A New Life

Chapter Six

Only One

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The days after their House Warming party were interesting to say the least. It transpired that during Harry and Ginny's walk to get Butterbeer, Hermione got so aggravated with Ron that she stood up on a chair and announced to the room at large that Ron and she were in fact dating. Hermione became even more upset when the only person who was surprised was Mrs. Weasley. Ginny didn't want to spoil what little thunder Hermione and Ron had that night so she choose to not tell anyone that her and Harry were dating. This suited Harry just fine because he wasn't real sure how the rest of her brothers would deal with Harry dating her. He knew Ron would be fine with it, but he was afraid of what the twin's may try to put in his food.

Ron was so relived that he was spared the job of telling his family about him and Hermione that he had taken to singing loudly around the apartment or smiling into space for no apparent reason. Hermione however was still put off by Ron and had starting calling him a "baby" whenever she could, Ron didn't seem to mind. However, Hermione's mood didn't seem to stop them from there random snog fests, in fact this event seemed to become even more frequent but at least they finally learned how to lock the door of whomever's bedroom they were in at the moment.

Harry and Ginny on the other hand had not gotten to the point of random snogging. In fact, there shyness towards each other grew each time they caught Ron and Hermione locking lips. Harry was still to afraid that he was going to hurt Ginny or do something to screw things up that he didn't want to push Ginny, and felt that if she wanted to kiss him, she would. Because of this Harry's nerves were on edge when Ginny confronted him a few days before Harry's eighteenth birthday.

"So Harry, what do you want to do on your birthday? I was thinking that maybe we could go out, just the two of us." Ginny said as she wrapped her hands around Harry's waist while standing in the kitchen.

The endless possibilities of being alone with Ginny were running through his mind as he tried to find his voice. "Um…yeah that would be fun. What did you have in mind?" Harry couldn't help but tense up as Ginny moved her hands and he could feel the bare skin of his back touching her hands.

"How about I surprise you, meet me at the Burrow around six on your birthday. We need to tell Mom and Dad about us anyway, and then I'll surprise you with something." Ginny was now moving her hands under Harry's shirt and up his back.

Harry was shuddering at Ginny's touch. "That…that sounds like fun." Harry stuttered.

Harry couldn't take Ginny's teasing anymore; he wrapped his arms around her back and started stoking her long red hair. They were now looking intensely into each others eyes; Ginny smiled, pushed up on her toes and kissed Harry. Ginny pulled away and started to walk away from Harry, but Harry had no desire to stop. He stepped forward, put his hands on her hips and lifted her up onto the counter.

Ginny blushed and laughed at the same time. "Harry, what are you doing?"

"This way you can't get away so easily." He said as he stood in front of her brushing the hair out of her face. He wrapped his arms around her once more and kissed her passionately. Ginny was now running her hands through Harry's hair and pushed him into her. Harry felt Ginny open her lips just enough to allow Harry to explore her tongue with his. Ginny giggled and pulled back the first time that Harry's tongue touched hers.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh; I've just never done that with you." Ginny said still giggling.

Harry was suddenly frightened; he had never done that with anyone. Did I do it right? Am I a horrible kisser? Harry thought.

"Did I do something wrong Ginny?" Harry asked.

"No, your wonderful Harry." Ginny said and she embraced him once more.

Ginny and Harry's kiss was so intense that they didn't even hear the loud cracks that emitted from the living room, announcing Ron and Hermione's arrival. Harry jumped and Ginny fell off the counter when Hermione shrieked with joy and Ron made a disgusted groan.

"Okay, you guys just spent the past two weeks jumping on us for not locking doors, and kissing in the open and you turn around and do the same thing." Ron said trying to sound angry but fighting a smile at the same time.

Ginny got up from the floor, straitened her clothes and glowered at her brother. "Yes, but at least we use the front door to enter, we don't just Apparate in."

"Well, seeing as you can't yet you have no choice but to use the front door." Ron said.

"I'll be able to soon enough and the first thing I'm going to do is Apparate right on your head." Ginny said huffily, stormed over to her bedroom, blew Ron a raspberry and slammed the door shut.

Harry couldn't help but smile, he loved seeing Ginny fired up, the way her eyes sparked and her flaming hair whipped around. There was just something about her that Harry couldn't resist. He wanted nothing more than to go into her room and spend the whole night with her, just being with her made him happy. It was several seconds before he realized that Hermione was trying to talk to him.

"Harry are you listening to me?"

"What? Oh, sorry Hermione, what did you say?" Harry asked shaking away his daydream.

"I asked if you and Ginny are back together." Hermione said smiling.

"Oh, yeah, I asked her out again the other night, during the party. But Ginny wanted to tell her parents before we told anyone else. So you have to keep quite until we tell them on my birthday." Harry said looking directly at Ron.

"I won't say anything mate, I personally don't even want to think about you two being together." Ron said as he acted like he was shuddering at the thought. Hermione smacked him.

"Oh, grow up Ron. Besides Ginny will be back in school soon and you won't have to see them together until the Holidays." Hermione said as she made herself at home on the sofa.

Harry wanted to avoid this topic; he didn't want to think about Ginny leaving him in a few weeks time. He wanted to cherish the time that he had with her. He searched for a quick change of topic. "So what have you guys been up to?" Harry asked.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot Harry. We went into Diagon Ally today to see Fred and George, they gave me a job!" Ron said excited. "But while we were down there we picked up today's Prophet, and you're on the cover." Ron pulled a paper out of his back pocket and chucked it at Harry. "We really should take out a subscription to the paper again."

Harry unfolded the paper to find the same photo of Him, Ron and Hermione from the night Voldemort fell, on the cover. The article was entitled, When Will Harry Talk?

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When Will Harry Talk

By Rita Skeeter

It's now been over two weeks since that glorious night that Harry Potter and his friends defeated Lord Voldemort. The world owes Harry Potter a dept of gratitude and his name will be forever remembered.

But where is he? Has anyone seen or heard from Harry since that night? Reporters have been requesting interviews with Harry and not a single one has had a reply. There have been rumors that Harry is in fact in St. Mungos due to exhaustion but the Healers refused to comment. Other's say he's just hiding out, avoiding the world.

This reporter (Rita Skeeter, special correspondent to the Daily Prophet) knows Harry personally and I would just like to say that if you read this Harry, please allow me ten minutes of your time. The Wizarding world is dying to hear your side of the tale.

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Harry folded the paper back up and smiled in amusement. "So she is using the Prophet to contact people now is she?" Harry said.

"Seems that way, but the thing that I want to know is, why did she say that reporters have been trying to contact you. We haven't seen a single reporter or owl. Now that I think about it, not a single person has asked us any questions." Hermione said while looking at Harry.

"Well, no, you wouldn't would you. We are being protected; all of us have been placed under the Secrecy charm." Harry said.

"Wow Harry, I didn't know you knew how to do that." Hermione said, beaming at him.

"What is that?" Ron asked.

"Well it means that none of the Order members or anyone else connected to the killing of Voldemort can talk about that night until I do. And reporters can't get a hold of me until I go to them." Harry said. "Your Dad placed the charm on me Ron, I asked him to."

"Why did you do that Harry?" Ginny asked, she apparently had been listening from her bedroom and was now walking out into the living room to join them.

"Well, I wanted some calm in my life for awhile. I wanted to spend time with you guys without being hounded by the Prophet." Harry said walking over and sitting next to Ginny on the sofa.

"I don't know how much longer you can avoid them mate; people are going to start getting mad." Ron said.

"I know, I thought I may allow one interview but it will have to wait until next week. I'm busy tomorrow and the day after that is my birthday." Harry gave a wink to Ginny. "So I'm not doing anything for a few days. But I'm only giving one interview, like I did that time for the Quibbler, I should let Rita do it too, it would make her year."

"You could put it in the Quibbler again, I'm sure Luna could get her Dad to publish it again." Ginny said.

"Sure, why not." Harry said. "I'll send an Owl to Rita and set it up so I can get it over with."

"So what are you up to tomorrow Harry?" Ginny asked.

"I don't want to say anything yet, I'll tell you tomorrow night." Harry smiled at Ginny.

"Oh, come on, now we want to know even more!" Ron said moving to the edge of his seat to get a better look at Harry.

"No, I don't want to jinx anything, so I'll tell you tomorrow." Harry smiled, truly enjoying there curious looks.