hey. so i dont think ill be posting anything for a few days. i just got my wisdom teeth out and the drugs that they gave me don't exactly agree with my family. im either completely knocked out or puking in front of the toilet. this just happens to be a break between drugs where i just feel sick but im really just ok. anyways thanks to everyone whos read this. i will be back soon. its like ill have anything else to do once this all wears off. see u later!


Chapter 11Valentine's and Voldemort

"It's WHAT!" shouted Harry up in the boy's dormitory. Ron shrank away from him, mumbling something about birthdays and valentines.

"Sixteen. She's going to be sixteen." He paced the floor, dragging a hand through his hair. He rounded on his friend again. "And you waited till now to tell me this because…?"

Ron shrugged.

"Do you realize this is her sweet sixteen…the week before our first Valentine's Day, no less! What kind of brother are you?"

"An absentminded one," said Hermione, striding into the room and holding out a long essay. "You forgot this in the common room." She looked at Harry who was slightly red in the face from yelling. "What's going on?"

"He," Harry jerked his head toward Ron, "decided to tell me about Ginny's birthday the week of it!"

"Yeah. She's going to be sixteen," she mused, sitting down on the foot of Ron's bed. "I've never seen her more excited."

Harry let out something between a growl and a scream and began pacing the floor again. "What am I supposed to get her?" he asked, more to himself then anyone. Suddenly, he spun around and pointed to Hermione, "You're a girl, and you've already turned sixteen."

"Good job, Harry, it took you seven years to realize I'm a girl and only one to figure out that I turned sixteen. I guess I'd better watch out from now on." She rolled her eyes.

"Sorry." He threw himself backwards onto his bed. "I'm just so new at this and I don't want to mess it up."

Hermione moved over to his bed and leaned over Harry so she could look him in the face. "Harry, no matter what you do for Ginny on her birthday, she'll love it. That's not saying that you shouldn't try to do something really outstanding for her."

Pushing himself into a sitting position Harry said, "What can I get her?"

"All my family got me books and jewelry."

"Yeah, Harry! Ginny's never had much jewelry. We could never aff—I mean, we couldn't ever get her anything nice like that." Ron blushed and hunched over the essay Hermione had brought him.

"That's it." Harry jumped up from his bed and started digging through his trunk. "Hagrid gave me something of my mum's last year I think she'd like." He pulled a small golden locket out of a leather pouch. "You say someone's name and it shows a picture of them." He handed it to Hermione.

"I wonder what sort of charm makes it do that?" she whispered. "Harry this would be perfect."

"But that still leaves me stuck on what to do on Valentine's Day."

"It's a Hogsmead weekend isn't it?" piped in Ron. "Take her out like you did with Cho."

"Ron!" shouted Hermione. "Ginny is different than Cho." She turned back to Harry. "He's on to something about Hogsmead, but do not do the same things with her as you did with Cho. Just walk around the shops with her. Maybe you might want to stop at Madam Puddifoot's; she always celebrates Valentine's Day."

"But I went there with Cho."

"Well, that's okay. Just don't say anything about it," she said thoughtfully.

"Who knew this could all be so confusing!" he shouted, falling back on his bed again.


"Happy birthday, Ginny," said Ron hugging his sister on the evening of her birthday.

"Thanks, Ron," she said beaming. She sat down next to Harry who was doing homework on the floor near the fire. "And where have you been all day?"

"Around," said Harry innocently. He'd avoided Ginny all day so she would think he didn't know how special today was to her.

"You know—" but she was cut off as Hermione squealed loudly.

"Oh, Happy birthday!" she shouted, hugging the redhead tightly.

"Thanks, Hermione," she managed.

"So what all have you gotten?"

"Well, Ron got me some chocolates."

"Wasn't that nice of him," she said, throwing a hateful glare in his direction. "He didn't get me sweets for my sixteenth…"she grumbled, walking away.

"So it's your birthday today?" Harry asked carelessly, not looking up from his homework. "Well, happy birthday then," he muttered as he rolled up his parchment.

"Um…thanks."

"I need to go to the library," he said, hoping she would follow him.

"Me too. Can I come?"

Harry sighed in relief, but was able to turn it into a sigh of reluctance. "I guess."

Ginny followed him out the portrait hole, confusion written clearly on her face. Unable to keep a straight face any longer, Harry burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" she shouted. "You know, I'd have thought that you of all people, Harry, would have remembered my birthday."

Harry was taken aback at the rage in her voice. He pulled her into an empty classroom so that any teachers roaming the hallway wouldn't hear her. Suddenly serious, he said, "Who said I forgot?"

"What—" but she stopped as Harry produced a carefully wrapped package from his bag. She laughed and punched Harry playfully on the arm.

"Happy birthday, Gin," he said as she pulled his mother's locket from the paper.

"Harry, it's beautiful. Where did you get it?" she said, watching it twirl on the end of the chain.

"It belonged to my mum. If you say someone's name, it shows a photo of them." He took the locket from her and said, "Ginny Weasley." Then, he opened it and handed it back to her.

"I love it," she whispered, fastening it around her neck. "But why? This belonged to your mother. It must be hard to part with it," she asked, examining it closely.

"Not really. I mean what would I ever do with it? Besides, you deserve it," he said, putting a hand under her chin and tilting it upwards. He bent to kiss her but stopped. Footsteps were echoing in the corridor outside their classroom. He glanced at his watch and cursed.

"I didn't realize how late it was when we left! It's already past curfew! We have to get back to the common room," he whispered as the footsteps stopped outside the door.

"Shit!" Ginny breathed, looking around for a place to hide.

Harry grabbed her hand and dragged her around to behind the teacher's desk. He dropped to his knees and pulled her after him as the door opened. Professor McGonagall stepped in and peered through the gloom. Harry felt Ginny shaking with silent laughter beside him and he poked her hard in the ribs. McGonagall stood still for a second; then apparently satisfied that the room was empty, she left.

Harry and Ginny jumped from behind the desk and dashed to the door. Sticking his head out first, Harry made sure there were no teachers in the hallway before they stepped out into it. He grabbed Ginny's hand and dashed from the room, dragging her along behind him.

"Filch!" Ginny half whispered, half laughed to Harry. They darted behind a suit of armor and sunk into the shadows. The caretaker passed, humming tunelessly to "Mary had a Little Lamb." As he rounded a corner, the pair behind the armor stumbled out, cackling hysterically.

After a few moments of uncontrolled laughter, the two were off again. Peering around a corner not too far from Gryffindor Common Room, Harry spotted Snape. He took off in the other direction, Ginny in tow. He spied a broom closet and darted in there.

"Harry," Ginny said, breathing hard, "who was it?"

"Snape," he mouthed, holding a finger to his lips and bending over double to ease the stitch in his side.

Ginny pressed her ear against the door and was silent for a moment. "I think he's gone," she whispered finally.

Harry heard the doorknob rattle and tensed, thinking someone was going to open the door. No one did. Instead, Ginny said, "Harry, it's locked."

"Try Alohomora," he said calmly.

"Alohomora," she whispered. She tried the door again. "It didn't work."

Harry stepped forward. "Alohomora," he said forcefully to no avail. "Alohomora! Alohomora! Alohomora!" he tried again. Still nothing. He pushed hard on the door, willing it to burst open.

Tired, he sank to the floor with a defeated sigh. "Apparently, Filch wants to know who's been in his broom cupboards."

"Harry," Ginny squeaked.

"What?"

"I'm claustrophobic."

Harry hit the back of his head on the door.


Luckily for Harry, closed spaces had never bothered him. Perhaps it was because he had lived in a cupboard for nearly ten years or perhaps it was because he liked the dark. Either way, he was quite comfortable in this particular broom closet. Ginny, on the other hand, was not.

At first, she had been nearly hysterical, but that had been fixed by simply lighting a wand and proving that the space wasn't as enclosed as she had originally thought. Now, however, she was bored.

"Harry, I'm bored:" she stated after an hour of nothing.

"Well, you could listen to some of my songs."

"I didn't know you sang," Ginny said in surprise.

"I taught myself how to play the guitar this summer and singing kind of comes with the territory."

"Well, let's hear it." Ginny crossed her arms and leaned back against a box, settling in to be amused.

"Keep in mind, it's supposed to have a guitar with it, and I'm not very good at singing yet," he said.

"Don't try and weasel your way out of this one. Besides, I'm sure you sing very well."

Harry racked his brain, trying to think of a song she would like. He settled on one of his favorites and began slowly:

Sometimes it's embarrassing to talk to you

To hold a conversation with the only one who sees right through

This version of myself I try to hide behind.

I'll bury my face because my disgrace will leave me terrified.

And sometimes I'm so thankful for you loyalty

Your love regardless of the mistakes I make will spoil me.

My confidence is, in a sense, a gift you've given me

And I'm satisfied to realize you're all I'll ever need.

You looked into my life and never stopped

And you're thinking all my thoughts

Are so simple but so beautiful.

And you recite my words right back to me

Before I even speak

You let me know, I am understood.

And sometimes I spend my time just trying to escape

I work so hard, so desperately, in an attempt to create space

Cause I want distance from the utmost important thing I know.

I see your love, then turn my back, and beg for you to go.

You looked into my life and never stopped

And you're thinking all my thoughts

Are so simple but so beautiful.

And you recite my words right back to me

Before I even speak

You let me know, I am understood

You're the only one who understands

Completely.

You're the only who knows me yet still loves me completely.

And sometimes the place I'm at is at a loss for words.

If I think of something worthy, I know that it's already yours.

And through the times I've faded and you've outlined me again

You've just patiently waited to bring me back again.

You're voice has broken my defense

Let me embrace salvation.

(Relient K, I Am Understood. I changed some of the words to fit the story. Sorry to any devout fans out there.)

"Wow," Ginny breathed. "Well, let's chalk up another one to you list of amazing talents, along with saving the world and catching the Snitch like no one's business." Harry chuckled and Ginny suddenly found she liked being the one to make him laugh. He almost never smiled any more with Ron and Hermione. They were too busy treading lightly around him or too wrapped up in each other to help him have fun.

She crept closer to him. "You know, I sing good too! You wanna see?"

Harry nodded slowly.

"MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB!" she shouted in a surprisingly good impression of Filch, while Harry roared with laughter.

"Shhhh!" he whispered through the tears, putting a hand over her mouth to quiet her.

"You would be good actually," Harry complimented after a moment, a grin still playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Thanks. I'll remember that," she said playfully. "You know, you look much better like that."

"Like what? You can barely even see me."

"When you smile, I mean. You look different somehow." She shrugged, and then yawned. "Where are we going to sleep?"

"Sleep?" Harry asked, slightly nervous. It hadn't occurred being locked in a broom cupboard at night with Ginny would mean sleeping in the broom closet with Ginny.

"Yes. Sleep. According to my watch, it's past your bedtime." She stood and lifted her wand to help her see around. "There's not much room. And there's nothing to use as a pillow or blanket."

Harry plucked at the front of his robes. "Pillow," he said blandly.

"Blanket," Ginny mocked, pulling her robes over her head, thankful she'd worn some semi-comfortable clothes under them today.

Harry lay down on his folded robes and got comfortable. He beckoned Ginny to him and she curled up with her head on his chest after she spread her own robes over them.

"Night, Gin," Harry whispered, kissing her gently on the forehead.

Ginny lay awake long after Harry. She wondered how anyone would possibly find them. She only hoped it would be a teacher who would understand, like Lupin, instead of Snape. She stared into the dark, listening to his deep, even breathing. Soon, Harry's beating heart lulled her to sleep.

It felt like only a few minutes later the next time opened her eyes. She pushed herself up and looked at Harry whose eyes were open. He put a finger to his lips and pressed his ear against the door.

"Where is it?" he heard. "It's got to be here somewhere."

"That Potter kid said something about a fat lady," said a second voice.

"I know where that's at. But we don't know the password," whispered the first person.

"We don't need the password. He can get in without it!" shouted number two. Harry heard them walking down the hallway.

Ginny clung hard to Harry's arm. "We need to tell Dumbledore," she whispered in a small scared voice.

"How?" Harry shouted. "Were stuck in Filch's damn CLOSET!" He stood up and kicked to door hard. "I just heard two Death Eaters talking about how to get into the Gryffindor common room, and I'm stuck in a cupboard listening to them."

"Harry, calm down, please," Ginny said forcefully. "We'll get out of this. Ron and Hermione will find us. I'm sure they're out looking for us now."

"Gin, it's one a.m. They're still asleep."

"Oh. Then they will be looking for us. Besides, no one's getting near the common room tonight. The Fat Lady is up having a party with some of her friends." Ginny patted the floor near her. "Go back to bed, Harry."

Harry settled back in on the floor. "How can you be so calm?"

"You said yourself it's one in the morning. I'm sure when I'm fully awake I'll be very worried but now, I just want to sleep," she yawned, barely aware of what she was saying. She closed her eyes and was soon asleep again.

"Ginny, wake up!"

She unwillingly opened her eyes. When she took in the open door and Hermione standing in front of her, she jumped up and ran into the corridor.

"Do you want to explain to me how you and Harry got locked in that closet, please?" asked Hermione in a very cold voice. She rounded on Harry. "And you should know better! You're Head Boy, for heaven's sake."

"I know. It's not what you think," Harry started to explain.

"Harry! Dumbledore!" Ginny interrupted.

"You're right!" he shouted, taking off down the corridor. Ginny started after him, ignoring Hermione's look of pure confusion.

Harry, Ginny, and Hermione slid to a stop in front of the stone gargoyle.

"What's going on, you guys?" Hermione panted while Harry murmured the password.

"We'll explain later," Ginny said as she dashed up the stairs after Harry. Hermione shrugged and raced behind them.

"Where is he?" asked Harry when he burst into the room.

Harry paced a while before sitting down. Ginny stood in the corner stroking Fawkes and Hermione took turns staring at the both of them. Finally she said, "Will someone tell me how the two of you ended up in a closet together, please?"

Harry and Ginny looked at each other and laughed. Ginny hummed "Mary had a Little Lamb" quietly to herself while Harry related last night's events. "And that's why we need to talk to Dumbledore," he finished.

"So Ron and I were right at the beginning of the year. We were starting to wonder," she whispered.

"How did you find us?" Ginny asked as she sat on the floor next to Harry's chair.

Hermione blushed and muttered something about her and Ron.

"What?" Harry asked, leaning forward a bit in his seat.

"Well, Ginny never came back upstairs, and it was her birthday so I thought…you know, so I went out to find you."

"But you waited till two to come looking for me. I feel loved," joked Ginny.

"I fell asleep!"

"You never said how you knew we were in the closet, though," Harry pointed out, a sly smirk playing across his face.

"Ron and I got locked in there once, okay!" she shouted loudly. "The only reason we didn't get a detention was because Lavender and her boyfriend wanted a bit of privacy and they found us before a teacher."

"I never knew!" Ginny said. "Mum would be furious if she found out!"

"I hate to break this up, but I must ask what three students are doing out of bed at four in the morning," Dumbledore said as he entered his office.

"Sorry, sir," said Harry as he jumped from his seat. "But Ginny and I heard something we think you should know about."

And Harry told his story from the beginning again. He didn't bother leaving out anything about being out after curfew because he knew Dumbledore would find out anyway.

"Are you sure this is what you heard?" Harry nodded. "Well, then, guards must be posted outside Gryffindor Common Room at all times of the day. I will not allow any more of Voldemort's followers near it," he said, and angry glint in his eyes. His look softened as he looked at Ginny.

"Before I forget, happy birthday, Miss Weasley. Why don't you all run along to bed. And don't worry tonight."


Harry woke the next morning, a little later than the rest of the Gryffindors, and headed down to breakfast with Ron who had waited to hear about the night before. "So that's why I didn't hear you come to bed last night," Ron said as the past a couple of Ministry officials guarding the portrait hole.

"I wish I could have seen who it was though. I would have hexed them into next year," he said viciously.

They entered the Great Hall a few minutes later and sat down at the Gryffindor table. The people sitting around Harry stared at him for a few moments; some glaring, others suppressing grins. Harry threw them a "what-are-you-looking-at?" look and turned to his food.

Ginny threw herself down in the bench next to him with an exasperated sigh.

"What?" Harry asked, pouring her some pumpkin juice, which she accepted thankfully.

"Do you know what they're saying about us?" she asked.

"No. Who's saying what?"

"Everyone! They made up they're own reasons for why we didn't make it back to the common room till late!" she shouted.

Harry snorted. "What could they possibly be saying that's got you so worked up?" he asked taking a bite out of a bit of toast then reaching for his goblet.

"Are you honestly this naïve, Harry?" She looked around the table to make sure no one was listening. "They say that I slept with you!" she whispered to him embarrassedly.

Harry choked on his pumpkin juice and accidentally spit some out.. "What!" he shouted, wiping his mouth. Ginny nodded. "But…I didn't…we didn't…Why would they…How could anyone say that?"

Ginny shrugged. "Does it really matter? They're saying it anyway."

Harry was fuming. He had a strange urge to jump up then and there and announce to the hall that he had not done anything with Ginny last night, or ever, for that matter. He looked around at the students staring at the pair of them. Ginny blushed and sank down in her seat. Harry glared at them and they returned to their breakfast.

Harry tipped his head forward onto the table with a loud thump.


Ginny and the seventh year Gryffindors were up late the night before Valentine's Day. She was helping the others study for their N.E.W.T.s, but they weren't getting far, much to Hermione's dismay. Instead, they were mostly sitting around talking about their plans for the next day.

"And what are you doing with Ron tomorrow, Hermione?" asked Lavender, pushing her book aside and starting to braid her hair.

"Well, I think he just wants to stay at the castle. But that's alright with—"

"Where did you get that, Ginny?" shouted Parvati, interrupting Hermione. She reached out and pointed at Ginny's locket, which was sticking, out of her pajama top.

"What?" She looked down. "Oh, this? I got it for my birthday." She took it off and handed it to Paravati. "Say someone's name," she instructed.

"Michael Corner. He's very nice looking," she explained.

Ginny laughed. "Now open it."

"Wow! That's weird," she gave it back to Ginny. "Who gave you that?"

"Harry."

"That's sweet of him."

"So, what's that like?" Lavender asked suddenly, moving over to Ginny and starting to do her hair too.

"What's what like?" Ginny asked confused.

Lavender stopped twisting Ginny's hair and bent so she could look at her. "You know," she said, "dating the famous Harry Potter. A lot of girls would kill to be in your shoes."

Everyone stopped moving in the room and stared at Ginny, who felt her cheeks flush.

She looked at the locket in her hand. "Well, it's nice. He's not like other guys. He doesn't do things for me and then go out and brag about them. When he does something for me, I know I don't have to do anything in return. I mean, I want to, but he makes sure I know I don't have to." She laughed. "I'm sure I sound like a nutter."

She looked up and saw that everyone was still staring at her. "What?"

"That was soooo….sweet," Hermione said.

"But what about your birthday?" Parvati asked. "Did you two…you know?"

"NO! He would never…I would never!" she shouted defensively.

"Then why were you two in a cupboard all night?" Lavender asked pointedly.

"Because we were out past curfew and we didn't want to get caught," she explained. "It locked us in."

"Oh," said Lavender

"Yeah, oh," fumed Ginny.


"Are you ready, Ginny?" asked Harry the next morning as he made to the leave the common room to head off to Hogsmead.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"What's the matter," he asked, noticing the depressed tone of her voice.

"Even Lavender and Parvati believed those stupid rumors about us," she spat. "You'd think they would have know better than that."

"People will believe what they want to believe. It's something I've gotten used to."

"Well, that's all very well for you. No one's calling you a slut," she snapped.

"Hey. Look I'm sorry, but you've just got to ignore it. It'll die down soon," he said as he held the door to the grounds open for her. He shushed her as they passed Filch.

He watched her bite her cheek and cross her arms. This was not how he wanted their first Valentine's Day to start. "Why don't we just forget about it? The people who matter know the truth."

She shook her head and looked back at Filch. Suddenly she started whistling loudly to "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Harry burst into laughter.


"Here we are," said Harry as he stopped outside Madam Puddifoot's. He opened the door and let Ginny pass through.

"Wow, Harry, this is…nice," Ginny tried to compliment.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, hiding the little eye roll he'd just done from Ginny. He led her over to a table and waited patiently for Madam Puddifoot. He felt something tickling his hair and looked up. More cupids. "Damn," he muttered.

"What?" said Ginny, brushing the hearts out of his hair.

"Nothing."

"What can I get you, dears?"

Harry looked and saw their waitress. "Umm…just tea for now," he answered.

"And for you?" she asked Ginny.

"A butterbeer please."

"We don't have any, sweetie."

"Oh, well, then I'll just have tea." She waited till Madam Puddifoot had left and said, "What kind of place doesn't carry butterbeer?"

As they waited for their tea, Harry watched Ginny trace the design on a lace doily. Every few minutes, she threw a nasty glare at the cupid above her as it threw down more pink paper hearts.

"Is something wrong?" Harry asked.

"No," she said quickly. After a moment she said, "Yes. You can't really expect me to believe that you wanted to come here, so who told you to take me here."

Harry relaxed. He'd expected something else to be upsetting her. "Actually," he confessed, "it was Hermione. Does that mean you don't like it here?"

"Of course I like it."

"Oh," Harry sighed. "Really?"

"No," she laughed. "I don't know what possessed Hermione."

"Thank you! I hate it here! I only did it because Hermione said you'd like it," he whispered.

"So are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She grinned broadly.

"Only if your thinking butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks."

"You read my mind."

Harry stood and tossed a Galleon on the table. The he linked Ginny's arm in his and led her past the couples at the other tables. He opened the door for her and bowed low with a laugh. Everyone in the small café stared at them as if they thought they were mad. As the door swung shut behind them, Harry and Ginny burst out laughing.

They reached the door of the Three Broomsticks and entered. It wasn't quite as crowded as Madam Puddifoot's. "Two butterbeers, please," Harry told the bartender. He handed some money to her and gratefully accepted the drinks.

"Yum," he said, licking his lips.

They sat alone for a while, talking about various things. Ginny told him what Lavender and Paravati had said the night before, and after hearing the whole story, Harry found it a bit easier to be sympathetic. At least, he would have been sympathetic if his scar hadn't been prickling painfully and a strange commotion outside hadn't been distracting him.

He peered intently out the window and saw masses of people sprinting madly down the narrow street. A few, he noticed, were running in the opposite direction, wands drawn. He turned to Ginny and opened his mouth to ask what was going on, but he was saved the trouble as a frightened woman slammed her way into the bar.

"Death Eaters!" she gasped, struggling to hold herself upright. "Near a hundred…down the street," she managed before she passed out cold on the floor.

Ginny raced to her aid while Harry scrambled to the door to check for himself. Sure enough, one hundred our so Death Eaters were making their way steadily down the lane, toward the school, stopped only by the few brave enough to stand in there way. Those who did fight back didn't pose much of a threat and were blasted away or killed almost instantly. Panicked, Harry dashed inside again as he explained to the few still there.

Harry convinced Ginny to leave the poor witch on the floor, figuring she'd be safer if she appeared to be dead already. Hopefully she wouldn't wake and try to go outside. They joined the ever-increasing group of people determined to fight and started off down the street toward the Death Eaters.

In a moment that carried an eternity within it, the two groups stood poised for battle. Harry glanced sideways and spotted Neville, looking quite pale and frightened, as he supposed he himself looked, and Luna Lovegood. He thought she looked a bit strange without her dreamy expression, which to Harry was an odd thought considering the circumstances.

Without warning, the sea of black before them erupted with curses fired every which way. Harry ducked and sent his own curses back their way. He watched as one Death Eater was hit squarely in the face and crumpled, without ever knowing what hit him. Harry didn't worry much about him; he'd only stunned him. Instead, he stepped over him, dodging a jet of red sent from another behind the man.

"IMPEDIMENTA!" Harry cried. The man froze and Harry hit him with a vicious blow of his fist to the temple.


Ginny stood on a corner of a street she could remember hanging around on during her third year, looking down at a man (or women, she couldn't tell with the mask) who had just tried to curse her from behind. Shaking her head and trembling slightly, she dashed past an alley. She gave a muffled cry as two strong hands grabbed her arms and yanked her into the shadows.

She tried to cry out, but the person wrapped a hand over her mouth and held her tiny wrists in the other.

"Listen," he said, and Ginny thought the voice sounded vaguely familiar. "Stop squirming, I'm not going to hurt you."

Instead of holding still Ginny thrashed harder. She felt one hand come free. Whirling around she whipped the man's hood off and pointed her wand squarely between his eyes. She gasped as she stared back into the same gray eyes that had glared at her for the past six years.