Just wanted to say thanks to anyone who actually took the time to read this far. This story had been up on here for more than a year and not one single person had read this until yesterday so thanks very much!


Before you landed

I had a will but didn't know what it could do

You were abandoned

And still you're handing out what you don't wanna lose

You make me drop things like all the plans I had for a life without you

Someone to die for

Someone to fall into when the world goes dark

Someone to Die For—Jimmy Gnecco featuring Brian May

Chapter 8 Career Advice Again

The next morning, Harry lay in bed looking through all the different Quidditch teams. His head snapped up from his book when someone knocked on his door.

Ginny entered his room saying, "Oh, good. You're up. I just wanted to know what you wanted for breakfast." She stopped and stared. "Harry, you're up early and reading…Are your okay?"

Harry chuckled. "Yes, Ginny, I'm fine. I'm trying to decide which team to try out for."

Ginny came over and lay down next to Harry on his bed. He shifted so she was able to look at the book with him. Harry flipped through the pages till he found the section on the Chudley Cannons. "See, they could use some new talent. But I don't know if I want to be on a team that always loses. Plus, their robes aren't that great."

Ginny nodded her agreement. "I've yet to figure out why Ron is so obsessed with them. Pathetic, really."

Harry flicked through the book again and stopped at a chapter about the Montrose Magpies. "Now, this team has a good reputation. The most successful…nice robes…" Harry joked. "But I just don't think they're for me either."

"Why not?" asked Ginny.

"Now, really, who wants to call themselves a magpie?"

Ginny giggled. "What about them? I might just try out for them when I leave Hogwarts," she asked, pointing to a picture of the Puddlemere United team flying in close formation. "I mean they have nice robes, no funny mascots, and a good reputation. And isn't Oliver Wood on that team now?"

"Yeah, I think he is," said Harry as he strained his memory to recall. "Actually, I was leaning more towards Puddlemere anyw-- What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Someone laughed."

"Harry, no one laughed."

"Yeah, your probably right. No wait! There it was again! Did you hear it?"

Ginny nodded. "It sounded like it came from the ceiling." They both gazed at the ceiling. A green sprig of mistletoe was hanging above Harry's bed.

"I didn't put that there," Harry said in awe.

"No, it's a bit of Fred and George's work. They came to help us put up the Christmas decorations yesterday, before you got here, though I'm not quite sure why, since no one's going to even be here for Christmas," she explained. "They bewitched it to follow people around the house until they kiss. You should have seen it following Ron and Fred around yesterday."

"And what if they don't?" Harry asked, staring open-mouthed at the mistletoe on his ceiling. He thought back to the last time he had tried to kiss Ginny and how she had run from him.

"It gets very violent," she giggled.

Harry dropped his gaze back down to Ginny, who, to his surprise, was not staring at the ceiling but at him instead. "Well, we don't want that, do we?" he joked.

"Of course not," she played along.

Harry leaned in to kiss her, hardly daring to believe his luck. Here he was with the girl of his dreams, and she was inviting him to kiss her. He felt their lips meet and tasted strawberries. He expected her to pull back right away but she didn't. Instead, she wrapped her hands around Harry's neck and pulled him closer.

Suddenly, as if pulling herself unwillingly out of a trance, she pushed Harry away. "No," she muttered.

"Why not?"

"I'm supposed to be over you," she whispered.

"But are you?" asked Harry, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes

She shook her head. Reaching up, she stroked Harry's cheek. "Not by a long shot."

Harry cradled her head in his hand and kissed her again. Slowly she lay back on Harry's pillows, her mouth never leaving his. Above them, the mistletoe sniggered and shot out of Harry's open door.

Ginny froze and pushed Harry off her. "Ron's coming." She got up and smoothed out her hair and clothes. "I should go finish breakfast," she said, sliding past her brother in the doorway.

"Morning, Harry. What was Ginny doing in your room?"

"She wanted to know what I wanted for breakfast," said Harry. He wasn't lying, not really. After all, that was why she had come into his room in the first place.

"Oh. Why've you go lip gloss on?" Ron asked suddenly. He squinted hard at Harry.

Harry licked his lips. Strawberries. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"Why are your lips all red?" Ron berated. "And why are you blushing?" He stopped suddenly. "You…and Ginny…"

"Listen, Ron, I'm sorry, but the mistletoe and the Quidditch and the…I mean…with the," he spluttered. "Why aren't you yelling?" Harry had expected his friend to be mad. Instead, he stood there smirking.

"I knew you liked my sister! I knew it! Wait till I tell Hermione," he laughed. "She owes me!"

"What do you mean?"

"I bet her that you and Ginny would be together before Christmas. She didn't even think you liked her!"

"So you're not mad?" Harry asked, starting to calm down.

"Well, it was a bit strange to find my best friend and my sister in bed together—"

"In bed!" Harry shouted. "But, Ron, we didn't do anything!"

"—but I think I'll get over it, as long as it doesn't happen again," Ron finished as he and Harry headed down the stairs to breakfast. "Mind you, Bill might have a few things to say about it, but I'm sure you'll be able to convince him."

"Ron, please don't be mad at Harry," Ginny said as they entered the kitchen.

"Relax, Gin. I'm not mad at anyone."

"Oh, well then," she said, slightly flustered. She flashed a grin in Harry's direction.

"So what's for breakfast?" Ron asked.

"Eggs," Ginny said as she turned back to the stove. "Where's Bill? Is he going to be eating with us?"

"You know, I don't think he will," Ron answered, summoning plates from the cabinet. "I think he went to Grimmauld Place. He leaves tomorrow, so we need to pack up tonight. Harry, you will get to spend Christmas at Hogwarts this year after all."


The arrival of the New Year usually caused Gryffindor house to throw a huge party. Someone usually snuck down to the kitchens and nicked food while other students used older siblings to provide the wine, champagne, and the increasingly popular Firewhisky. Harry remembered all too well last year when he'd indulged a bit too much in the drinking. The morning after had been a nightmare as he spent most of it throwing up and complaining of a splitting headache. Then there was the fact that drinking was his uncle's new favorite hobby. All in all, he decided, he would not touch a drop of alcohol during the celebration.

The night of the party, Harry sat in Gryffindor Common Room glancing at his watch and staring into the fire. At a quarter to midnight, Harry gazed around the Common Room and watched couples strolling hand in hand. He sighed.

"Cheer up, Harry," said Ron rather tipsily. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Ginny said she'd be here," Harry said.

"I told you, she needed to work on something in the library. She was going to try and make it before midnight but she wasn't sure." Hermione sipped her glass of wine. Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, well, you can't expect me to follow the rules all the time, can you," she declared.

At five to midnight, Hermione and Ron left to find a more private spot to celebrate the New Year and Harry was left alone by the fire. He sat staring for a while. Someone called out that only thirty seconds were left. His heart flip-flopped and then plunged into his stomach. Another New Years alone. Suddenly a hand went over his eyes. He stiffened, but relaxed as he heard a giggle. "Ginny," he sighed.

"I saw you sitting over here all by yourself and I thought I'd come keep you company," she said, handing him a glass of champagne. "No one should be alone on New Years!"

"I said I wouldn't drink this year," he said, refusing the glass.

"It's New Years! Just one glass?"

Harry grinned and took the champagne from her as the countdown started.

"You know it's a Weasley tradition to kiss your special someone at the stroke of midnight. You're part of the Weasley family now, so you'd better find someone." (10…)

"I think I did." (9…)

"Oh, really. Who?" Ginny said scooting closer. (8…)

"You'll see." Harry scanned the room and pretended to stare avidly at Lavender Brown, who was already surrounded by a gaggle of Gryffindor boys. (7…)

Ginny frowned. (6…)

Laughing, Harry said, "Relax! Like I'd want to spend the holiday with anyone else!" (5…)

A grin returned to Ginny's face. "You had me worried there for a second." (4…)

"3…2…1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!" shouted the Common Room. No one paid any attention to the couple on the couch by the fire.

Harry pulled back after a few moments. "You taste good. Like…"

Ginny laughed. "Chocolate?"