Author's Note: Hey everyone, it's Walz again (obviously). I just thought I might mention that all of the characters and magical concepts here belong to J.K. Rowling. Although, if for some reason you'd like to believe I started all of it, be my guest :D

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IV

Lit Only By The Stars

Harry Potter was frightened out of his mind. His heart's desire had paid him absolutely no mind for about ninety-six hours, and now it appeared that he had her full attention. He wanted to rejoice, but he was more concerned with what to say. All the time he had spent planning his speech, saying it over and over again in his mind...all of that time was wasted as he was now staring at her, mouth gaping, for a matter of milliseconds which to him had felt like starving years. Ginny was frowning, and it looked as though she were about to turn her head in the other direction.

"Ginny..." he said again, "I-I know that you're quite angry with me...but...I n-need to talk to you." Her eyes fixed onto his. He took this as a sign to continue speaking.

"I realise that I hurt you..." he began, and Ginny snorted, "quite...quite a bit. I want to talk to you about...everything. Professor Dumbledore's funeral...the past week...all of that needs to be out in the open." Ginny nodded slowly, and he continued, "Listen, Ginny...when we lost Dumbledore, everything got bloody messed up. My life turned upside-down. I felt as though I'd lost my protector. And at the hands of someone he'd trusted. The days following were depressing, angring...not at all happy as they had been. I didn't tell you, but I started fearing the task I have to accomplish, and it haunted my dreams. I realise what a sod I must've sounded like. Breaking up with you for something I thought was noble."

Ginny spoke up for the first time, "Y-you're saying that it wasn't?" Harry's heart pumped faster at the sound of her voice.

"No, it was damnfoolery. Listen...I want to know how you felt about it..." He looked at her with pleading eyes. She closed her eyes and consented.

"Harry...I wanted to hex you into oblivion," she shook her head, "I mean honestly, Harry. Everything was so marvellously wonderful for a few weeks. I really thought we would go somewhere..." Harry frowned when he noticed her eyes were welling up as she spoke, "And then, for no good reason at all, you tell me 'it's not safe,' that all of the wonderful time we'd had together was 'out of someone else's life,' and then you buggering run off without another word! How do you suppose that made me feel?"

"W-well I suppose I was being kind of..." Harry attempted to answer.

"Kind of what, Harry?" Ginny asked, a sound of unleashing anger in her voice, "You weren't being kind of anything. You were being a complete and utter git." He frowned at this, but she didn't seem to care, "And I just stood there watching you walk off. I wanted to yell after you, but no words would come. Harry, I wanted to cry so badly that I simply couldn't summon the tears." Those tears, it appeared, had just been summoned as tears began to stream from Ginny's swollen eyes.

Harry felt horrendous, "I-I'm r-really sorry..." he began, but she interrupted him again.

"Harry, you hurt me more that day than anyone has ever hurt me in my life. I'd've rather been possessed by a dozen Tom Riddles," she shuddered as she said this, "than have my heart torn from my chest like you did at that funeral." She pointed at her heart.

Harry's eyes had begun to tear up as he listened to her. He tried to defend himself. "Ginny...I just...didn't want anything to happen to you, that's all..."

"Oh, that's it, right?" Ginny asked, in tears, her voice a bit louder, "It's alright for my dear brother and Hermione to run off with you and galavant 'round the world, but I've got no business near danger, right? It's not like I wasn't with you at the Ministry that day, Harry. It's not like I wasn't a member of the D.A., right?"

"Ginny," Harry began, "It's got nothing to do with..." She cut him off again.

"Got nothing to do with what, Harry?" she demanded, "I'm not a little girl. I'm strong, and I can take care of myself. You know that! Is it because it's always been the three of you!"

"They demanded I let them come with me!" Harry said, his tone changing to an angry, defensive colour, "I didn't ask them to run with me 'round bloody England! Listen, Ron and Hermione have been with me from the beginning. I don't want them coming, either, but it doesn't seem like I can stop them."

"Then what's stopping me from following you, Harry? You know, I'd always wanted to be as close to you as they were. It was only when we were happily alone that I didn't feel second-rate!" Harry really didn't know how to respond to the second part of what she'd said. He only knew that hit had hit him in the heart like a fork being dragged along a blackboard.

"You can't follow me, Ginny," he retorted to her first comment, "It's too dangerous for you. If Voldemort finds out that we've gotten feelings for one another, it could mean your death! You wouldn't be safe!"

"If what you're saying is true, Harry, then it doesn't appear that I would be safe anywhere!" Her tone was rising as she spoke, "And I would be safe! As long as you were there with me, Harry!" She had yelled the last bit, and didn't notice until she heard an echo. Both she and Harry stopped and immediately and looked at the house and all of the windows, making sure that no one had heard her. When no one stirred or any lights turned on, Harry spoke first, in a whisper.

"Gin, I'm sorry," she looked as though she was going to start bawling, "It's just that Ron and Hermione and I have been through a lot together." He frowned, and it was obvious that tears had left their mark on his face as well, "I suppose it's not really a good thing that we've got more experience with the Dark Arts. I...I never meant for you to feel second-rate. When we were together...I felt so strongly for you that I hoped you would realise that."

"Oh Harry..." Ginny said softly, and began crying again, "The way you're talking about our relationship is making me feel like you never really wanted to be with me in the first place. If you really felt so strongly, Harry, well..." It was he who interrrupted this time.

"Shhh..." he quieted her, "You're talking absolute nonsense. I wanted so incredibly badly to be with you. You permeated through my dreams and invaded my thoughts. ...You still do, Ginny."

"Why..." Ginny began slowly, "Why did you say that we'd been living someone else's life?"

"It felt that way because everything was so perfect, Ginny," Harry answered, "When truthfully, the world around us couldn't handle it. I wanted you to be safe because I would be absolutely shattered if anything happened to you."

Ginny sniffed, "I'm absolutely shattered right now, Harry..." she sighed, "You agree that what we had was beyond incredible. I dunno...I just don't see how you could lie to yourself about your feelings." Harry hung his head and began to speak.

"I'll be the first to admit that I was, in a way, being selfish," he said, "I figured that if I did my best to push you to the back of my mind, Voldemort would have a hard time using you against me. Ginny...It broke my heart having to do what I did. I lay awake every night thinking about you. I had wanted so badly to come see you and to talk to you about what had happened. But when I arrived, I found that you didn't even want to acknowledge that I was alive."

Ginny nodded, "I wanted nothing to do with you, Harry..." she conceded.

"I gathered that," Harry said, "And after four agonizing days and very little sleep, I've finally been able to talk to you. I've finally gotten the chance to tell you...that...well...that leaving you was...the bloody biggest mistake I've ever made."

Ginny looked at him, as though in disbelief. But she smiled when she saw his eyes. She could read exactly how he felt in his eyes. She then began to sob. Harry, who'd been alternating between sitting on the ground and standing up, kneeled in front of Ginny and held her for the first time since they were happily a couple. Ginny wrapped her arms around him and cried into his shirt.

"I-I'm s-so sor-rry, Harry," she cried, "I've b-been so ter-rr-ible the past few d-days..."

He shushed her. "You've nothing to apologise for, Gin. I'm the one who's sorry..." He pulled her closer and smelled her beautiful, auburn hair. He smiled and began to softly cry in happiness.

Harry and Ginny remained in this embrace for what seemed like a while, but probably only lasted a minute or two. Finally, Harry pulled away and looked at Ginny's beautiful eyes. They smiled at him, along with her mouth.

"Harry?" Ginny asked softly.

"What's up?" Harry cocked his head, smiling.

"Does this mean that we can be back togeth--" Ginny couldn't continue with her question because she felt something very warm and soothing on her lips. It was Harry. He was kissing her. And it felt amazing. After a few moments, Harry parted his lips a bit and ran his tongue along Ginny's upper lip. She gratefully replied by meeting his tongue with her own, and their kiss grew increasingly passionate as he cupped her face in his hands. After what felt like several wonderous summers, the two parted and rubbed their noses together gently, before softly kissing one more time. Ginny had started crying again and Harry wiped the tears from her face.

"Does that answer your question?" he whispered.

"Shut up, Potter," she said, smiling as she grabbed his face and drew him in for another kiss.

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Ah, chapter four. You know, if I really wanted to, I suppose I could end it right there. thinks Nah. Damn, I got flooded with reviews today! Let's take a look...

5CANDALOUS: I'm really glad you're enjoying it so far. Yes, I'm glad I threw in that bit of humour.

Rebecca: Thanks, I hope you continue reading :D

tvchick87: Wow, two reviews? Thanks a lot! I'm really happy that you're pleased with how I'm writing the characters. Don't worry, Hermione will be 'round next time!

starrlightstarbrite: Hahah, I'm glad you think it's cute. I'm pleased that you like it so much. Thanks a lot:D

shadowdragonblade: Two reviews from you, too? Thanks a lot :D

Fiona: Thanks a lot. Oh, and I believe you got your arguement :D

twiggers: You love it? Awesome! Then my writing's working out! Thanks :D

Discombobulatedperson: Yep, cliffy indeed. I'm glad that you really like it.

Wow, I'm going to start having half-story, half-review if things keep up like this. Let's see if I can condense a bit. I hope I don't offend anyone...

Hatuala, theguy, Washdup, me, baseballkid, Allimba: Thanks for reading, and I'm really pleased that you're enjoying the story!

fritz42: Amazing. You know, I'm going through the same "depression" as you, that's why I decided to write. I'm really glad you're liking it so much :D Thanks a lot, once again.

my-name: Thanks a lot. I'll do my best to keep the chapters progressively longer.

Remus-Lupin-Luver: I'm glad you love it! And I really appreciate that you think I'm a really good writer. This is my first writing endeavour, actually :D

MooseMonkey: Wow, I really appreciate that this is the first review you've made in a while! Thanks for reading, and I'm really happy you're liking it :D

nobody's listenin': Hmmm...well, I appreciate your criticism. If anything in Half-Blood Prince stated that they'd be taking their tests together, I must've overlooked it.

Nytel: You've had a lot to say, it seems. The period bit, yes, in retrospect I realise that it was rather blunt, but at two in the morning after a long day I found my fatigued mind with an odd sense of humour. I thought that perhaps after his revelation he might have looked upon his past relationship with a little more seriousness. Perhaps he realised just what they'd meant to eachother. Regardless, I really appreciate your "nit-picking." Haha, afterall, the best critic is well-rounded. Thanks a lot :D

It's 03:13 right now, and after a couple hours' hard work, I'm off to bed. Thanks a lot for reading all of you, and feel free to drop some reviews. And criticism is welcome; how can I become a better writer if no one focuses on what could be worked on? Thus far I've been true to my word, so unless something drastic happens to me, expect chapter five up 'round this time tomorrow :D

-Walz