Ginny chewed restlessly on her thumbnail as she walked back to her room. It was very early, around four, and the house was still quiet and still. Ginny didn't know exactly what to think about the night before. She was ecstatic that she had made Harry happy, but she couldn't believe her stupidity! When Harry had been thanking her in the hall Ginny had….well, she had almost done something extremely foolish. He had hugged her, a completely normal thing to do, and Ginny, as always, had gotten the wrong impression. For a moment she felt like he had looked at her the way she looked at him, that he had thought of her as more than just a little girl. Ginny was afraid she was going to make a fool of herself again; she pulled away from him immediately. Now Ginny felt like beating her head against the wall.
Ginny opened the door quietly slipping into her bedroom. She closed the door before she realized something was wrong. It was quiet….too quiet. Suddenly Hermione jumped up from her bed, glaring daggers at Ginny.
"Where in the world have you been!" her voice was shrill, and Ginny tried to shush her but Hermione was having none of it.
"Don't tell me to be quiet! I have been awake for hours waiting for you! I wake up, and you're gone! I didn't know what to do! I thought you might have been kidnapped or…or…" Hermione was on the edge of having a fit.
"Hermione, I'm sorry I worried you, but it's fine, everything's fine," Ginny sat her down on the bed. She rubbed her head lightly, she was sleepier than she thought.
"Where were you?" Hermione had calmed down a bit, but she still had a dangerous glare in her eyes.
"I…was…just out," Ginny pulled her shoes off and lay down on her bed. She didn't want to lie to Hermione, but she didn't want to tell where she had been.
"Out where Ginny Weasley?" Ginny had to laugh at her serious face. Sometimes Ginny thought Hermione was born twenty years too young.
"Alright, I was with Harry."
Hermione's expression changed. She dropped her disapproving tone in a second and squealed with delight. She jumped the space between their beds and landed squarely on Ginny's legs.
"Tell me everything!"
Ginny laughed at her, and then sometimes Hermione was just a giggling teenage girl. She told Hermione about the room of requirement, and their flight. Hermione listened with her head propped on her hand, eyes twinkling. Ginny left out the last part of the evening, she didn't want anyone to know what an idiot she had been.
"Wow," Hermione breathed dreamily, "how romantic!"
Ginny scoffed, "It wasn't like that."
"Oh Ginny, let's not pretend anymore! I'm your best friend, I know you still like him, even if you say you don't," Hermione crossed her arms with a satisfied look on her face. Ginny threw her pillow in her face, knocking her backward.
"Ginny!" Hermione threw it back, she ducked quickly. Ginny thought she had better move, but she was too late. Hermione attacked her again before she could do anything. The girls were having a great time jumping around the beds when their door banged open. Ron stood darkly in the doorway, glaring at the pair of them.
"Are you two mad?" Ron yelled from the doorway, Ginny noticed Harry was standing behind him, looking worried.
"It's five o'clock in the morning!" he bellowed making Ginny jump, but Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well then stop yelling!" she tossed a pillow his way, it missed but Ron grunted in annoyance and slammed the door.
"Oh! Your brother is one of the most infuriating people I have ever met!" she stormed back to her bed.
Ginny smiled behind her hand, "Oh, he's not that bad."
Hermione grumbled something which Ginny couldn't hear. She lay back down in the bed, it was pointless to try and sleep now, she needed to be up soon, and it was time to start phase one.
Harry decided he wouldn't even try to sleep. He had too much to think about anyway. He needed a plan, he needed to tell someone about the letters, and he needed to talk to Ginny. After Ron had yelled at the girls he had fallen right back asleep, which was no surprise to Harry. Ron was never in a good mood if you woke him up; he hated to think what Hermione would have to say later. She didn't like being yelled at, especially by Ron. Harry turned over in the bed; it looked to be an interesting day. He finally decided that he would talk to Lupin first; Harry thought he would be most understanding. He sighed wearily; he wasn't looking forward to the lecture he would get when he explained he had known for weeks. Maybe he should take Ron, Hermione, and Ginny with him. Harry felt his stomach flip unexpectedly, what was he going to do about Ginny? She had obviously been uncomfortable after he hugged her. The light in the room was growing brighter; Harry could almost make out Ron's sleeping form across the room. While Harry waited he started to feel his eyes drop, until someone jumped on his bed.
Harry yelped, but a pillow was shoved over his head. Harry gasped as he scratched it off his face, a pair of chocolate brown eyes stared at him merrily. Harry sighed,
"Why are you so fond of waking me up?" he whispered, afraid of what might happen if Ron woke up and saw Ginny in his bed.
Ginny shrugged and pulled at his hand, "I need to talk to you," she whispered in his ear, making him shiver. Harry grabbed his glasses and followed her silently out the door. Ginny was already running down the stairs to the kitchen. Harry followed her slowly, how could she have so much energy? Ginny was bouncing around the kitchen starting breakfast, he wondered what she was so excited about.
"Sit," she handed him a cup of tea, Harry smiled, she knew he hated coffee.
"So what's up?" he asked spooning sugar into his cup. She tossed him the honey from across the room; Harry hadn't ever realized how well she knew him. He had missed the exact time they had become close, it had happened so naturally.
"We have to do something about Ron and Hermione," she stated matter-of-factly as she slid him a raspberry scone. He took it thankfully, "What about them?" Harry was intrigued.
"Harry? You're not that thick, I mean, you know they fancy each other!"
"I know that, but they're not about to admit it, and what are we suppose to do about it?" he bit into the scone; it was wonderful, like everything Ginny made. Harry guessed with six older brothers she had been cooking since she could crawl.
"I have a plan," she smiled devilishly, Harry swallowed slowly, this couldn't be good…
After Ginny had explained her plan Harry had seemed less than enthusiastic, he wouldn't admit it but Ginny knew he was a bit afraid of what Hermione would do to him if she found out, but she had made him agree to it in the end. Harry had also told her Ron wanted him to find a gift for Hermione. Ginny laughed and told Harry about Hermione's similar request.
"It's so obvious; I don't know why they just don't get over themselves and be together!"
Harry agreed with her whole heartedly.
Soon everyone else was awake and ready to eat. Ron appeared looking irritable, and Hermione refused to sit by him at breakfast. Ginny sighed, from the looks of it she was going to be caught in the middle of this. Finally everyone had made their way down to the kitchen, including the twins who had mysterious red splotches all over their faces; Ginny knew better to ask anymore. She had just taken a drink of milk when Draco came into the kitchen. Ginny choked and Hermione's eyes went wide with surprise. Draco had never come into the room for meals, he never really showed his face at all, and Ginny hadn't seen him since he told her about the letter. She noticed Ron was glaring as usual, but Harry had an unreadable expression. Draco seemed to notice suddenly everyone was looking at him.
"Ah, are you hungry…dear?" Mrs. Weasley spoke first, trying to alleviate the awkward situation. Draco shook his head; he still had an empty look, like he had been hollowed out.
"No, thank you," he said softly. Draco handed a small box to Mr. Weasley; he pocketed it swiftly and nodded to him. Draco turned and trudged back up the stairs without a backward glance. Ginny couldn't explain it but she had the sudden desire to chase after him, but Ron was already starting.
"Stupid git," he muttered to Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, "He's bloody homeless and who does he crawl for to take him in! If I was mum and dad I would have left him in the street…"
"Oh, shut up Ron!" Ginny said loudly making everyone turn to her, she blushed but only slightly. Ginny held her head up as she stormed out of the room.
Ron looked around him surprised, "What was that about?"
Ginny ran up the stairs. She wasn't sure why she had gotten so angry. She knew Ron had every right to dislike Malfoy, he had always been horrible to all of them, but in truth, Ginny felt sorry for him. He was alone, and she couldn't imagine how horrible that must be. Ginny climbed up to the fifth floor and opened the door to the study quietly. He was there, sitting with his back to her, reading something out of a thick book. Ginny walked around to his side, he was so focused on his book he didn't even notice she was there.
"Draco?" he jumped at her voice, Ginny stepped back, his eyes were large and untrusting, like he was ready for a fight. He recognized her and sat back down with a sharp inhale of breathe. His face faded once more.
"Can I help you?" he asked, not in a dismissive way, but in a genuine question. Ginny shook her head and shrugged.
"Just wanted to see what you were up to," he raised his eyebrow at her slightly, but stood and motioned to the chair he was sitting in. It was the closest to the fire and Ginny took it gratefully, it seemed this room was always cold, no matter what the season. "What are you reading?" she asked, she didn't know what to say. Now that she was here Ginny couldn't believe how absurd this was. She was sitting alone with Draco Malfoy of her own accord, and she felt bad for him.
He held the book out to her, The Standard Book of Spells: Grade Six, Ginny laughed.
"Getting a head start Hermione?" Ginny handed it back to him, Draco nodded, she wished he would show some kind of emotion.
"I wish I had made the kind of O.W.L.s she did," he said, marking his page and closing the book. "Why are here Ginny, I haven't received any more letters," he studied her from his chair.
Ginny felt a bit uncomfortable, she shrugged, "I….just hadn't talked to you in a while."
"Have you talked to Potter?" he asked.
"No…not yet, I wanted to wait…for awhile."
"I know he's been getting the letters as well Ginny," she raised her eyes in surprise, she had been very careful not to mention anything to Draco.
"Well, I wanted to wait until he talked to someone about it, and I didn't want to rush him," Ginny pulled her hair into her normal ponytail. Draco was still watching her.
"Why are you staring at me?" she asked, that Weasley temper was beginning to bite her again.
"I'm trying to figure out why you're here," he answered simply, as though it were obvious.
"I told you! I know you haven't talked to people much lately, but dear!" she replied impatiently, and to her surprise Draco nodded.
"What did you give my father?" she asked suddenly, she had just thought about the small box.
"Money, for my food and books, and such," Draco said without hesitation. Ginny wondered for a moment where he had gotten the money. She knew the Malfoy's were a wealthy family, he must have taken some, she thought.
He seemed to know what she was thinking, "McGonagall brought it to me from….the manor," he coughed roughly, Ginny wondered if he was sick. He looked sick, she decided. He had always been pale, but now his skin seemed almost translucent.
"Draco, where do you stay all day?" she had been wondering this for the past few days, she never saw him.
"My room, or here," he replied, "no reason to go any where else."
"When do you eat?"
"Early before any of you get up, Potter met me on my way to the kitchen this morning," Draco smirked at her and she blushed. He must have known they had spent a late night together. "Or late, after you're all asleep."
"Why?"
He snorted, "No one in this house really wants to see me, and I understand," he slid the book onto a dusty shelf with a few other books.
"Maybe if made an effort…"
"No, you're a bright girl, you know better than that."
Ginny sighed he was right, and she knew it. Malfoy could grow angel wings and everyone would still wince at the sight of him. He was staring at her again.
"What?
"Do you feel sorry for me?" he was walking slowly towards her, "Do you feel responsible to be nice to me? Is this…a poor boy outreach program?" he leaned over her, placing his hands on either side of the chair, trapping her in. Ginny wanted to back away from him, but she held her position, "or do you just like to see the downtrodden?" his eyes stared into hers.
Ginny swallowed hard, "Actually, I just love your company."
Draco's eyes faltered for a moment. He stood still, and he laughed. It was short and low, but he laughed, and backed away from her immediately. Ginny began to breathe again. It seemed as though Draco had been testing her, and she had come out on top, as usual.
"I always knew you were the best of the lot," he nodded vaguely as he crossed his arms, "I remember you, a little wisp of a girl, telling me off in the book shop, your first year I believe, didn't skip a beat, I admire that."
Ginny nodded, though she wasn't sure she wanted to be admired by Draco Malfoy, she was proud that she always spoke up, and she smiled at herself.
Suddenly the door cracked open and Ginny jumped in surprise. Harry slid in the door staring at the pair of them, he didn't seem to know what to say.
"Uh….hello," he said awkwardly, with a slight shrug at Ginny.
She smiled at him, and Draco nodded curtly. She noticed how stiff the two boys were. Ginny sighed in exasperation; this wasn't going to be pleasant.
"Alright, this is stupid, you both know the situation, so let's just try to be mature here and sort it out," Ginny decided she would have to be the mediator, or they were going to stand here all day.
"Sit down, both of you, come on," she ushered the two of them into seats across from each other. Harry watched Draco as if he was waiting for him to pounce, and Draco looked at him the same way.
"There's something you don't know," Draco looked at Ginny suddenly.
"Well?" she waited for a moment in vain.
"The writing," Harry answered for him, "He says I've seen it before."
Ginny was a bit confused, "Wait, the writing in the letter? You know who it is?" she looked at Draco hopefully.
He shook his head slowly, "No, but I've seen the writing before, and I know you have as well," his gaze was steady on Harry, who was chewing his lip in thought. Ginny smiled tenderly at him, he always did that when he was thinking.
"Well….where? I can't ever remember….."
Suddenly the three of them jumped from their chairs. Ron stood in the doorway, his mouth hanging open at the sight of his best friend and sister sitting with the person he hated most in the world. His eyes went from shock to rage and he stormed off.
"Damn!" Ginny hit her head, "I have to go," she jumped up. Harry followed her. Draco shut the door softly behind them.
"Ron! Wait!" Harry called as he raced after Ginny down the hall. This was not good, he thought. Ron was going to kill him, or worse, never speak to him again.
Ron ran into the room and shut the door with a smack in Ginny's face. She beat on the wooden frame, "Open up!" she called. Hermione looked out from the girls' room across the hall.
"What's going on?" she asked Harry who was right behind Ginny.
"Ron saw us talking to Malfoy, it's a long story…"
Ginny was still pounding on the door, "move," Hermione hissed, "alohamora!" she pointed her wand at the door, it fell open with a screech. Harry was stunned, he knew Grimmauld place wasn't detected by the ministry, but it wasn't like Hermione to break the rules like that.
"Get out!" Ron yelled at them, but they pushed their way in, ignoring him.
"Ron, listen, there's an explanation.."
"No! I don't want to talk to you!"
"Ron! Malfoy…"
"Go away!"
"Ron, shut up and listen before I stun you!" Hermione pointed her wand at him, Ron stopped talking, but flopped down on the bed and glared at them.
"Thanks.." Harry looked at her,.
"Oh no, I want to hear this too," Hermione sat down next to him.
"Malfoy got a letter, it looks the same as Harry's and he thinks he's seen the writing before. He told me, two nights ago," Ginny looked at Harry sideways, she hadn't told him this, and she didn't know he already knew, "that's what we were talking about."
"Why didn't you explain this to me before you insulted me and stomped out of the kitchen?" he snapped at Ginny.
"Because I knew this is how you'd react!" she snapped right back at him. If the situation hadn't been so bad Harry would have laughed at her. Only Ginny would yell back at Ron at a time like this.
"So you thought it was better to sneak around and lie to me?"
"I never lied, I just hadn't told you yet."
"Alright, that's enough," Hermione broke in, "Now, Harry, calmly tell us exactly what is going on."
"Well, after I told you all about the letter, I….well," he didn't want Ginny to know he had been spying on her, "I ran into Malfoy, he showed me his letter, and the writing was the same. He also said that he had seen it before, and so had I. We were about to talk about that, when you came in," Ron still looked furious, but he was quiet.
"So why are you all buddy-buddy with Malfoy?" Ron directed this at Ginny.
"He told me about the letter when he got it."
"Why you?"
"Because NO ONE else in this house would have listened to him! I know you hate him Ron, and you wish he would just shrivel up and die, but he's been through hell lately too, and if you didn't notice, he saved all our bloody asses!" Ginny was angry now, her voce kept rising as she spoke.
"Well said."
Everyone's heads snapped to the door, Malfoy stood half in listening to him. Ron stood and opened his mouth but Malfoy interrupted him.
"Down Weasley, I come in peace."
"Sit down Ron," Hermione pulled him down, though she left her hand in his forearm. Ron looked absolutely stunned that Malfoy had dared to show his face in his room.
"Look, I'm just here, believe it or not, to help. I don't want to get whacked anytime soon, and it looks like we're all in this together, as unpleasant as that is," he spoke clearly, and louder than Harry had heard all summer, but he still had an emotionless expression.
"I'm not in anything with you," Ron growled at him.
"Really, because if this person can see Harry and me in this house it stands to reason they can see you too. It might even be one of your own."
"No one here would betray the Order! We're not like that you pompous prat!"
Malfoy shrugged and looked at Ginny as though she should say something.
"Look Ron, I understand you're upset, but he's right. These letters, they know what we're doing, they know…things…that happen in private," Ginny didn't want to divulge any of Draco's secrets.
"Like what?" Ron spat.
"Like when we were leaving the Burrow," Harry sat down on the opposite bed.
"And other things," Ginny replied.
"What other things?" Hermione questioned, "I don't know about Ron, but I don't want to be the one left in the dark here."
Ginny looked at Malfoy, Harry was confused. What did she know that he didn't? Malfoy sighed and pulled out the letter. Harry still didn't know what it meant. He tossed it to Hermione and Ron, they read it and had similar expressions of confusion. Harry saw Ginny wince as he rolled up his cloak sleeve. Hermione gasped, Ron groaned, and Harry couldn't move. He knew in an instant what he had done.
"You….you tried to…..remove it?" Hermione choked on the words, Ron put an arm around her shoulder.
"Yeah, didn't work, just hurt a bit," Malfoy pulled his sleeve back down, "but I did it alone, and told no one until after I got the letter."
Harry didn't know what to think. He had tried to cut it off; it was an unthinkable thing to do. How could you inflict that much pain on yourself? Harry realized now why Ginny had felt sorry for him. Malfoy must have hated himself so much he couldn't stand to look at it. Voldermort had been responsible for his mother's death, and Harry knew how that felt. He looked at Malfoy, he had never really thought that he could be capable of loving someone. He remembered once Hermione making a rude comment about his mother, and how Malfoy had reacted. That had been when he had been turned into a ferret. He must miss her terribly Harry thought.
"So," Ginny regained her composure first, "We need to tell someone, I suggest Lupin," she looked at Harry who nodded.
"That's what I thought," he replied.
Ron was still sitting with his arm around a shaking Hermione, "How do we know you didn't send it?" he asked staring at Malfoy coldly.
"Because I think I know who did, and I can prove it," he turned to Harry, "My fourth year I was in Mad Eye Moody's office and I ran across an odd piece of parchment, when I tried to read it all that came up was a…rather rude comment about my hair, in a large swirl writing."
"The map!" Harry realized, "But how did you know I had it?"
"You are not the only one who has an invisibility cloak," Malfoy said with a small smirk.
Harry decided not to ask any questions about that as he searched his trunk. Finally he found it, he pulled it out and everyone crowded around him. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he touched his wand to the parchment with trembling fingers. The familiar message popped up on the surface, Harry had never really paid attention to the writing before, but there it was, the all too familiar handwriting.
"Oh, no.." Hermione sighed.
"But I don't get it….who?" Ron was looking at her with a confused face. For the moment he seemed to forget about Malfoy, whose shoulder he was currently looking over.
"Wormtail…." Harry whispered.
The rest of that day passed in a whirl for Ginny. They had all immediately gone to find Lupin who had taken all the letters and the map and disappeared. He told them to stay put and he would be back shortly. Mrs. Weasley went with him, and since Mr. Weasley was at work, the students and the twins were left alone.
Everyone sat in the living room, Ron and the twins watching Malfoy like he might grow an extra head. Finally Hermione pulled him into the kitchen along with the twins. She offered to make dinner instead of Ginny, who accepted gratefully. She sat in her favorite chair by the fire, but for some reason she just couldn't shake the cold. Harry came and sat down beside her.
"Hey, how you doing?"
"I'm alright," she smiled at him, but Ginny knew she wasn't being very convincing. Harry snorted in laughter and Malfoy looked up briefly from his book before plunging back in.
"You can't lie to me Weasley," he thumped her cheek gently. Ginny sighed.
"I'm just…..I don't know, scared for you I guess," she spoke the last words quickly; she ducked her head and pulled the blanket close around her. She didn't want him to see tears in her eyes, she needed to be strong for him, he was always strong for everyone else.
"Ginny, don't be, I've lived sixteen years, and I aim to at least double that," she laughed, or tried too, but it came out with a short sob. She scolded herself silently, don't cry, don't cry, she told herself over and over.
"Ginny," Harry sounded alarmed, he kneeled in front of her, "It's okay love, really I mean it." Ginny nodded, but she felt the tears rolling down her cheeks now, stupid girl, she thought, she couldn't stop it. Ginny kept her head down, the blankets tight around her neck, she felt so foolish. Ginny realized suddenly that Draco had left the room, she smiled blearily, he wasn't as bad as they all thought he was.
"I'm sorry Harry, I don't mean to be a blubbering idiot in front of you," she sniffed softly and wiped at the tears furiously. "I mean, I have no right to cry at all, I'm not the one always in danger, the one who has to deal with everything."
"Well, you have to deal with me, that's just as difficult," Harry smiled at her kindly; she knew he was trying to comfort her. She realized suddenly how close he was to her. "Ginny, do….do you ever regret knowing me?" she snapped her head up suddenly, "What?" she stopped crying at once, was he serious?
"I mean, I know it's difficult for you, and your family. Just being around me is dangerous," Harry was staring past her at the wall, "Sometimes I wonder, if you'd of all been better off if Ron had just sat in a different compartment that day," he still didn't look at her, and Ginny couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Harry! Are you out of your mind?" amazingly she felt angry instead of sad. Now he was the one who wouldn't look up. She grabbed his chin and pulled his face up, there were no tears, but that haunted look he had had at the beginning of the summer was back, it made her heart ache. "You listen to me, and you listen good! No! Never! You realize if it wasn't for you my father would be dead, I'd be dead, the whole bloody world might be under Voldermort's control and we'd all be dead!"
"No, if it wasn't for me, none of you would have to deal with him. Your father wouldn't have been attacked; he wouldn't have been in the Order. You would have never gotten that diary. None of you would have had to go into the Ministry," he swallowed hard, "Sirius would be alive."
"Sirius would be in Azkaban!" she practically yelled at him. Harry shook his head, "I don't know Ginny, sometimes it….it just seems like everyone would have been better off with me dead."
Before she realized what she had done Ginny had slapped him across the face. He looked at her in complete surprise. "Harry James Potter, if I EVER hear you say something like that again!" the tears were coming back. Is that what he really thought? Oh God, she had never known he felt so guilty. She held her hand over her mouth, her head was beginning to hurt from holding back the tears.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Ginny, I didn't mean it!" she didn't answer. "I'm just thinking of you, all of you, I just want you to be safe, and happy," she saw shine in his eyes, not exactly tears, but shine. "Than don't ever say anything like that again," she really couldn't stop now, she put her hands over her eyes, but it was no use.
Harry put his arms around her. Her small body seemed to be racked with sobs. He hadn't meant to make her cry like this, but he was glad he had finally told someone how he felt. Ginny put her arms around his neck. He slid beside her in the chair and let her cry on his chest. After a few minutes Hermione came into the room. She peaked around the chair, Harry was about to say something but she waved him off and motioned to be quiet. She walked back towards the kitchen shooing Ron back inside. So he sat with her, and after a bit she stopped crying, but she didn't move. Harry wished that he could be holding her when she was happy and laughing, he never wanted to be the one to make her cry again. He knew deep down that it wasn't just him, it was everything, but he still felt horrible.
"Are you alright?" he asked finally when she had been quiet for several minutes. He felt her nod into his chest, and he could hear his heart beating against his ribs. Harry pulled her long hair away from her face and tightened his arms around her. For this moment he didn't care, he didn't care about Voldermort, or the letters, or Sirius, or Malfoy, or guilt, or anything. For this moment it was going to be just Ginny, and he was perfectly happy to have it that way.
Finally she sat up, her eyes were red and puffy, but Harry thought she looked more beautiful than ever. "I got your shirt wet," she said quietly. Harry chuckled softly, "That's alright, it'll be fine." He didn't know what he was supposed to say to her. What do you say to the girl you loved whose just spent twenty minutes crying on your chest?
"You hit really well for a girl," Harry rolled his eyes at himself, smooth, real smooth.
But Ginny laughed and put a cool hand on his cheek, "I'm sorry, but you deserved it you know," Harry laughed too, "I know."
Ginny unfolded herself from the chair, stretching her legs painfully. "Thank you Harry, I just…" she seemed to be lost for words. "I know," he said again nodding comfortingly. "Harry, you know we….we all love you, and….it would absolutely crush us if anything happened to you," Harry was afraid she was going to start crying again, "Believe me Ginny, I know," she nodded and stood up. "Well, I'd better go wash up," she smiled and started for the washroom. He watched her go.
"Oh, and Harry," she smiled at him faintly, "It wouldn't have mattered if Ron had sat in another compartment. I would have found you anyway," she turned and walked through the dark doorway. For the first time Harry felt a tear escape his eye.
It was a quiet evening, dinner was normal enough, though Ron kept looking at Malfoy, and Hermione kept looking at Harry. Ginny offered to clean since Hermione had cooked but she shooed her away, saying that she did it almost every night. Harry felt drained; he had never had such an emotional scene, well with a girl. He sat in his bedroom looking out the window at the dark sky filled with stars. Only last night he and Ginny had flown through stars together. He felt closer to her now, but also a terrible sort of worry. She had said she loved him…well, she had said "we" love you, referring to her entire family and everyone in the Order. Did she think of him as another brother? Harry felt the red spot on his face where she had slapped him, he smiled dreamily, only Ginny he thought, would slap you while she was crying. Harry looked at his small desk calendar. It was the beginning of August, and soon it would be time to go back to Hogwarts. He didn't know what this year would be like, and he didn't care to think about it. Harry was worried about everything, and everyone. He looked at a spider web in the corner of his window, life was so fragile. Harry realized with a start how tired he was, he hadn't slept the night before after all. Before he could crawl into bed there was a knock at the door. He opened it to find Ginny, he smiled at first but then he saw the look on her face.
"Ginny? What's wrong? What's happened?"
"We've got a problem Harry," she looked at him with wide fearful eyes as she held up her trembling hand, containing a letter with a blood red seal.
A/N- Whew! Okay that was intense right? I think this has been one of my favorite Harry/Ginny moments. Now, thank you to everyone who reviews I love you all so much, you don't even know! Every time I get a new review I print it out so I can look at it if I feel bad, so THANK YOU. I know there was a bit of language in this chapter, but hey, they are sixteen now right, it's just in character. Alright next chapter, the new letter, Ginny's plan for Ron and Hermione, Draco's confession, and aboard the Hogwarts express! Please review!