Disclaimer: Most of the characters mentioned in the following story are borrowed from JK Rowling and are not of my own imagination. Any characters in this story that are not mentioned in any of the Harry Potter books are my own.

livelylaura12: You knew? Well that's good because I didn't until I wrote it today lol. And yes... I am very predictable so you were probably right.

mizlovegood: will an empty room do? lol read on...

Jeweled Rose: Gryffindor. That will be in chapter 12 hopefully

Cap'n Emmis Savvy: Umm... yes... good point.

A/N: Thanks for the great reviews. Sorry for the recent lack of update… still having trouble with lack of inspiration and writer's block. Not doing too badly so far, this story has had almost 14,500 hits and around 130 individuals have added me to author alert/favourite authors lists. I have had one request to send out an email when I update. If there is anyone else who wants me to email them as well when I update, please let me know. I would love to get to know my readers a bit more as well, so if any of you have MSN or ICQ feel free to add me. My msn is and my ICQ number is 266 754 388. I love meeting new people so don't hesitate to add me. Now… on with the chapter.

Chapter 11

The next few days passed very quickly. Before Harry knew it, it was Friday and almost time for him to return to his house. He had asked Professor McGonagall a few days earlier if Ginny could accompany him on his weekend excursions out of Hogwarts. The Headmistress had not at first been pleased with the idea, but with a bit of persuasion she finally came around and agreed to let Ginny go with them.

Harry had not yet managed to talk to Professor Brooking and it was starting to get very annoying for him. She seemed to always manage to get out of talking to him, one way or another. But Harry, being a very determined person was not ready to give up. He knew she couldn't avoid him forever.

The four of them met in the Gryffindor Common Room ten minutes before they were supposed to be in Professor McGonagall's office. Their overnight bags had been sent to McGonagall's office earlier so as not to arouse suspicion. Harry had sent Kreacher ahead that morning with food and other supplies they might need. He figured it was a job the house elf could not possibly muck up. But then again, Harry thought to himself, I wouldn't hold it against him to try and find a way.

They arrived precisely on time. Professor McGonagall opened the door, greeting them with a small smile. Once in her office she went over the rules again, explaining them in great detail. When she finally finished she offered the floo powder jar to Harry first.

"Be careful, Potter," was all she said to him.

He nodded. "Thank you Professor." Throwing the floo powder into the flames, he waited until they turned emerald, then called out his destination and stepped into the flames. He closed his eyes, his stomach churning at the swirling sensation. When he felt himself slowing down, he opened his eyes to see his house before him. He stepped out, brushing himself down. Some of the soot floated into the air and caused a sneezing attack. He was still sneezing when Hermione arrived in the fireplace. She immediately pulled out a clean handkerchief, which she passed to him. She was followed closely by Ron and Ginny. The four of them stood in silence for a minute until Harry gave a small smile and made his way into the kitchen, the others following him. He stopped at turned around.

"Welcome to Godric's Hollow" he stated.

"It's such a nice house," Ginny said in awe, looking around.

"Big kitchen," Hermione commented.

"A bit bare though, don't you think?" Ginny said, looking at Hermione.

Harry and Ron both rolled their eyes and looked at each other. "Girls" they said at the same time, Ron's face slightly amused.

Ignoring the nasty looks from the girls, Harry opened the fridge, only to find it empty. He stood for a minute, looking at the empty shelves. He closed the door and opened the pantry doors and immediately wished he had given Kreacher clearer instructions. The house elf had put all of the food on the floor of the pantry. The perishables were definitely starting to go off (as Harry's nose told him) and quite a few of the packets of non-perishable food were torn open, spilling their contents across the floor.

He turned around, to find Ginny stifling giggles. Barely keeping himself from laughing, he summoned Kreacher. The house elf appeared, a look of utter loathing on his face but said nothing.

"Kreacher, can you clean up this mess please. Put the perishables in the fridge and the non-perishables neatly on the shelves. Anything that needs to be replaced, pleased replace it."

Kreacher muttered something under his breath before making his way into the pantry and starting to clean up the mess, a sour look on his face.

Ginny, who wasn't watching the interaction between Harry and the house elf called out from the lounge "Harry you need to personalize this house a bit. Do you have any photos? You could put some of your parents and your friends up and…" her sentence was cut short by a small shriek as she hit a button on the television by accident and the news channel flicked on.

Harry laughed and made his way into the lounge. He turned the TV off, laughing at the surprised look on Ginny's face. "Yes, I have photos in the cupboard over there. Oh and that's the television," he said, indicating the black box next to him. "It's a muggle invention. Trust me, you'll find it very fascinating."

"I doubt that," Ginny said. She made her way over to the cupboard and pulled out a few framed photos, along with an album. She looked the framed photos over then passed one to Harry. "That one is rather nice, don't you think?"

It was a photo of his parent's wedding. Lily and James beamed at him from the middle of the photo. On one side, next to James, Sirius stood waving, a small smile on his face. Remus stood next to him. Harry scanned the rest of the other unfamiliar faces. "Yeah," he answered Ginny. "I like this…" he trailed off, looking at a blonde bridesmaid who was waving at him from next to the picture frame.

"What?" Ginny interrupted, seeing the look on his face. She pulled the photo out of his hands and looked at the bridesmaid. "Ohhh," she said softly, watching a younger Professor Brooking wave up at her.

Ron and Hermione found them a few minutes later, both of them staring at the photo in silence. They stood there for a minute, watching Harry and Ginny look at the photo.

"Honestly," Ron finally said, "anyone would think someone had put a full body-bind on you. You're sitting there like statues."

Both Harry and Ginny jumped and looked around. When they saw Ron and Hermione, Harry passed the photo to Ron and Hermione.

"Now I know why she looks familiar," Harry almost whispered. "I'm going to talk to her on Monday, even if I have to wake her at midnight."

Later that night as Harry lay in bed, he found himself wondering why Professor Brooking hadn't just told him. Ron's snoring interrupted his train of thoughts. Harry got up to get a drink. He figured he might as well seeing as how he couldn't sleep anyway. When he got down to the kitchen, he was suprised to see a certain redhead already sitting at the table, a glass of warm milk in front of her. She gave a small smile as he came in. Harry was surprised to see she looked a little more pale then usual. He slipped into the seat next to her, giving her a lingering kiss on her cheek.

"Can't sleep?" he asked her quietly.

She just shook her head but didn't say anything. Harry noticed she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Are you alright Gin?" he finally asked.

Ginny looked at him and forced a smile. "Of course I am. Just can't sleep."

He brushed the hair back from her face and tucked it behind one ear. "I know that's not just it. I'm not going to force you to tell me though. Trust is important in a relationship and I want you to trust me. I know you can't if I force you to tell me what's wrong. Just remember that I'm always here for you."

She smiled and he pulled him to her. They sat like that until the early hours of the morning. When Harry looked up at the clock and realised the time, he picked up a sleeping Ginny and laid her gently in her bed, kissing her on the forehead. He made his way back to his own bed, finally falling into a light sleep.

When he woke the next morning it was very light outside. Next to him on the bed, arms wrapped around him was the small form of Ginny, fast asleep. Harry looked over at Ron's bed but it was empty. He contended himself with just watching Ginny sleep until a loud thud from downstairs woke her. She sat up, looking around. Harry climbed out of the bed to go investigate. He ran downstairs, Ginny behind him, her hair knotted and messed up.

They found Ron on the floor, a stool on its side next to him. He was laughing hysterically. Harry looked at Hermione who was just watching him. She caught Harry's eye and just shrugged. Harry offered Ron a hand and pulled him up. Ron's fight of laughter was dying down.

"Alright there?" Harry asked. Ron nodded.

"What's so funny?" Hermione piped up.

"I… I…" Ron trailed off, his laughter coming to an abrupt halt as he looked back and forth between Harry and Ginny. His face reddened. Harry suddenly realised he was standing in his kitchen in nothing but a pair of boxers and Ginny in nothing more then a long t-shirt.

"Uhh… I'll be…. Back," Harry said, blushing and backing out of the room. He turned and ran up to his own room, hearing Ginny's footsteps on the stairs and her giggling as she opened his door.

"Did you see the look on his face?" she giggled.

"How could I miss it?" Harry answered, now laughing himself. "It did look a bit dodgy though. We both came out of the same room dressed in hardly anything."

Ginny giggled again and moved closer to Harry, wrapping her arms around him. "Guess it did," she said looking up at him. Harry bent down and kissed her deeply, feeling her warm semi-naked body pressed against him. As the kiss deepened, Harry pulled back, his breath ragged. The feelings within him, the creature in his chest, it was all overwhelming him. Ginny looked up at him, her face flushed and her breath also slightly ragged, and Harry knew she was feeling the same thing. All he wanted was to feel her body next to his, feel the taste of her lips on his, the curves of her body. He wanted to know every inch of her.

He pulled back, knowing this was not the right time or place and that they were not ready for what his body wanted.

"We should ahh… get dressed," he said, the creature in his chest calming down and the heat throughout his body subsiding.

"Yeah," she replied. She had the strangest look on her face as she left his room. Harry couldn't read her face.

He made his way into the bathroom, more then ready for a cold shower. He emerged a short while later, fully dressed and in a more serious mood. The visits home were for a specific purpose and he knew he needed to start looking for the next horcrux as soon as possible. The longer he took to find them all, the more people died. He had no idea where to look first or where to begin. After a moment of indecision he decided that finding out who R.A.B was and if they managed to destroy the horcrux would be the first step. After all, he thought, there's no point in finding and destroying the others if it turns out this R.A.B person didn't manage to actually destroy the locket.

Downstairs he made himself a quick breakfast/lunch and thought about the locket and the note. Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. When he finished his meal he went back upstairs to get the note but stopped, hearing strange noises from an empty room. When he realised what was happening inside the room he blushed. About time he thought to himself. He passed the room and got the note, meeting Ginny on the way back. They passed the empty room in silence, nothing but glee on Ginny's face as she too realised what was happening.

"About time, don't you think?" Harry asked her as they reached the lounge. Ginny couldn't respond because of the silent laughter that was shaking her. Hermione and Ron appeared a little later, both slightly flushed with their clothing a little rumpled. They ignored the amused looks from Harry and Ginny and sat down at the table, where Harry and Ginny were studying the note.

"It's about time," Harry and Ginny said at the same time.

"Don't know what on earth you're talking about," Hermione said in a matter-of-fact voice. Ron just looked confused as both Harry and Ginny burst into hysterical laughter.

A/N: Soooo let me know what you think of it. Sorry it's taken so long, but I added a bit more juicy stuff in and made it a bit longer because of that. Will hopefully update soon but exams are coming up so might be another longish chapter with a looooong update gap.