The Devils Triangle
Chapter 3: The Dog Days

The next morning, the summer heat had been cleared away by a cooling rain storm. The sky was dark and the rain pelted Harry's face as he rode his broom at dawn. He no longer went out to try to clear his head from dreams of Ginny; he'd gotten accustomed to those and enjoyed them quite a lot, but he did enjoy a morning fly.

The past few days had been very difficult for him; the blackness didn't seem to lift for long. He was overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness and futility. Harry kept thinking about the Prophecy: he would be a murderer or he would be dead. He'd decided to tell Ginny about the Prophecy; he didn't know why because he knew she wouldn't be able to help, but he had to tell someone or else he would go mad. Ginny had become his closest confidant in such a short time; he could tell her things he couldn't tell Ron and Hermione, who tended to worry about him too much. Ginny just understood, and he couldn't explain it. He'd reread the letter she sent him at Privet Drive dozens of times and it always comforted him. Especially in the last section, she seemed to innately understand Harry's connection to Voldemort.

Harry returned to The Burrow, showered and went down for breakfast. Ron and Ginny were already eating, and Ron was extremely excited about something.

"Harry, Hermione's coming finally! She'll be here tomorrow, isn't that great?"

"Yeah, brilliant!" Harry smiled, as he couldn't help but be amused at his friend's enthusiasm. Ron was obviously arse over elbows in love with her. Did he think no one noticed? Harry caught Ginny's eye and they both had to repress their snickers.

After breakfast, Harry and Ginny headed to The Bower; they'd promised Ron they'd be back for lunch and then spend the afternoon with him. Ron didn't really care; he was in a tizzy preparing for Hermione's arrival and barely noticed them leave.

The Bower was even more amazing in the rain: the spell creating the roof formed a clear umbrella over the room and the rain drops trickled noiselessly over the invisible dome.

Harry and Ginny had settled comfortably into the hammock in The Bower. They were lying side by side, and the curve of the hammock tilted their bodies slightly inwards so they could face one another to talk. It was a rather intimate position, but Harry felt completely natural being this close to Ginny; not tense or awkward at all, just right.

"Harry, when Hermione gets here can I ask her to tell me about the time she told you about 'the Birds and the Bees'?" Ginny asked enthusiastically.

"Oh, Ginny no!" Harry cringed.

"Oh please, please, pleeeeez? I have to hear it from her point of view! It must have been so funny!"

"Ginny, it's not meant to be funny! It's one of the more traumatic events in my life, and is not for your entertainment!"

"Oh Harry, look at your life! You've had far more traumatic events than that!"

"Not really, no," Harry pouted.

"Please Harry…" Ginny said softly, using the same look she'd used on her father since birth to get her own way. She had no idea how devastating that look was to a male non-relation, particularly a randy, teenaged male non-relation who was having very erotic dreams about her nightly. Harry caved immediately.

"Oh, alright! Just not around Ron, alright?"

Ginny grinned. "Do you actually think Ron doesn't already know? They tell each other everything you know. Except for the whole, 'I'm madly in love with you' thing, which they do keep secret from one another."

"Whatever." Harry began to realize he would never win with Ginny, so it was just better to give in early.

Ginny giggled triumphantly and snuggled down into the hammock, waiting for Harry to gather his thoughts.

Harry sighed deeply and began softly. "Do you remember that night in the Department of Mysteries, the Prophecy that Malfoy and the other Death Eaters wanted?"

"Of course. It was destroyed, right? I thought Neville dropped it and broke it."

"Yeah, and it was a prophecy about Voldemort and me. Voldemort had only heard the beginning of it and he wanted to hear the whole thing."

Ginny was quiet for a moment, and then stated, "You know what it said, don't you?"

"Dumbledore told me at the end of last term. I have to tell someone or it'll drive me mad. Ginny, promise me you won't say anything to anyone."

"You know I won't."

Harry breathed deeply and repeated the Prophecy aloud.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives..."

Ginny listened to the words carefully, her eyes never leaving Harry's. When he'd finished she didn't look particularly surprised. She just pondered for a moment or two.

"I think I already knew that. I think I've always known you'd be the one to destroy him."

"That's not what it says. It doesn't say I'll be successful; he may very well kill me first, and even if I'm not dead I'll still be a murderer."

"No. Ridding the world of Voldemort is not murder, not even close. We willfind a way to kill him Harry."

"Not we… this isn't your fight Ginny."

"It certainly is my fight, and it's my family's fight as well. Harry, my family would do anything to see that monster destroyed for reasons that have nothing to do with you. Don't get me wrong… we all love and support you, but you're not the reason we're fighting. If Voldemort rises, do you know what happens to girls like me?"

"You'd be killed for your beliefs."

"No. My parents and brothers would all be killed, but I wouldn't. I'm too valuable as a breeder."

"What?"

"I'm a blood traitor, and proud of it. I'm rather looking forward to muddying up the precious Weasley purity someday. But if Voldemort rises, that wouldn't be allowed: I'd be captured and placed under Binding curses. I'd be a breeding slave to someone, completely controlled; I wouldn't even have enough free will to kill myself."

"That's not going to happen to you Ginny!" Harry was shocked, as he'd never heard of anything so awful. He wrapped his arms around Ginny protectively and held her close, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I know, and I have no intention of ever being taken alive. But can you see why I'm willing to fight? I want to have a life Harry. Someday I want to have a husband and a family and a career and not have to worry everyday about being attacked or killed. I'm fighting for my life here as well as yours. I'm going to be by your side through this whether you like it or not, as will my family and many others. Did Ron ever tell you about our uncles?"

"I didn't know you had uncles."

"We don't, they're dead. Mum had two brothers, Gideon and Fabian, and they were killed in the first war; it took five Death Eaters to kill them. Fred and George are named after them, in a way. Don't ever tell my mother this isn't her fight, because she'd eat you alive."

Harry and Ginny lay silently, holding each other for a long time. It could have been an hour, maybe more.

"What am I gonna do, Gin?" Harry finally asked.

"You're going to tell Ron and Hermione."

"I know, but I hate doing it. They'll just worry about me."

"Of course they'll worry about you, but the three of you will figure this out. Don't you see that? When the three of you work together, you're unbeatable."

"I suppose you're right, and I have you now too," Harry said giving her a squeeze.

"That you do," she smiled to herself.

"Let's not tell them right away, give them a couple of weeks to enjoy their summer together. As soon as Hermione gets ahold of this, she'll be all about research and reading."

"Okay."

"Let's head back now… I haven't seen you whip Ron's arse at chess yet. Tell you what, just to make it interesting I'll give you a Galleon every time you beat him today!"

"You've got yourself a deal, Potter!" she laughed.

Nothing could have prepared Harry for the sight of his two friends playing wizards' chess against each other. Their games moved quickly and were vicious; they showed absolutely no mercy for one another. They fueled themselves with a seemingly endless supply of sugar quills and chocolate frogs and the more candy they consumed, the more bloodthirsty the games became. They moved their pieces so quickly Harry couldn't even follow the strategy. It was so rapid in fact, there was often more than one battle taking place on the board at any given time. At one point, Harry had to cover his ears from the cacophony of Ron's chess pieces growling and throwing curses at Ginny's chess pieces. The only word Harry could think of to describe it was 'bloodbath.'

"Next time we're facing a room full of Death Eaters, remind me to sugar you two up," Harry said wryly and was rewarded with feral glares from both Ginny and Ron. Harry slinked back behind his potions text; he was studying because he wanted to honestly tell Hermione he'd started his assignments when she arrived at The Burrow tomorrow.

Ginny suddenly shrieked! She was bouncing in her chair, waving her arms, and gyrating in such a way that Harry wasn't sure it was entirely proper for him to be watching it.

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"THAT is her bloody victory dance," Ron seethed through his teeth. "If I'd remembered about that bloody dance, I'd never have found that bloody book and started playing this bloody game with her again!"

"See, Harry! I told you he gets peevish when he loses!" Ginny finished her dance and collapsed back into her chair with a satisfied grin. Ron had already begun setting up the board again for the next game.

Ginny and Ron continued happily massacring one another for the remainder of the afternoon. By the time Mrs. Weasley called them to dinner, Ginny had managed to win several times. Harry subtly slipped three Galleons into her hand as they went to the table… he didn't think it would improve Ron's humor if he knew about their arrangement.

The next morning Harry went to The Bower alone. Telling Ginny about the Prophecy had lifted some of the burden from him, but he was still reluctant to involve his friends in his plans. After the events in the Department of Mysteries, he was having trouble accepting the necessity of them risking their lives as well, and he just needed time to think.

"Harry, you have to come and see this… it's too good!" Ginny said as she scampered up The Bower ladder just before lunch.

"What is it?" Harry looked up from the book he was reading, while lying in the hammock.

Ginny unceremoniously threw herself onto the hammock, and Harry scrambled to make room for her.

"Oof, watch the knees Weasley! You're going to damage me! Hang on, why are you settling in? You just said we had to go see something. And… you're all wet! You're soaking me!"

"You're just full of complaints today, aren't you? You've got a half-naked wet girl cuddling with you in a hammock. Life's rough, Potter!"

"Well, maybe if you were wearing onlythe bathing suit it would be alright, but you've got that baggy tee shirt covering all the good bits. So actually, you're just a nuisance really!"

"Just shut it, and let me tell you what happened and then we can go." Harry gave her a mock-aggravated 'well get on with it' look and she sneered back at him. "Ron and I were down in the swimming pond, when Hermione showed up early."

"Hermione's here? Let's go!" Harry started to sit up but Ginny pushed him back down.

"Just listen! Hermione came down to the dock to say 'Hello' while we were in the water, and as soon as Ron saw her, he hopped out of the water onto the dock. Harry, you should have seen the look on Hermione's face when she saw him! It was like he was a piece of meat and she hadn't eaten for a month! She practically drooled! Personally, I can't see it, but Ron must have filled out recently or something. So she was standing there gaping at him and not saying a word. Then Ron grinned, you know that smile he has just for her, and said: 'Blimey Hermione! If I stared at your chest like that, you'd scratch my eyes out!'"

Harry gasped, and then laughed. "He didn't say that!"

"He did! I swear. That snapped her out of her trance and she looked up at him, blushing. Harry, it was a blush worthy of a Weasley! Then she went all Hermione saying 'Quite right, so sorry, very rude of me blah, blah, blah.' She started running back to the house. Ron yelled after her 'Don't I get a hug?' and she said without turning back around. 'Later, once you dry off.' Once she was gone, he asked me 'Did you just see that?' I nodded. He asked: 'Does that mean what I think it does.' And I said 'Probably.' Then Ron smiled like Christmas had come early and said: 'Well that changes everything!' Then he ran after her, and I ran to get you. I don't know what we'll find back at the house, but I bet it'll be good!"

Harry was gaping at her in shock. "Wow! Let's go!"

What they found back at The Burrow was Hermione in a colossal strop. It seemed Ron had followed Hermione to her room. She had chosen to be adventurous and was going to sleep in the twins' old room, but only after Mrs. Weasley had assured her she had personally made it safe to inhabit. Ron had dried himself off, but was still wearing only his swimming trunks. He kept circling around Hermione, and putting himself in her line of vision; she kept blushing and turning away, but he would just do it again. He really enjoyed making her blush, and Hermione was becoming extremely agitated.

"Ron, will you stop getting in my way? I'm trying to unpack!"

"Hermione, I just want a hug!" he whined.

"You're not being very huggable right now, Ron! In fact, what I want to do is kill you!"

Ginny and Harry had been watching from the bedroom door for several seconds. Ginny whispered quietly to Harry: "No finesse! I should have known he'd mess this up. Only my brother can send a girl from barely containable lust into a homicidal rage in a matter of seconds."

Harry chuckled, and then mustered up his best brotherly, protective voice. "Ron, leave her alone," he said entering the room. "Hi, Hermione."

Relief spread over Hermione's face as she rushed into Harry's waiting arms. He held her tightly and kissed her on the forehead. "It's good to see you," he said sincerely. Hermione looked a bit surprised by Harry's unusual affection, but very pleased as well.

Meanwhile, Ron was not at all pleased. "Oh, sure! Him you hug! He's Harry Bleedin' Potter! He gets a hug!"

Hermione ignored Ron's grumbling and pulled away from her friend. "Harry, you're all wet!"

Harry's attention had shifted back to Ron whose arms were flailing as he ranted. Harry stepped away from Hermione and grabbed one of Ron's arms, so he could get another look at the many round scars that marked both of his arms and his chest.

Ron stopped mid-rant. "Oh yeah, my scars. Aren't they cool?" Harry didn't think that they were cool. His face darkened suddenly and his jaw tensed. "I've already told you, it's not your fault mate," Ron said quickly.

"Yes, it is. I'm sorry I was so stupid."

"I've always got your back, Harry."

"Thanks." He glanced at Hermione, who was suddenly wringing her hands near her collarbone. "You've got one too?" he asked.

"A scar? Yes."

"Let me see it."

"Harry, I can't! It's..." Hermione ran her fingers over her left breast, just above her heart.

"Let me see it," he insisted again, "please."

Hermione rolled her eyes and motioned to Ginny to get Ron out of the room.

"Come on Ron, let's go get you dressed. Then I'm sure Hermione will hug you," Ginny said tugging at her brother.

"Why do I have to leave? Why can't I see her scar too?"

"Because Harry wants to see her scar… you want to see her chest!" Ginny pushed Ron into the hall and closed the door behind them.

"Harry's a bloke too, y'know! Hey, how'd he get wet anyway?" Ron's voice faded away down the hallway.

Hermione and Harry snickered as Ron left the room.

"If he weren't so infuriating, he'd be adorable," she said distractedly.

Harry grinned widely. "I guess, but face it: you think he's adorable BECAUSEhe's infuriating. Have you ever noticed that he's the only one who can infuriate you?"

"Shut up Harry. This is as much of a peek as you're ever going to get." Hermione had unbuttoned the first three buttons of her blouse and pulled it aside to reveal a wide pink scar running downward over the upper part of her cleavage and disappearing into her bra. Hermione noticed Harry's pained look. "It's not so bad, and it's already faded loads. It should be invisible by next summer," Hermione smiled gently as she closed her blouse.

"I'm sorry… no, don't tell me it's not my fault. Please, let me say this. You tried to stop me and to get me to slow down and consider it might have been a trap. If I hadn't been so stubborn, I would have opened Sirius' gift. And if I'd listened to you, I might have remembered the two way mirror Sirius had given me. I would have tried that first. But I ignored you, and in fact, I had some rather rude thoughts about you."

Hermione smirked. "I seem to remember having a few rather rude thoughts about you as well."

Harry sat on the bed and pulled Hermione down to sit next to him, tenderly holding her hand. "I need you to understand what you do to me."

Hermione's eyes went wide with shock and a little terror. Harry realized she had misunderstood.

Harry gasped. "No… oh Gods… no... That's not what I meant! It came out wrong, honestly. Ron would murder me!" Harry laughed nervously and Hermione bit back a snicker. "Let me try again," Harry said cautiously.

"You know how Ron says when he's doing something he shouldn't, or not doing something he should, he hears his mother's voice? Well, I don't have a mother's voice, I have you. You're the voice in my head telling me I'm being reckless and telling me to slow down. It sometimes becomes a bit hard to take when you're saying all the same things to my face that you're also saying in my head. Especially when I want to ignore them."

Hermione laughed. "So you're saying I'm your conscience? That's a big job, being Harry Potter's conscience."

"No pressure," Harry smirked. "I just wanted you to know that."

"Harry, how are you feeling?" Hermione asked.

"I'm a mess, but getting better I think."

Hermione looked at Harry quizzically. "What?" Harry asked.

"It's just that you're so… open. I've never seen you like this before."

Harry laughed. "It's Ginny. She's cracking me like a nut, but don't worry. Ron won't let me get too soft; he won't put up with it."

Hermione's eyebrows rose curiously. "Is there something going on between you two?"

"Who, me and Ron? We're just friends."

"Harry!"

"Ginny and I are good friends."

"And?" Hermione wasn't going to let it drop.

"And I'm a mess! Half the time we spend together, I'm trying not to cry all over her. Not exactly boyfriend material! Besides she has a boyfriend and she's very much over me."

"But?" Hermione persisted.

"Oh Gods! But what?"

"But there's potential?" she asked.

Harry thought for a moment. "Yeah, I suppose there's some potential there." Harry was tired of this line of questioning and decided to give Hermione some of her own medicine. "What about you and the naked sun God?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "What about us?"

"You know he's mad about you."

"No Harry, I don't know that and I won't unless I hear it come from his lips."

"Well, you might have a bit of a wait ahead of you. Our boy's a bit thick about such things, not that I'm one to talk."

"Thanks Harry, I hadn't noticed that!" said Hermione, with a load of sarcasm in her voice.

"Let's go get some lunch, before Ron thinks I'm feeling you up. Please Hermione, give the boy a hug! I'll never hear the end of it otherwise."

The hot August days began to pass more quickly and Harry and his friends spent much of their time at the swimming pond cooling off. Harry was feeling better and spent less and less time in The Bower, although a casual observer may have deduced that Harry's desire to see Ginny in a bathing costume was greater than his desire for mental health.

One day, the girls were sunning themselves on the dock at the pond, while Ron and Harry were swimming never far out of ear shot.

"Harry what was in that owl you sent?" Ginny called, sounding innocent. Never a good sign when Ginny uses her innocent voice, Harry thought.

"Which owl's that, Gin? I've been sending lots of them lately. I sent one to Neville and one to Luna, inquiring about their summer and telling them what a pest you are."

"No, not those… the one you sent this morning, addressed to Fred and George?"

"Oh that! That was nothing."

"It wasn't nothing! What was in it?" she insisted.

"I'm not an open book to you Weasley! I can keep secrets if I want to, and I can write your brothers if I want to."

"Not three days before my birthday, you can't! I'm just warning you now: if I end up with green hair or a moustache I'll have a Bat-Bogey ready with your name on it!"

"Ginny, I'm crushed! How could you ever think so ill of me?" Harry said with a huge grin and a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Are you going to tell me?" she asked, with a threat in her voice.

"No," Harry said simply.

"Hey Hermione, would you tell us about the time you told Harry about 'the Birds and the Bees'?"

"Oh, bloody hell!" Harry groaned.

"Well… I… ummm… " Hermione stuttered.

"Oh, excellent! I love this story!" Ron exclaimed as he jumped out of the water to hear better.

"You knew?" Harry asked Ron.

"Of course! She came running to me right after it happened! Completely melted down! It was brilliant, never seen anything like it! Why didn't you just ask me?"

Harry shrugged. "I didn't want you to think I was ignorant. I'm used to Hermione thinking I'm ignorant."

"Come on Hermione!" Ron urged. "Tell us."

"Why is there never a Death Eater attack when you need one?" Harry said, as he swam out to the middle of the pond so he wouldn't hear the story. He was contemplating activating the emergency portkey that still hung around his neck, because at least it would get him out of there. At that moment, Harry noticed a large grey owl swoop down and land on the dock. Ron retrieved the message and motioned for Harry.

"It's for you, mate," he called.

Harry returned to the dock and read the owl. He felt his insides crumble; the delicate emotional balance he'd been building burst like a house of exploding snaps cards. Harry dropped the letter and ran.

"What's it say Ron?" Ginny asked.

Ron read the letter. "Nothing bad… good news, really. It's from Professor Lupin. The Ministry of Magic has officially cleared Sirius Black of all charges. His estate has been cleared for distribution and Harry's the beneficiary. He's to go to the will reading at Grimmauld Place on August 31st, the day before we go back to school. Why would that upset him?" Ron asked Ginny.

Ginny sighed. "He hasn't dealt with Sirius' death yet; I thought he had."

"Aren't you going to go after him Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"No," Ginny said simply.

"But Ginny he needs…" Hermione insisted.

"Drop it, Hermione!" Ginny said harshly. "I only go when he asks."

Ginny met her friend's eyes. Hermione's face softened as her gaze shifted to the path where Harry had just gone and she nodded. Ginny followed her gaze and saw Harry return into view.

"Ginny?" he called mournfully.

"Now I go."

Ginny followed Harry back to The Bower. By the time she got there several seconds after him, he was already in a rage, and also on the brink of tears.

"I killed Sirius and now I'm going to get another bloody vault full of gold for my efforts!"

"You didn't kill Sirius. Bellatrix Lestrange killed him," Ginny said calmly.

"He was there because I was stupid and arrogant and thought I could resolve everything myself…" The dam finally burst. Ginny wrapped her arms around him and held him while he cried. His pain seemed to be coming from such a deep place that Ginny wondered if Harry had ever really cried before. Then she realized that he probably hadn't… he'd never had anyone to comfort him before, no one who would just hold him and allow him to let his guard down. To Harry, just being touched was a new experience. Ginny lead him to sit sideways in the hammock, and she continued to hold him.

"I'm so sorry Gin; I didn't want to do this to you," he managed to stammer.

"Listen to me, Harry Potter. This is where you come to cry, do you understand me?"

She held him for a long time, muttering soothing nonsense and gently rubbing his back. She gave him the towel she'd wrapped around her waist to dry his tears. After a long while his breath became regular again and he relaxed against her. They were both wearing only their bathing suits and she felt Harry's hand begin to mimic on her bare stomach the same gentle motions she was rubbing on his back. Before she could fully register Harry's shift in mood, his lips were covering hers and he was kissing her hungrily. Two voices began screaming in Ginny's head, but they were screaming completely opposite instructions. She finally obeyed the one that was screaming louder.

"Harry, stop! Please!" Harry released her immediately and a look of horror crossed his face when he realized that Ginny had tears in her eyes. She jumped out of the hammock to put some distance between them.

"I'm sorry Ginny… I just thought… I wasn't thinking. Oh Gods! I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I just can't be that girl for you Harry."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you want a comfort snog, and Harry if anyone in the world deserves one it's you. But I can't be the one to give it to you."

"Is that all you think it is?" Harry asked honestly.

"Do you? Do you know how you feel about me?"

Harry thought for a moment, and then answered honestly. "No, I don't know what it is I'm feeling. I guess I don't have anything to compare it to. Ginny, did I just ruin what we have? I can't lose that," he said desperately.

"No Harry, we're fine. If I did anything to mislead you, I'm sorry," she said quickly and sincerely.

"You've been nothing but a friend Gin."

Ginny smiled with relief. "So, we're okay then?" Harry nodded but the relief didn't reach his eyes. "Then why do you look so miserable?" she asked.

"Am I crap at it? Tell me the truth," Harry asked warily.

"Pardon?" Ginny had no idea what he was asking.

Harry rolled his eyes in self-disgust. "Every time I kiss a girl she cries. I think I'm crap at it."

"Oh Harry!" Poor Harry, nothing's easy for you!

"Well, am I?" he insisted.

"I don't think so, but I was a little involved with my own issues to pay attention to… your technique."

"Oh," he was crestfallen.

"Okay, stand up. Try it again." It broke her heart to see him looking at her like this.

"What?" Harry's eyes popped open.

"I said stand up and kiss me! You deserve one decent kiss, and I promise not to cry."

"But…"

"Potter! Kiss me! Now!" Ginny commanded.

"Okay."

Harry took Ginny in his arms; suddenly, he was very aware they were both barely dressed. He pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, then with more urgency. Ginny's arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers entwined themselves in his hair. Kissing Ginny was like everything else with Ginny: effortless, natural and right. Harry's tongue darted across Ginny's lips requesting access and it was immediately granted. Harry deepened the kiss, his arms tightening around her, bringing their bodies into contact, their chests separated only by Ginny's thin bathing suit top. A soft satisfied moan came from the back of Ginny's throat and Harry took that as permission to intensify the kiss a bit more. He reluctantly pulled away only when they both needed to come up for air. Harry was quite pleased that he had to hold Ginny steady for several seconds until she regained her footing.

Ginny blinked several times, and breathed deeply for a few seconds before looking Harry in the eyes.

"There's nothing wrong with the way you kiss, Harry Potter. You just need to work on your timing."

Harry grinned widely and she returned it.

The next couple of days were a little awkward for Harry and Ginny, but they were both determined to retain their close friendship. If anything they became closer then they were before; Ginny spent more time in The Bower with Harry, reading or talking. They both managed to keep their hormones in check; what they had growing between them was too important to compromise, and they both felt that.

Soon, Ginny's birthday was upon them. Harry wasn't allowed to leave The Burrow so Fred and George had purchased Ginny's present for him. Fred had delivered it to The Burrow late one night after she'd gone to bed. Ginny had been after him mercilessly to get the secret out of him; she was sure he was about to pull some awful trick on her. Harry was very proud of the restraint he showed in resisting the many charms she used to manipulate him. He was very excited about the present, but also very nervous. He'd never gotten anyone a present like this before, but he wanted to thank Ginny for everything she'd done for him.

Mrs. Weasley's birthday dinner was brilliant as always, and everyone gathered around after dinner while Ginny opened her presents. When Ginny picked up the small box from Harry, he stood nervously and paced over to a spot next to the fireplace. Merlin, I hope she doesn't read the note aloud!

Ginny open the box and pulled out the note and read it: (silently, thank Gods!)

Dear Ginny,

I hope you'll accept this gift from me. There's nothing I can give you that is equal to everything you've given me. This is just a small token of thanks, because I truly believe you saved my life this summer. I'll cherish our friendship always. I'll stop being mushy now; if Ron ever gets hold of this I'll never hear the end of it.

Happy Birthday.
Love, Harry

Ginny looked up at Harry with tears in her eyes; she passed the note to her mother who became similarly weepy. Harry was glad that the note didn't get passed any further.

Ginny looked into the box he'd given her, only to find it was empty.

"It's over here," Harry said softly as he pulled his invisibility cloak up revealing a distinctively shaped package leaning against the fireplace.

"Harry, you didn't!" Ginny gasped.

He picked it up and laid it on the table in front of her. Ginny removed the wrapping.

Ron gasped. "Blimey Harry, that's a Nimbus 5000, top of the line!"

"And it's new…" Ginny said in shock.

Harry cleared his throat. "They say the Nimbus is better for a Chaser than a Firebolt; they corner better and they're more stable, easier to fly without your hands."

Ginny launched herself at him and gave him a kiss that was probably a bit less chaste than it should have been, but Harry didn't mind. Even the snickers from the twins were just a minor inconvenience at the moment.

"Thank you, Harry!"

"You're welcome, Ginny."

"Alright you lot, let's get this mess cleaned up!" Mrs. Weasley bustled around distracting attention from the two of them.

"Will you fly with me in the morning?" Harry asked.

"Definitely!" she said eagerly.

Ginny started accompanying Harry on his dawn flies. Ginny flying on a proper broom was a sight to behold… she was fearless! She could keep up with Harry on his Firebolt and quite often push him to go beyond what he thought were his own limits. Harry and Ron began to work in earnest to train with Ginny for the upcoming Quidditch season. They quickly discovered that Ginny was a natural Chaser; she had an extremely strong arm and pinpoint accurate aim.

The remainder of the summer holiday sped by much too quickly. Soon, it was the end of August and the next day they would floo to Grimmauld Place to attend Sirius' will reading before returning to school on September 1. The day Harry dreaded had finally come; he had to tell Ron and Hermione about the Prophecy.

The four of them relaxed in the lounge of The Burrow after dinner that night. Harry enjoyed watching Ron watching Hermione. Ron's prediction of 'that changes everything' had proved to be less than accurate. The only visible change in their relationship Harry could see was that Ron allowed himself to get caught staring at her now. He had discovered this was a very effective way to make her blush and Ron loved making Hermione blush! When asked, Ron would still insist he and Hermione were just good friends.

Harry wondered what Ron was thinking during all the time he spent staring at her. Suddenly, an image of Hermione flashed in Harry's head. She was naked, in the shower and she was spreading lather… Oh merciful Merlin! What the hell was that? Was that Ron's thoughts? It couldn't possibly be mine. I would never picture Hermione like that! Ginny, absolutely but Hermione, never! Wait a minute Ginny naked in the shower…………………………………… Get a grip, Potter! What just happened? Was that Legilimency? I can't do that!

"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione asked. Harry realized he was holding his head in his hands and probably had an extremely pained expression on his face.

"I'm fine, just a bit of a headache; must be stress. Look Ron and Hermione, there's something I need to tell you." That's brilliant! Blame the Prophecy, they'll buy that. Harry looked at Ginny and she smiled at him encouragingly. He continued on, telling them about the contents of the Prophecy.

"What does that part mean about 'the power the Dark Lord knows not'? Did Dumbledore tell you what that is?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, and no, Dumbledore said nothing. We have to figure it out, and I was hoping you'd help me with that."

"Absolutely!" assured Ron.

"Of course!" promised Hermione. Although his friends quickly jumped in to demonstrate their allegiance and support, Harry knew they were both disturbed by the implications of the Prophecy, and were trying to put on a good face.

"But not tonight, I don't want to think about it yet. Okay?"

"Did you already know about this Gin?" Ron asked.

"Yes, Harry told me earlier this summer," she said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, well that explains it," Ron said with a smirk.

"What?" Harry asked.

"It explains why you're telling us and asking for our help upfront. Ginny's already kicked your arse and knocked some sense into you about trying to go it alone. Well done, Gin," Ron chuckled.

"Something like that," Harry said. "Actually she told me about Binding curses and how they could be used against her if Voldemort rose to power; that made me begin to realize this wasn't just my fight. We have to get this right."

"We will, mate. Just look at Hermione's face… she's already got the wheels turning upstairs! She'll have it all figured out by morning!" Ron laughed.

"Ron!" Hermione blushed.

"Hang on… speaking of Binding curses! Seamus told me that all the girls in Slytherin house protect themselves against them by… you know… NOT being virgins!" Ron said, with a gleam in his eye.

"Ron, that's ridiculous! Don't you know better than to believe anything Seamus says?" Hermione exclaimed.

"It makes sense, doesn't it? Their fathers are a bunch of evil Death Eaters who wouldn't think twice about trading their daughters around for favors!"

"Ron really, I think you're going a bit far on that one," Ginny agreed with Hermione.

"Does not being a virgin really protect against the curse?" Harry asked.

"Not really. I mean, it does protect against a Binding curse. But if someone wants to control you, there are plenty of worse ways they can do it," Ginny said.

"Oh," Harry said.

"It's not a reason to lose one's virginity over, if that's what you're thinking," Ginny said to Harry with a smirk.

"No, of course not," Harry blushed.

"Remind me to give Seamus a detention when we get back to school!" Hermione huffed.


Authors Note:

Okay, my Draco junkies, our favorite ferret will be making his entrance in the next chappy! Hold onto your knickers, it's going to get "complicated"!

I'd like to take a moment to thank my beta Jocjarmom for her wonderful work improving my writing and giving me funny little bits that I then take credit for! And also for going above and beyond the call of duty by applying to be a beta on Checkmated. We promise that chapters will be coming faster from now on.

Please read and review, I love hearing from you.

The concept of Binding Curses I got from "The Price of Love" by RogueSugah. It's a fabulous story that I recommend highly. Thank You. I used the concept quite differently here, but that's where the original idea came from.