A/N- Wow oh wow. I know, it's been forever! And you all thought I had abandoned you. But of course not! Here we go, sixteen. Thanks so much for being here! No profit is being made, it all belongs to J.K., don't sue!

The Morning After, and Benefits of Silver Ink.

Harry paced the narrow strip of floor in front of the fireplace for what seemed like the millionth hour. He squinted at the clock in the corner. It was well after eleven, Ginny should have been back to the common room ages ago. Ron and Hermione peered at him through worried eyes from the corner.

"I think he might have really screwed up this time," Ron said softly glancing at Hermione out of the corner of his eyes. In the past few hours their fight seemed to have been forgotten. Hermione sniffled softly.

"I don't know. How could he have kept it from her? I will be the first one to say that I think Ginny and Malfoy's friendship is a bit…..odd," she hesitated, "But it is theirs to have. He should have respected that."

Harry sat down roughly on the couch. He was exhausted, but there was no way he was going to sleep with Ginny still out there somewhere. Harry felt like ramming his head into the castle's stone walls. How could he have been such an idiot? He knew the answer to his own question, though he hated to admit it. Somewhere inside of him, he knew a part of his mind had been hoping that Malfoy would never find his way out of St. Mungo's. He winced as he finally admitted what he had been thinking. The truth was he owed Malfoy a good bit. Harry was worried, how could he hope for a thing like that. He had always fancied himself a good person, but…..

The door to the common room was pushed feebly open. Three heads snapped to the right as a very tired looking Ginny pulled herself into the common room. Harry and Ron jumped up at the same time to help her. Ron made it there first, and Harry held back. He wasn't sure if Ginny even wanted to speak to him, much less have him touch her. Ron guided Ginny to an armchair and sped off to fetch her glass of water. Harry couldn't take his eyes off her. She was acting so strange. She hadn't spoken, or even raised her eyes since she had come in. Harry came closer to her. He sat on the edge of the sofa tenderly, ready to run if she made any sign of wanting him gone. Ginny however didn't even act like she has noticed his presence.

"Here you go Gin," Ron pushed the glass into her hand. She held it limply, resting on her knee, as though it wasn't really there at all. "Gin? Are you okay?" Ron held his little sister's hand tightly, Harry could see the worry in his eyes.

"Ginny, talk to us. What happened?" Hermione knelt by her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. Ginny was still silent, as though she was the only one in the room.

"Maybe she's in shock?" Hermione turned to Ron, who was still gripping his sister's hand. "Should we take her to the hospital wing?"

"I don't know," Ron's voice caught in his throat. "I don't know what to do."

Harry was holding the arm of the sofa so hard he thought his fingers were going to break. This was his fault. Everything was always his fault. He had done this to Ginny. He might have ruined any chance they had together, and now he might have ruined her very mind.

Ginny's eyes snapped back into focus, as they moved slowly to her left, and onto Harry's face. His breath caught as she looked at him. Her face was the picture of calm, but her eyes, seemed to glow with a wild anger he had never seen before.

"He wants to speak with you," Ginny voice was raspy, as if she hadn't said anything in a long time. Ron and Hermione looked at him as if he would have some explanation. Harry looked at each of them in turn at an utter loss.

"Now?" he asked, swallowing hard. He realized he hadn't said anything in a long time either. Ginny nodded slightly. For a moment Harry considered hugging her, touching her, anything to try and convince himself she didn't hate him, but he thought better of it. He stood slowly and nodded. Turning quickly he almost ran from the common room.

"Go to bed," Ginny addressed Ron and Hermione without looking at them. She was still staring at the fire. Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Hermione was already dragging him towards the stairs.

"Come on Ron, this isn't our place."

Harry climbed the last steps to the hospital wing with growing apprehension. What could Malfoy possibly have to say to him? He opened the door lightly; a single candle was glowing in the empty hospital wing. Harry looked around in surprise for Madame Pomfrey or for someone. Why would they leave Malfoy alone? He walked slowly towards the dim light. As he reached the small bed he could barely make out the thin figure lying still under the stark white sheets.

"Malfoy?" he asked cautiously.

There was no answer from the bed. Harry saw a small wooden chair sitting by the side, he sat down softly. Maybe he was asleep, he certainly didn't want to wake him.

"Threads," a voice said, softly but clearly from the bed. Harry felt his heart jump, apparently Malfoy was not asleep. "Threads…..in the dark."

"Malfoy? What….what are you talking about?" Harry couldn't see his face in the dim candle light.

"They're going to kill her. They have to kill her," Malfoy's voice was different. Harry couldn't exactly place what was different about it, "If they kill her…..the threads…." A cough erupted from the bed. Harry wrung his hands nervously, he didn't know what exactly Malfoy was talking about, but he knew who 'her' was, and he felt his throat close.

"Why are they going to kill Ginny?" Harry breathed softly, afraid to even say the words.

"The lines…..they know about the lines…….read the……lines….." Malfoy coughed again. Harry's head felt like it was on fire. He didn't know what to do. "Save her Potter…or…." Harry heard Malfoy's voice growing weaker. He moved closer to the bed, he could somewhat make out Malfoy's haggard face. Harry tried not to wince at the sight. He was a mass of bruises and cuts.

"We die."

Harry walked slowly back towards Gryffindor tower. After Malfoy's last words he had fallen back into the bed, and Harry hadn't tried to make him speak anymore. He had said enough. Harry had no clue what had been done to him, but somewhere he had learned the most important piece of information possible. Voldermort was after Ginny, and he had a plan.

As Harry muttered the password he stepped absentmindedly into the room and headed for the stairs. He needed time to think. "They're after me," a quiet voice said from the corner. Harry's head snapped up. He spotted Ginny curled up in the corner by the fire, as close to it as she could possibly get. Harry stood frozen to the spot. He wanted to run to her, to hold her, but he knew he couldn't.

Ginny kept her eyes level on the fire. Harry took a step towards her. "Ginny…." He felt at a loss for words. He wanted to express to her his love, how sorry he was, how worried, and how he would never, ever let anyone harm her. He wished she would look at him.

"Why…." She trailed off, "do I always seem to bring the troubles?" she let her head fall into the wall. Harry rushed to her and grabbed her small frame. He held her tightly and felt no resistance.

"It's not you Ginny!" he exclaimed as he choked back tears, "It's me. It's always me, you never do anything!"

Ginny let her head fall into Harry's shoulder. She felt no urge to cry. She wasn't sad, she wasn't anything. She was unnervingly calm. It seemed that for once Harry was losing it while Ginny was the rock. She wasn't sure how that made her feel.

"Ginny," Harry's voice was full of regret and guilt. She looked at him for a moment, his messy hair, his glasses tipped on his nose. For so long Ginny had always looked at him as the perfect person. The boy who could do no wrong in her heart. Sure he could be pig headed and stubborn as hell, but on the whole he was perfect, to her at least. As she looked at him now she knew she had been wrong. He was not perfect. No perfect person would have kept such a secret from her, lied by omission in a way. No, Harry was not perfect at all.

And she loved him for it all the more.

"Ginny," he began again, "I'm so sorry. I….I messed up, I know it. But I love you so much, and I was only trying to protect you. I know that was dumb, but it's the truth. Please, believe me…"

"I do believe you Harry," Ginny rubbed her head which seemed to always keep an ache.

"Really I am. I wish you could know how sorry I really am…."

"I do know."

"No, I mean, if there was any way I could possibly….."

"Harry," Ginny cut him short. He looked at her in puzzlement as she dug through her robes, "I really do know…"

Ginny pulled a blue stone from under her shirt. Harry looked at it for a moment before memory dawned on him. It was the ouls. He hadn't seen it since that Quiddich game so long ago.

"You….you kept it?" he asked, eyeing the thing suspiciously, as though it might leap from her hand and bite him.

"Of course I did," Ginny tucked the stone back into her robes. Harry was still confused, what did a blasted rock have to do with anything….

"Oh," his mind stopped on a pin. The tale that Luna had explained. He had remembered it for a moment in the hospital, but recent events had completely driven it from his memory.

"I didn't want to scare you," Ginny looked down slightly, avoiding his gaze, "That's how I knew you were awake."

Harry nodded, "I….I was hoping it was," he took her hand gently. "Why would that scare me Ginny?"

She shrugged slightly, "Too much too fast…."

Harry chuckled lightly, "Ginny," he raised her chin to him, "I love you. You know that?"

Ginny nodded slightly.

"Good. Then, you must know, I intend on it staying that way. As long as you will have me."

Ginny sighed, letting out a breath she had been keeping for some time. She hadn't realized how desperately she needed oxygen.

"I know you're sorry Harry, and I forgive you, but please, never try to protect me by keeping me in the dark," she snuggled up to his chest and let her eyes close.

"I won't pet, I promise," Harry kissed the top of her head and held her tightly. He knew he should cart her off to bed before they both fell asleep, but he couldn't make himself move. He was utterly comfortable by the fire with his love. The one he was meant to be with.

As Harry drifted off to sleep a pair of eyes narrowed and vanished into the dark.

Ginny was jolted awake by bright sunlight. She felt as if her head was being squeezed by a mountain troll. Harry was still fast asleep beside her, glasses hanging from one ear. She tried to smile, but her mouth didn't want to perform the action.

Ginny slipped quietly from underneath his arm. She caught a glimpse of his watch, displaying the time as six-fifteen. Ginny groaned, it was going to be quite a long day. That evening it had been arranged for five Order members to escort the four of them back to Grimmauld place, and she wasn't sure how anyone was going to feel. Ginny climbed the girl's staircase carefully, trying to be completely silent. She reached blearily for the bathroom door, but before she could open it she heard a peculiar noise.

"Damn…"

Ginny froze against the wall. A loud crash erupted from inside the bathroom, as well as a soft moan. Ginny wasn't sure if she should run down the stairs and try to find help. Before she could do anything however, the door opened.

"Hermione!" Ginny let her breath out in a loud gasp, "What in Merlin's name are you doing at this hour?"

Hermione had dropped the basket of potion vials she was carrying. Ginny studied her face curiously, she looked somewhat sheepish. "Oh, nothing…" she cleared her throat daintily, "I was just…just….uh…packing…" she stuttered unconvincingly

Ginny reached down and retrieved one of the vials Hermione had been carrying, which, thankfully, had enchanted glass to prevent breaking.

"Mrs. Mendelsons Magic Makeover?" she looked at Hermione questioningly.

"It's….it's Lavender's. I was getting it for her…"

Ginny smiled graciously at her friend. In the dim morning light Ginny could faintly see that Hermione's hair was a bit straighter than usual. It seemed that Hermione wanted to be noticed this holiday.

"You know 'Mione," Ginny put her arm around her stuttering friend and pointed her back towards the bathroom, "I think your hair looks much better in curls anyway…."

When Harry finally woke up he felt rather cold. He looked over and was disappointed that Ginny was not beside him. He stretched his arms above his head and felt his shoulder crack unpleasantly. Rubbing it softly he headed for the boy's dormitory. His watch read seven-thirty nine, and he was pleasantly surprised that he felt rather well rested. As he reached the top of the stairs he found the sixth year's door already open. Ron was sitting in the middle of his bed, his suitcase open.

"Hey mate," he smiled at him, "welcome back to the waking world, you better get ready, we have to go soon."

Harry nodded slightly. He had been mildly afraid that Ron would be angry at him for not returning to the dormitory the night before.

"Oh, by the by…" Ron coughed lightly, "When you get a moment, I want to show you something."

Harry walked over to Ron's bed. Ron pulled a small green box from underneath his pillow, "It came this morning," he smiled weakly, "Do you think she'll like it?"

Harry opened the box to reveal a bright silver necklace. Hanging from it was a delicate silver quill. Harry took it out of its velvet box and tapped it with his wand. The quill instantly tripled its size. He brushed the end of it across a spare bit of parchment lying next to Ron's bed, the silver ink it contained shimmered brightly in the morning sun. Harry tapped it again and it returned to its small size.

"It's brilliant mate, she's going to love it."

Ron sighed auditable, "Yeah, I think so too," he now sounded much more confident. "Thanks again for giving me the tip."

Harry tried not to chuckle at the memory of Ginny shoving the Christmas issue of Grand Gifts under his nose and circling the necklace, "No problem."

An hour later Ron and Harry had their luggage fully prepared for the trip. Ron was still muttering about Hermione's gift, "It really is lucky she was born right after Christmas," he proclaimed for the hundredth time, "This way I can just give her one good thing instead of two cruddy gifts."

"Yeah, that's luck for you," Harry tried to sound interested. Apparently stage one of Ginny's plan was going to be a roaring success.

"We better head down to the common room," Ron picked up his overstuffed bag, "The girl's are probably waiting."

Harry grabbed his suitcase and followed Ron down the stairs. To his surprise Hermione was not waiting impatiently by the fireplace.

"I wonder where the two of them have got to?" Ron asked in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Maybe they went down without us?" Harry replied, he was slightly worried that Ginny was not there either.

"Or maybe we decided to sleep in as well," Ginny jumped the last step into the common room. She was dressed briskly in a bright blue sweater and jeans. Harry felt his face curve into a smile, he didn't think there could be another girl in the world to match her beauty.

"Morning love," she kissed his cheek, and Harry turned his face to meet her. Ron grunted in disgust and studied the rug beneath him. Ginny chuckled softly and took Harry's hand.

"So where's 'Mione then?" Ron looked a little too hopefully up the staircase.

"She'll be down in a moment, don't get your knickers in a twist," Ginny pointed her wand at the staircase and her luggage flew before her feet.

"Looks like your studying has done you some good," Harry massaged the back of her hand with his thumb as she slapped him playfully.

Ron was utterly fed up with their displays of affection, he trooped over to the stairs and bellowed, "Oi! Hermione! Time to go! The books will be here when you get back, I promise!"

"Ronald if you don't stop shouting at me I swear I'm going to make good on my bat boogey hex skills!"

Hermione climbed down the stairs quickly, tossing her bag into the pile. Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, and Ginny gave a knowing smirk. Hermione's hair was in carefully curled ringlets, pulled back with a silver clip, and a few wisps of chocolate brown hair curled around her face as though through a happy accident. Ron had apparently noticed as well.

"Oh….um….well yes…..sorry….."

Ginny smirked and pulled her bag onto her shoulder, "Come on Romeo," she directed the comment to Ron, who shot daggers at her. Harry chuckled again and grabbed his suitcase.

"You uh….you want me to get that?" Ron pointed at Hermione's luggage.

"My bag?" she responded in confusion.

"Yeah.."

"Why would I want you to take my thing Ronald?"

"I thought you might want some help carrying it is all."

"Do you think I am incapable of carrying a bag? Have I not been able to manage all the way from the girl's dormitory?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. She knew what was about to happen. Grabbing Harry's hand she pulled him towards the portrait hole.

"Well I am so sorry your majesty!" She heard Ron shout as she climbed through with Harry, "Forgive me for having some manners!"

"Manners? Let's just get a pumpkin tart into your mouth and see how refined you are!"

Harry laughed as the two of them arrived on the other side. "Wonder how long this one will last."

"Oh no longer than the new year I would expect," Ginny giggled in response.

Harry tugged her hand, stopping her outside of the portrait, "Hey, Good morning." He pressed his lips against hers.

Ginny sighed and accepted the kiss, though they were in public, she had trouble stopping herself.

"Well, well, well Harry. Is this anyway for a Quiddich captain to behave in school halls?" she jested him.

"Actually I think it's in the job description."

"ENOUGH!" Ron bellowed as he came out of the portrait hole, Hermione lugging her own suitcase behind him, "It's enough to make me bloody sick!"

"Ignore Ronald! He's having difficulty communicating this morning," Hermione spat as she breezed past him.

Ginny groaned as she started to go after them, but she felt Harry stop suddenly. "Harry?" she asked, looking at him. He had stopped short, staring blankly to the left, "Harry? What's wrong?"

Harry felt his blood run cold as he saw a large white envelope sitting on the bench outside the common room, an envelope with a large red stamp.

A/N- I'm back I'm back, I'm back! I've missed you guys so much! So first off, how's it going? Good! As most of you know the hurricane did a number on my little town, so I'm currently staying in Alabama until everything gets cleared up. Not bad here I must say. So! How awesome is the Goblet movie! I loved the maze parts! As for the ugly matter of the book….well…..I WON'T BELIEVE THAT SNAPE IS EVIL! Until I'm proven wrong I'll stay in the "Dumbledore told him to do it" camp. Anyway, for this fic's purposes book six never happened. I know you all thought I was gone forever, but thanks so much for the few who reviewed and told me to get back on it, you gave the push I needed. I know this chapter didn't seem important, but it's coming. Next chapter is Christmas, and then the whole thing will come together. There's one clue in this one that you might see if you look closely! A prize to someone who can get it first! (prize is my everlasting friendship mind you) So next chapter, Christmas, the letter, and a gift that no one expected! HAPPY REVIEWING!