"Ginny no! You have to wait, it could be..."
"Get off me Harry!" Ginny pushed him away with surprising strength as she ripped the door open.
Harry ran after her. As they rounded the house he heard Ron's screams and felt his stomach lurch. How could he have left them alone? He had been so annoyed with Hermione that he hadn't even thought of their safety. Here he was, the boy who bloody lived,enemy number one for the most evil wizard in the world, and he didn't even worry about those around him. Harry flew around the back of the house, Ginny, small as she was, was surprisingly fast, as she was yards ahead of him. When Harry finally reached the hill he stopped dead.
"Oh Ron, stop bellowing, you'll wake the dead."
Hermione was standing over Ron giving her most disapproving look. Ron was sitting on the ground yelping and hitting himself as if he was on fire. Ginny stood open mouthed looking at the two of them. Harry was panting profusely and felt thoroughly confused.
"Excuse me! But what in bloody hell is going on?" Ginny demanded her voice raising dangerously.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Ron found a spider on his sweater."
"Not just a spider Hermione, it was a black widow! I know it was, I saw it!" Ron demanded furiously.
"Ron, it's almost pitch black out here, how can you see a little mark on a spider?"
The two were off bickering once again. Ginny stared at Harry with round eyes. He looked at her helplessly and shrugged. Suddenly he realized she had tears in her eyes. Ginny gave a scream of frustration and ran towards the house, slamming the door behind her. Ron and Hermione stopped yelling.
"What's wrong with her?" Ron asked looking at Harry.
Harry felt anger welling in his throat, he tried to force it down but he had never felt so angry towards the two of them, possibly with the exception of Harry's fourth year when he and Ron had fought.
"What's wrong with her? What's wrong with her!" Harry yelled, "We both ran out here franticly, thinking you two were as good as dead." Harry was pacing in front of them now with quite a red face. "We saw the clock go to mortal peril and I thought I was never going to see you again! Ginny was in tears! Then we find you wollowing in the grass screaming like a nancy over a spider! And do you apologise? Do you say 'sorry mate for scaring you out of your wits?' NO! You two just start bickering like usual! Well I'm sick of it! THAT....IS.....ENOUGH!"
Harry turned on his heels and stalked away. Ron and Hermione watched him go silently. Hermione had tears in her eyes, and Ron didn't know how to react. He reached for her shoulders tenderly. They walked slowly back to the porch.
Ginny flung herself down on her bed, burying her head in her pillow and willing the tears to go away. She hadn't been so scared in her entire life. The attack on her father had been bad enough, and Harry worried her constantly, but Ron AND Hermione! It was too much. Ginny took deep breaths trying to calm down. She heard a timid knock on her door. She glared towards it with all her might.
"Go away Ron! I don't want to see you ever again!"
She watched as the door cracked open and a pair of bright green eyes stared at her.
"I'm sure you don't mean 'ever' again." Harry smiled at her as he slipped inside.
Ginny wiped her eyes quickly at the sight of him. She must look a fright! Ginny sat up and held her knees to her chest.
"Sorry Harry." she said quietly.
Harry walked into her room his hands deep in his pockets. He realized with a start, that though he had been friends with Ron for six years he had never been inside Ginny's room. It wasn't what he had expected at all. It was painted a dark blue, with white drapes over the windows. She had a small wooden chest and bed, with a comfortable looking white quilt. Harry didn't know what he had expected, pink or something, but he realized also that he had never been in a girls room before in his life. Harry blushed a little as Ginny motioned for him to sit down on the bed.
"I didn't mean to yell at you.....or, run off like that." she tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Don't worry about it....." Harry smiled at her and she felt her throat close. She groaned inwardly, the only boy who could ever do that to her was Harry. No one, not even Dean could make the great Ginny Weasley feel that way.
"I.....it scared me too." Harry said simply, looking at the floor. Ginny had the overwhelming desire to hug him.
She nodded instead, not daring to look at him fearing she would cry or scream, or do something worse.
"I like your room." Harry said with a bit of a laugh.
"Oh, yeah. I guess you've never seen it? Well, I would have straightened up a bit if I had know I would have a showing."
Harry laughed and ran his hand through his hair. Ginny shuddered, why did he have to be so....wonderful?
"If it makes you feel better, I told them both off." Harry's eyes twinkled mischievously, and Ginny had to laugh.
"It does make me feel better! Thank you, and....I'm sorry for pushing you, you know by the door."
Harry laughed, "I understand, you know you're quite strong....for a girl."
"For a girl? Please Potter! I could take you any day." Ginny furrowed her brow at the challange.
"Well, I'm not going to mess with that attitude." he laughed and stood up. "Goodnight Ginny."
"Goodnight Harry," she almost whispered as he turned to go.
"Oh and Harry!" he turned back to her, "Feel free to help me with the breakfast dishes in the morning!" he laughed at her and nodded a goodnight.
That night in her bed Ginny felt a familiar smile creep over her face. Her stomach was a bit knotted, she felt as though she had been magically transported back to first year. She turned her face to the wall and shook her head. She had promised herself that she would never again spend a sleepless night over Harry. Ginny closed her eyes and with much difficulty fell asleep.
Two floors up Harry was also lying awake. Ron had crept into the room thirty or so minutes after Harry had turned out the light and hadn't tried to talk. Harry was glad, he didn't feel like talking to Ron anyway. He knew he should apologize, he shouldn't have yelled, but when he had seen tears in Ginny's eyes....well....something snapped. Harry told himself he would talk it over with them in the morning. Harry rolled over and smiled. He needed to go to sleep, after all...he had dish duty in the morning.
The next morning Ginny dragged herself out of bed with much difficulty. She showered quickly, hoping that she wouldn't fall asleep in the warm water. After Ginny had dryed her hair and pulled on an old pair of jeans with a black top she trooped down to the kitchen. The sun was just coming up, she noticed from the hall windows and it looked to be a beautiful day. Ginny jumped down the last stair feeling much better. She thought she had better get breakfast started quickly, everyone would be up soon, but as she entered the kitchen she saw someone already sitting at the table.
"Harry?" she asked incredulously."Why are you up so early?"
"Good morning to you too." he smiled and stretched his arms. "Figured you might want some help with breakfast."
Ginny looked at him a bit suspiciously, "But....you've never 'figured' before."
Harry laughed, "Hey I'm trying to be nice and make up for last night."
Ginny brushed past him and pulled on her apron, "Harry, you didn't do anything last night. In fact you were wonderf....uh," she stopped mid sentence coloring a bit as she turned away to light the fire.
"But! I always like an extra hand!" she smiled and threw him a lace apron. Harry looked at it with disgust.
"Um, I'll just be careful." he threw it back at her with a smile.
Ginny bustled around the kitchen stirring this and heating that. Harry watched her a bit in awe. She seemed so old, so knowledgeable. Exactly what to do, and exactly when to do it to make everything perfect. Harry however was another story, he didn't know anything about cooking, especially about wizard cooking, where everything was a bit different. Ginny had to stop him several times before he blew something up. Finally she politely, but firmly, told him to sit and just keep her company.Harry agreed thankfully and sat down at the table. He was having such a pleasant morning even the twins teasing him about being "Chef Potter" didn't dampen his spirits. Harry couldn't remember the last time he felt so....comfortable. That is until Ron and Hermione appeared in the kitchen.Ron seemed a bit surprised to see Harry sitting and laughing with his sister but he seemed to shrug it off quickly.
"Harry? Could uh.....could we talk to you for a minute." Ron stammered.
"You too Ginny" Hermione piped up.
Harry and Ginny nodded and walked out into the sunshine of the back garden. He winked at Ginny as they watchedRon and Hermione shift uncomfortably.
"Harry, Ginny..."Hermione started.
"I know, it's alright. I'm sorry I stormed off." Ginny graciously broke the silence. A collective sigh came from everyone.
They all agreed and followed Ginny back in the kitchen at her insistance. Ron agreed insisting that he was positively starving. Hermione rolled her eyes but, with much difficulty Harry suspected, kept her mouth shut.Soon the four were happily eating, Ron insisting that it was the best breakfast he had ever eaten. Harry was laughing with him and talking about Quiddich and Hermione had pulled out a new book. As they ate the rest of the Weasley family floated in and out of the kitchen. The twins appearing only briefly and running back into their rooms. Ron said he bet they were still afraid of his mum. Bill had just come to breakfast when there was a knock at the door. Ron stared at it curiously.
"Who...?" he wondered aloud.
Ginny popped up from her chair and wrenched the door open. She gasped audibly and backed up a few paces.
Standing in the doorway and looking rather smug were Professor Severus Snape, and Draco Malfoy.
A/N- Thank for reading again! Please review, I read everyone and I will gladly respond if you want to ask a question. Next chapter lots of mystery, fluff, and a little bit of drama!