I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: Expect only two chapters this week. I am still feeling very run down and a lot of my day is spent on the couch.

My regular beta is without Internet but I am very happy to have Wolf's Scream filling in! Thank you so much for your help!

Chapter 8: Walls Come Down

"Are you sure that she wants to see me?" Harry asked Hermione, as he basically ran to keep up with her. It was easier for her to move since she didn't have to walk through thick brush. Floating up in the air is certainly the life, he grumbled to himself.

"Yes, I am sure that she wants to see you. I think she's getting a bit lonely and I am frankly concerned that if she doesn't see someone besides myself that she will simply decapitate Malfoy and be done with it." Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "Come on, she's expecting you soon."

"What's so wrong with her offing Malfoy?" Harry asked and then grunted as he tripped over a root. He needed to pay closer attention to where they were going.

She didn't reply for several long moments but when she finally did speak, her voice sounded hoarse. "Malfoy wouldn't have killed Dumbledore."

"Yeah, but he's still a-"

"What I am saying," Hermione said agitatedly, interrupting him, "is that we were brought here by Dumbledore and he obviously had a plan for us."

"You don't sound so sure of yourself," Harry muttered dryly before cursing as he stubbed his toe. I have got to stop thinking and look where I am going!

"It's just odd, you know. Yesterday I was speaking with Ginny and I realized that I had gotten a fact wrong about the story."

Her statement completely flummoxed him and he was so startled that he stopped suddenly to gaze up at her. Unfortunately he had just pushed past a branch and it swung back and knocked him on the back of the head. Harry yelled and fell to his knees.

"Harry, are you all right?"

He dusted the mud off of his hands and got unsteadily to his feet. "I think so but… Hermione, you never get facts wrong!"

Harry could see her biting her lip and he could just imagine that she was wringing her hands up there. "I'm certainly not perfect but the I could have sworn that the book told me that Draco was the king's nephew and yesterday I found out that he is actually his youngest brother."

"So that's why he's a prince," Harry dusted himself off more fully and began to walk again.

Hermione began to move again as well. "That's exactly what Ginny said."

"So what is Ginny in all of this?"

"She's the king's niece," Hermione replied slowly.

Harry tried to mull that over in his head but one thought kept flashing in his mind. "So she's going to be marrying her uncle?"

"Not if you stop the wedding and marry her yourself." Hermione bit out sharply.

Harry's mind froze. Marry Ginny? "I can't get married! I'm only sixteen and-"

"Harry!" Her sharp retort made him fall silent. "You won't be marrying Ginny, Robin will be marrying Maid Marian. Please try to remember that this is a fictional story that we are playing out."

"Oh," Harry replied and was disconcerted to realize that her words weren't comforting but he refused to speculate on why.

They walked on in silence for several minutes. Harry kept pushing all thoughts of what this meeting with Ginny would be like, preferring to not trip over his own feet again on the under brush. After nearly falling twice more, they reached a wall that appeared to be at least fifteen feet tall.

"How am I supposed to get over that?" Harry asked her incredulously.

A small thump next him caught his attention and he looked over to see a long rope with a three-pronged metal hook. It looked quite intimidating.

"That is a grappling hook," Hermione informed him. "You'll use it to scale the wall and get down. It will also help you get back out again."

"What do I do with it?" Harry walked over and picked up the rope and hook, hefting it and examining the ends, which looked remarkably like miniature shovels.

"Throw it up to the top of the wall and over just a bit, then pull back on the rope slowly so that the prongs hook on to the wall and you'll be able to climb up and then rappel down." She sounded suspiciously cheerful over this.

Harry glared up at her. "Is there a catch?"

"Not if you do it right. Just make sure you don't let go of the rope after you throw it."

Harry first attempt weren't even close to high enough. His second was closer but still not there. All the while, Hermione kept repeating, "don't let go of the rope."

Amazingly, and despite her nagging, he managed it on his third try and he didn't even let go of the rope… much. It did nearly slip through his hands but his reflexes were good so he managed to snatch it at the last second.

"That was close," Harry said, but quietly. He didn't want her to get on his case again.

"This is where I leave you then. Don't keep her long and Harry, do try not to be a git about it."

"What?" Harry bellowed up at her but she was gone. Muttering the entire time, he pulled on the rope to check that it was secure and began to pull himself up. It was horrible. His muscles screamed at him after only a few feet and he still had a lot longer to go. Harry planted his shoes against the rough stonewall and tried to prop himself up as he climbed. It helped somewhat but it was slow going.

He groped for the ledge as he neared the top and pulled himself over, relieved to see a path that was wide enough to walk on. Harry stumbled to the other side and grinned broadly as he saw Ginny in the courtyard below, pacing. Her hair was flowing long and loose behind her. Merlin, she's beautiful. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

Harry almost called to her but decided against it. He didn't want anyone else to know he was there. Instead, he hooked the grappling hook around the lip of the other wall and lowered the rope down. By holding onto the ledge, he was able to climb over and grab the rope. The hook wobbled for a moment but held firm and he was able to slowly lower himself to the ground, his feet on the wall again.

He'd barely hit the ground when two small arms were grabbing him about the waist and pulling him into a fierce hug. Although he couldn't see her, he knew those arms. "Are you going to let me turn around then?"

She spun him around and Ginny was smiling up at him. "I am so glad to see you!"

Harry hugged her again, savoring the feel of her in his arms. "I am glad to be here, believe me."

Ginny stepped back and surveyed him for a moment. "Come on, we need to move over into the trees or someone will spot you."

"Just a moment." Harry grabbed the rope and shook it up until the hook came loose and fell. He stepped back, out of the way as it came down with a loud thump then he gathered it up and followed her to a grove of trees that sheltered a bench. The light danced around the small clearing

She sat down, arranging her skirt a bit and did not look up at him as he sat next to her.

"So," Harry began, trying to fight for something to say in this suddenly awkward moment. "So, Hermione said you wanted to see me?"

"She's afraid I'll kill Malfoy but honestly, it's funnier watching him get chased about by his wacko nanny." She then straightened her shoulders and looked up at the trees. "So what if I did want to see you. Can't I miss you?"

"'Course you can," Harry replied softly, unsure of where she was going with this.

"I have missed you!" She said and turned to him. "Maybe you haven't missed me."

Harry shook his head. "I've missed you too. You know what I want but… my life isn't exactly safe."

She laughed but it sounded hollow and forced. "I'm stuck here, in this stupid dress-"

"It's not stupid!"

Ginny turned towards him, an eyebrow raised. "You only think that because you can see my breasts."

He went beet red, completely flustered and couldn't find any way to argue with her or deny it.

"Anyway," she continued. "I would like to argue that my life isn't exactly safe either. I got kidnapped, imprisoned and now I'm going to have to marry my uncle unless you save me and you still don't want to be with me and… and this place makes no sense! I don't know where we are but it's not a real place, it can't be since all of these people are fake!"

"I don't know what to say, Gin." He gazed down at her; wanting to hold her again, feel her comforting him. He had also been struggling with those same questions.

She sighed heavily and Harry found himself having to avoid the distraction that it caused him. "I know I kissed you but if you don't want me then you need say so."

Harry blinked, trying to focus on she was saying. "I do want you." Damn, I didn't mean for that to come out of my mouth!

Apparently she hadn't taken his words to mean anything though. She was smiling at him and he could see that her eyes were bright with happiness. "Really?"

"Uh," he cleared his throat. "Of course I do. I just want you to be safe though."

"Well, I don't really think it matters while we're here, right? Can we just enjoy now and when it's over, we'll talk about it more?"

"I don't think I-" but whatever he thought, and Harry wouldn't be able to recall it later, was halted by her lips crashing in to his.

After several happy moments of getting reacquainted, Ginny slowly pulled away. "Do you think that when this is all over with, that you and I will be able to be together?"

Harry shrugged; his brain was still in a fog. "I dunno, it's hard to think about things like marriage and stuff since we're so young."

Her brow furrowed as she frowned at him. "Both my parents were seventeen when they were married. So were your Mum and Dad, I think."

"I suppose," he replied slowly.

"You'll be seventeen in a few weeks," she reminded him, none too gently.

"Right." Harry decided he didn't want to think about weddings anymore. It made his stomach churn and his heart ache. Instead he bent slowly and kissed her again. He wasn't sure he ever wanted to stop kissing Ginny. I bet I could do this for the rest of my life, but he quickly stomped on that thought, not liking where it was going.

Eventually he had to leave. Ginny told him that she had an archery lesson in a few minutes and he would need time to scale the wall again. His arms were still aching from going over it the first time.

"I wish I could go with you," she lamented as he threw the rope up and caught it upon the wall on the first try.

"Why can't you?" He turned his questioning towards her.

"Because the wall zaps me every time I touch it. I already tried to get out the first day I was here." They both laughed and she went on. "Will you come and see me again?"

Harry nodded, swallowing hard. "Nothing could keep me away."

"You promise to come and help me get out before I have to marry Malfoy?"

"I promise," Harry told her immediately.

"Good, because if you don't there will be hell to pay." Her eyes danced in amusement but he leaned down to kiss her softly.

When he pulled back, he met her eyes. "I'm never going to let anyone hurt you, Ginny. Never."

She nodded slowly. "You'd better go then. When will I see you?"

Harry thought for a moment and decided that waiting wasn't really an option. "I'll be back tomorrow." Either my arms will fall off or I'll look great. She beamed up at him and kissed him one last time. "Until tomorrow then," he told her and he began his way back up the wall.

Again, thank you all for reviewing!

Strangely Sirius: Ginny's going to keep kicking butt.

Harry and Ginny 4eva: Probably not fluffy enough for you but eh, I tried LOL

HakushoRurouni: LOL I have got to see Men In Tights again!

Miliardo Peacecraft: Thanks, I appreciate it! I'm so bummed about the no review thing but eh, we'll see how it goes.

1x1pEngUIn89: Thanks, yeah it's stupid IMO

Auramistealia: I hope I feel better soon too! Thanks XD

Hyper Pearl Girl: Random is always fun.

Arachnasloom: Hehe, well I'm already married so that might be a problem for my husband but I'm glad you're enjoying it so much!

Black is the New Pink: The damsel in distress annoys me too!

AllylovesHarry: I set it up for more romance for ya!

realfanficts: Nope, no one will die. Ginny will just keep Malfoy on his toes.

forbiddenlight: Thank you! I'm having fun with the plot. It's nice to be able to stick in whatever I want.