another thing without it."

"You better believe it."

They reached the first bedroom and started in on their task. As Harry took off the old pillowcase and put on a new one he spoke.

"Do you think you'd want to have a family as big as yours?"

Ginny looked at him thoughtfully as she picked up the new sheet.

"I don't know. Why? Do you think it's too big?"

"No! I think it's brilliant. If I ever get to have a family of my own, I want it to be huge."

Ginny stopped what she was doing and looked at him.

"What do you mean, if?"

Harry looked at her and realized what he had said. Should he tell her about the prophecy now? He decided he would try and see how it went.

"Well, I mean, nothing is guaranteed. Any one of us could be gone tomorrow."

Ginny suddenly looked very sad and nodded.

"I know that," she said quietly.

"Ok," Harry thought, "It's time to tell her."

"Ginny?"

"Yes?"

"Come here."

She came over and sat next to him on the bed.

"Things between us have been really great so far…but we need talk about what might affect us later."

"Harry…" she began.

"Wait. I care about you a lot and there are some things you deserve to know before you decide to stay with me."

She nodded to indicate that she was willing to hear him out. He took her hand.

"The reason Voldemort was after the prophecy so badly is because he only heard the first part and based on what he heard he came after me. When he was defeated he realized there must have been more."

"Well now he'll never know what it said."

"Hopefully not, but I do."

"You do?"

"Dumbledore told me."

"Can you tell me what it said?"

He nodded. "THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES…BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…that's all Voldemort heard. It predicts when I would be born and to whom."

"What's the rest say?"

He took a deep breath. "AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT…AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES…"

Ginny's eyes were huge. She didn't say anything.

"Ginny?"

She blinked and took a shaky breath.

"Ginny? Say something." Harry felt desperate for a reaction.

She slowly lowered her eyes and began to cry.

This was definitely not the reaction he expected. "She's going to leave me for sure. Idiot," he thought, "Why would anybody risk their life to be your girlfriend?"

"Ginny, don't cry. I understand."

"It's not fair."

"I know."

She looked up at him, her eyes blazing. "He is such a coward that he came after a baby."

"Ok, she's mad at Voldemort, not me." He thought.

"He marked you as his equal. It didn't have to be this way for you!"

"But it is. And if that's too much for you, I will understand." He looked down at his lap.

She gently reached over and raised his head so he was looking into her eyes.

"Harry, this is Voldemort's fault, not yours, and I will be damned if I let him affect the way I feel about you. I plan on staying by you until the end."

She reached up and kissed his scar, and Harry suddenly had tears in his eyes. She trailed soft kisses down his face until she reached his mouth. She lingered, inches away, and whispered, "I love you, Harry."

Harry felt his heart burst and before he could react she was kissing him. He felt a million things at once. Her hands tangled in his hair, his entire body tingling, his heart pounding, tears drying on his face, a wave of want and desire as his hands moved over her back and into her hair. When their kiss deepened and Harry felt the glorious sensation of her tongue slide into his mouth, he simultaneously felt a surge of something reminiscent of electricity begin to vibrate in his stomach. He felt his entire body begin to hum and heard a faint crackle as the surge grew. It was so powerful that it pushed him and Ginny apart.

Harry, out of reflex, put his hand up to his scar.

"What was that? Are you ok?" Ginny breathed when she saw his hand move up.

He felt like he was vibrating. Was this another Voldemort linked premonition? He quickly took stock of everything he was feeling. His scar didn't hurt. He was filled with a warm, happy sensation and not an ounce of the familiar guilt or anger. He was still breathless from it all. He slowly dropped his hand to his lap and struggled to breathe normally.

"Harry, what was that?"

He swallowed and looked at her, "I think that was the first time that I felt something that was entirely me."

"What do you mean?"

"That had nothing to do with Voldemort. That came from me only."

"But what was it?"

"I have no idea."

"What are you two doing?" Mrs. Weasley came bursting into the room. "You haven't even finished the first bed yet!"

"Sorry, Mum."

The two of them hopped up as she came to stand in front of them with both hands on her hips.

"Well, never mind. I'm done with the laundry; I can finish these up myself. You two go down and help Ron and Hermione."

Ginny hesitated, "Harry, I'll meet you down there. I need to talk to Mum."

Harry realized their relationship was about to be out in the open.

"Sure…"

He couldn't get out of there fast enough. He hurried out of the room and down the stairs, but instead of finding Ron and Hermione, he went out into the garden. He sat down on the bench and tried to decipher what had just happened.

He could not fathom why that surge had come over him, but he remembered seeing it happen before. When Dumbledore burst in to save him from Crouch after the Triwizard tournament, Harry had seen Dumbledore radiating with power. Harry knew that what had happened to him just now with Ginny had been something like that. He felt like he had tapped into the essence of his magical ability involuntarily, but why and how had it happened?

He put his head in his hands to try and remember exactly what had happened at that moment. Ginny was kissing him. He had felt something for her right before that surge. What was the feeling? He recalled her words right before she kissed him. "She said she loved me," he thought. But did he love her back? He was starting to feel a little nauseous as the weight of the moment settled in his chest.

Somehow he knew how he felt. He knew that he loved her. "How did this happen?" he wondered. They were too young for all of this. "My dad knew how he felt when he was 16…" he justified.

Harry was amazed by how Ginny had reacted to hearing about the prophecy. After everything he said, her response was to say that she loved him. Then she kissed him… and that kiss…wow. Harry never knew kissing someone could be like that. Had the surge happened because of how powerful the kiss was? Was it out of excitement? He had definitely been excited when it happened…how else did he feel? Happy. Yes, it could have been out of happiness. But Harry had a sinking feeling that it had more to do with the new feeling that was making him feel a bit ill.

"Love?" He said out loud. He ran a hand through his hair. This was too much to process in one day. He suddenly wanted very much to see Dumbledore.