A/N I have posted a block of four chapters (7 thru 10). I did this because I am a little sick of the reviews arguing for or against particular relationships. Trust me, this fic is not about what you think it is. You are goning to have to wait a see a bit before it will become clear.

Chapter 7 - Confessions of the Heart

Harry walked into the Great Hall for lunch in a quiet reflective mood. When he sat down Ron glared at him angrily.

"What?" he asked his best friend.

"Ginny!" Ron said, "She's been in her room all morning crying! Because of you!"

Harry felt his stomach turn and suddenly he wasn't very hungry anymore. He got up and headed for Gryffindor tower.

When Harry entered the common room, he found it empty but he could just make out the sound of voices from the stairway of the girls dormitories although he could not make out what was being said.

"Hello?" Harry ventured.

"Oh it's YOU!" said a head that appeared from a door at the top of the stairs, "What do you want?"

Harry was pretty sure the girl was one of the fifth years he had never bothered to learn the name of. "I was just wondering if I could speak to Ginny Weasley?"

"She doesn't want to speak to YOU!" the girl replied immediately and disappeared from sight.

Harry snarled at the now empty corridor and then did something he should not have. He started up the stairs. The inevitable happened when the stairs disappeared and Harry fell and slid back down the stairs into the common room. Now Harry was really mad. He did something impulsive. He slapped his hands on the wall by the stairs and called to the castle. "Look, I need the stairs back and them to stay put, so I can get up there, NOW!"

The stairs reappeared with a groaning tremor that shook the entire castle. From the highest tower to the lowest dungeon it could be felt. The Headmaster was momentarily startled by the reaction of the castle but could detect nothing threatening in the wards. His links with the castle itself were surprisingly unhelpful. He wondered for a few moments and then dismissed it for now. But back in the Gryffindor Tower a boy was walking carefully up the stairs to the girl's dormitories.

"Ah Hello Gin?" Harry called from the corridor outside the door with the sign for the fifth year girls on it. Harry thought it best not to charge into the room.

"Harry?" Gin voice replied accompanied by the other girls shriek.

"How did you get up here?" the other girl asked.

Harry stuck his head around the doorway. "I walked up the stairs!" He replied to Ginny's friend with a smile.

She huffed and said, "That's impossible!"

Ginny sat on the bed with her back towards Harry. She did not look around. "What do you want Harry?" She asked.

Harry feeling a little brave walked inside the room and said, "We need to talk, Gin!"

"Well if you think I'm leaving you here…" the other girl started.

"June, it's all right. Just leave us." Ginny said.

The girl reluctantly agreed giving Harry a nasty glare as she walked out the door. Harry heard her steps go down the stairs to the common room and knew he would not be overheard.

"What do you want to say, Harry?" Ginny asked without turning to face him.

Harry walked around to the bed opposite the one Ginny sat on and sat down to face her.

"Ginny, why are you upset about this?" Harry asked softly.

Ginny was trying to wipe the tears from her eyes and compose herself. "I must look a fright!" She said.

Harry placed his hand under her chin and gently lifted her head up until she was looking directly at him. "I think you look amazing!" He told her. Ginny instantly blushed Weasley red. "Ah!" Harry said smiling, "that brought some colour to your cheeks."

"Don't Harry," Ginny replied, "Please don't!"

"Don't what?" Harry asked.

"Don't tease me!" Ginny said.

"I'm not teasing. I think you look amazing! I think you are amazing!" Harry said.

"But…" Ginny said looking stunned, "You've never said…"

"I couldn't, Gin!" Harry replied, "I couldn't say that of any girl. I couldn't put anyone into that sort of danger! Don't you see, everyone I get close to, Voldemort kills. I'd distance myself from Ron and Hermoine if they'd let me but they refuse and I guess it is already too late. They are bound to be already high on Voldemort's target list. I had sort of resigned myself to living like a monk until Voldemort is defeated or… Well, you get the idea."

"Harry, don't you think I of all people know what the danger is. I of all people know what Tom is capable of. " Ginny told Harry forcefully. "But now it's too late…"

"I guess I should have talked to you about this before Ginny but why is it too late?" Harry asked.

"Harry, you've announced you intentions to find a bride under… under…" Ginny tried to say.

"I know. It's the only thing I could think of to stall Malfoy." Harry replied.

"Malfoy?" Ginny asked.

"Like I said last night Gin, Malfoy's a Veela and he wants me as his life mate. I told him no but under the crappy Veela laws he can force me to marry him. Do you think I want that?" Harry said despondently.

"Marry Malfoy? But he's a guy!" Ginny said shocked.

"Gin, don't tell me you don't know how some wizards like other wizards and not witches?" Harry asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Of course I do! Its just I didn't think Malfoy was a… You're not are you?" Ginny asked.

"No, of course not. I fancy witches thank you very much. Red headed witches in particular!" Harry replied and then laughed as Ginny's face went blushed bright red. "Red faced ones too." He added. Ginny punched him hard in the arm.

"Sorry Gin," Harry laughed, "I couldn't resist!"

"Harry, this isn't like you. I mean you aren't usually this forward." Ginny replied.

"I no longer have the luxury of time, Gin. I'm despite. I figure I have one shot at this or I will be forced to be with Malfoy for the rest of my life." Harry replied.

"So this is just to stop Malfoy." Ginny said carefully.

"Yes but there in lies the problem. Even if I can stall Malfoy to the point he chooses another mate, I will still have to marry the selected candidate from the courtship rituals." Harry said.

"Oh!" Ginny sighed in disappointment.

"Gin, I just spent an hour with Mrs Longbottom being asked what I most valued in a wife. All I could think of was I wanted someone who loved me, Harry! Not the legend! Not the-boy-who-lived. Just loved me for who I am and someone I loved for exactly the same reason." Harry sighed.

They were both silent for a while before Harry spoke again. "I guess the question I have for you is if you think you could be that person. Do you think you could love me? Not the-boy-who-lived, me! Just plain old Harry, the boy behind the stupid legends."

There was a pause before Ginny spoke again. "I was so stupid, wasn't I? A stupid little girl with a stupid little crush on a storybook hero! I never expected to meet the real thing walking along a train platform. And then you show up in the kitchen at home a year later, with my idiot brother as your best friend. God that was embarrassing."

Harry laughed, "I remember the elbows in the butter dish!"

"Oh Merlin! You saw that!" Ginny replied horrified.

"Yeah! Don't worry I've done more embarrassing things chasing after Cho a few years ago." Harry said.

"Are you still interested in her?" Ginny asked.

"No. Between Cedric and Marietta there's no chance of us getting together again. I doubt we'll even be friends after last year." Harry replied shrugging.

"Are we friends, Harry? I mean more than just friendly because I'm Ron's little sister." Ginny asked.

"Yes, I'd like to be friends with you even if Ron wasn't your brother. There's no question about that." Harry replied.

"How about more than friends?" Ginny asked almost in a whisper.

"I would have liked the chance to find out. I really would have but now the courtship rituals are in the way… Unless you were to enter as a candidate of course." Harry said looking more than a little apprehensive.

"Me! You want me to enter?" Ginny replied looking amazed. "But Harry I can't…"

"Yes you can Gin. I know this is not the way either of us wanted it but it is what will happen. I need the courtship ritual to avoid Malfoy but at the end of it, I must marry the selected candidate. I am hoping that is at least someone I know." Harry said.

"I could get Cho to enter if you like." Ginny teased.

"Merlin help me if she enters," Harry replied, "I was hoping to persuade you!"

"But Harry I can't be a candidate in the ritual. I don't have…" Ginny answered him.

"What don't you have Gin?" Harry asked before she finished, "You are the first person I thought to ask. I will ask others but I know I can rely on you to do this. And if you should happen to be selected at the end, would it be a terrible thing to be married to me!"

"Oh Harry! I'd marry you in a heartbeat…" Ginny replied before she thought of what she was saying. She blushed red.

Harry just sat there for a moment wide eyed before he spoke. "Gin, are you saying you do love me? The real me?"

Ginny buried her hands in her face. "Merlin!"

"Answer the question!" Harry pressed.

Ginny sprung to her feet and yelled, "Alright, I love you! Not the boy-who-lived but you Harry James bloody Potter. Why? I don't know. Half the time I want to smack you upside you head for doing all those idiotically dangerous hero things you do and the other half of the time I want to snog you senseless. So yes I bloody well love you! Now just go away."

"Wow" Harry replied at the outburst. "I guess you're the candidate I want then!"

"Oh Harry, I still can't enter!" Ginny said sadly. "The candidates are suppose to offer extravagant gifts to even be considered. I just don't…" She replied.

"You think I care about gifts or money! I don't Gin. Give me your love, Ginny. That's all I ever wanted. To be loved for who I am. If you can do that I will be more than satisfied." Harry stated.

"I can't just give you that as a gift. It has to be something others can see. Your Matriarch has to be able to judge its worth. Oh Harry I just can't…" Ginny told him.

"Yes you can!" Harry told her as he got up from kneeling. "Just wait a moment." Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out his trunk. He enlarged it and proceeded to climb down into the seventh compartment. "Where did I put it? Ah! Here it is!" Harry climbed back out and soon had the trunk shrunk and put back into his pocket. Harry carried a red velvet case, which he had retrieved from the trunk.

"I got this out of my family vault over the summer. Don't tell anyone Gin! It's important this stays between just you and me." Harry said as he extended the case towards Ginny.

Ginny took the case and opened it. She gasped at the sight of the necklace. It was magnificent and the heart shaped diamond that hung at the bottom was huge.

"It's called The Heart of True Love. I want you to wear it every day till the gift giving. Then you can give me your heart Ginny for all the world to see." Harry said happily.

"But Harry I can't take this?" Ginny objected.

"Of course you can. You're giving it back later. There's no problem. Here, let me put it on for you." Harry replied and before Ginny could object Harry had snatched up the necklace and opened the clasp. He slipped his hands around her neck and Ginny trembled as he gently pushed her red hair away and fastened the clasp at the back of her neck. Even on the drab school robes it looked magnificent. The many jewels embedded in the necklace shone brightly and the heart shaped diamond itself seemed to almost glow with energy.

"I can't wear this Harry!" Ginny objected again. "What will people say when they see it?"

"Wear it under your robes next to your skin Ginny. That way no one will see. Wear it as much as you can and think of your love for me whenever you have it on. That's the most important thing. " Harry asked.

"But…" Ginny replied.

"There are no buts about it. You will enter as a candidate and sweep aside all competition. Think of it as a Quidditch match Gin. Give no quarter!" Harry said.

"Oh! Harry!" Ginny said as he took her in his arms and kissed her. Long and intense that kiss was. Ginny felt the fire of her love for Harry blaze high. She would do as he asked and win at any cost. She would be his and he would be hers, and Merlin help anyone who stood in the way. It was a moment that she would remember forever.

After a long time they stopped and glazed into each other's eyes. But all such moments must end, as did this one.

"MR POTTER!" Professor McGonagall's shout from the doorway snapped them out of their musings.

Ginny quickly slipped the necklace down inside her robes before the Professor could turn her attention from Harry.

"What on earth are you doing up here in the girl's dormitories!" She huffed angrily.

"I had to talk to Ginny, Professor." Harry replied calmly. "I had to talk her into entering the courtship rituals."

Well that certainly took the wind out of Professor McGonagall's sails. She gaped at the pair of them and saw the red blush return to the girl's face in full force.

"Or would you prefer me to end up with Malfoy like the Headmaster wants, Professor!" Harry challenged taking advantage of her momentary confusion.

"No… I… Mr Potter, boys are not permitted in the girls dormitories!" McGonagall replied as she gathered herself, "How did you get up here? The stairs should have prevented…"

"They did at first Professor but I demanded the castle put them back and it did. Don't ask me why!" Harry interrupted. "I'd better go. See you later Gin!"

With that Harry walked past Professor McGonagall and out the door. As he walked down the stairs he found the common room packed with Gryffindors starting at him. Seamus yelled "Alright Harry!" and began clapping. The other boys in the room followed suit and soon cheers were added. As the first boy to ever successfully penetrate the girl's dormitories Harry found himself the subject of a rousing ovation.

"Harry!" Hermione pushed her way to him and said, "What do you think you were doing?" she demanded.

"I was talking to Ginny!" her replied.

"Talking?" Hermione said back, "And I suppose that lipstick on your lips got there on its own!"

Harry quickly wiped his mouth and his hand came away stained in the particular shade of red Ginny favoured.

"Hoy you! What have you been doing to my sister?" Ron demanded.

"We need to talk but not here!" Harry told him bluntly.

"Mr Potter!" Professor McGonagall's voice cut through the common room. "My office now!"

"Later!" Harry told his friends.