The next morning tensions were running high, as Ron, Hermione, and especially Harry and Ginny, were all anxious about seeing each other.
Keep calm, don't worry. He still likes you. It's only been a few weeks! He can't have stopped liking you that quickly. Ginny reassured herself, as she dressed slowly, the knot in her stomach tightening slightly
Meanwhile, Harry's thoughts were along the same line as he descended down the stairs to breakfast.
What if she fancies Dean again? What should I say to her? What if I-His thoughts were quickly abandoned as Ginny, emerging from her room, bumped into Harry on the small staircase. She clearly hadn't seen him either.
"Oh, Good Morning Harry! I didn't realise you were here already!" Ginny said quickly, feeling her face grow slightly warm.
"But, didn't Hermione stay in your room last night?" Harry asked, a slight confused look crossing his face.
While Ginny mentally kicked herself, she couldn't help but admire the few strands of hair straying into Harry's green eyes.
"Oh, well, I was asleep when you got here obviously, and well…" She paused for a few seconds, lost for words. Harry looked quite amused with her obvious struggle to cover her lie.
"Okay, yes I knew you were here. I just wasn't expecting to stumble across you the second I left my bedroom!" She grinned at him, feeling a bit stupid, but not quite as uncomfortable as she thought she would.
"Yeah, that was a bit unexpected. So, how have you been?" He asked her.
"Me? Harry how about you? I know how close you were to… well to Dumbledore" Ginny looked at him closely.
Harry felt as though she could read him, read his thoughts, see through him. He couldn't lie to her.
He sighed.
"I – well, to be honest, I am a bit terrified. I know what I have to do, but I feel a little lost without him. I mean he was always there, even when he wasn't, you know? I know what I have to do, but… It will be a lot without his support, his knowledge. Even just his… pride. I know it sounds stupid" Harry added quickly, "but just knowing he was proud of me, really mattered, you know?" Harry bit his lip. He knew he sounded stupid. But Ginny didn't think so.
"I know Harry, and I understand. He was kind of like a parent to you. But you have to think what he gave you. We are all better from having known him. The whole wizarding world is better from having him just be part of our world. He was a wonderful wizard. But so are you."
Harry looked at the girl he had always thought he knew, and realised their was so much more to her than he ever realised.
He leaned forward.
"Ginny," He said in a low whisper "I need to tell you that I-"
But before he could finish, Ron came bounding down the stairs.
Harry leaned back, looking slightly flustered. Ginny's heart was beating a mile a minute, and she felt for sure her face was flushed.
He was going to say it! Damn Ron! Hermione's right… He has such bad timing!
As Ginny mentally scolded him, Ron, oblivious to the looks his sister was shooting him, landed on the landing outside Ginny's bedroom door.
"What's for breakfast? I'm starving!" He exclaimed. "Oh, hey Ginny. You okay? You look a bit… funny. You should probably eat something."
He tilted his head toward her bedroom door and lowered his voice.
"Is Hermione up yet?"
His face betrayed his anxiousness. Ginny almost laughed out loud.
"She's up. She should be out soon."
A fleeting look crossed Ron's face. Whether of fear, embarrassment or anxiousness, Ginny couldn't tell.
"Well, come on you two! Lets go!"
He grabbed Harry by the elbow, and pulled him down the stairs, toward the kitchen. Harry looked back at Ginny as he was pulled down, with a look that warmed Ginny from head to toe.