A/N: Thanks to dopedclown, lazyllama101, lissy86, Avanell, and ale-weasley for their reviews. I really appreciate it.

Love is the essence of life

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny spent the next few days at the inn. They didn't really like the idea of staying at the inn for more than a couple days, afraid their presence would result in more deaths in the Death Eaters or Voldemort found out their whereabouts. This combined with the fear that the Order might find them made them anxious sitting in one place for too long.

But, staying at the inn for a while had some benefits. For one thing the separate bedrooms gave Ron and Hermione the opportunity and privacy to enjoy their new physical relationship.

More related to the search for the Horcruxes, however, the four teenagers had taken their free time to read James and Lily's notes more thoroughly.

"This is interesting," Ginny said, reading to the others something from one of the she had been reading. "While looking for information about Hufflepuff, we came in contact with a dealer who said that he sold a cup to a woman named Celina. He did not know her last name, but knew that she was on vacation at the time of purchase. The purchase took place in Wales. As the cup seems to fit the description of the Hufflepuff cup we had suspected of being a Horcrux, we had attempted to find the woman who now possessed it. Fortunately, before we were forced to go into hiding, we were able to contact Celina. For safety's sake, we did not use last names. She says that she did not realize what she had when she bought it. She has joined our investigation and is looking into spells to destroy the object. We can only hope she will be successful."

When she finished reading the note aloud, she handed the paper to Hermione, who quickly snatched the paper from her to read it for herself. After Hermione had finished reading it for herself, Ginny continued with something else that had made the passage in the notes interesting, to her at least. "I think I remember hearing the name Celina before. I think someone was talking about her to me, but I can't remember when it was, or who was talking to me."

"That's okay, Ginny," Harry smiled softly at her, a smile that she returned, "give it time, you'll probably remember it later."

Looking away for Ginny, he looked down at, but not really seeing as his eyes were glazed over in thought, the book of ancient hexes Mrs. Dearborn had given him right before she was killed. "So, if we can find this Celina person, we can find out what happened to the cup," Harry said, thinking aloud.

Ron sighed in frustration. "Yeah, but she could be anyone, anywhere. We wouldn't know the first place to look."

Harry nodded. "Well, I found out last year that Voldemort stole the Hufflepuff cup from Hepzibah Smith. She was a descendent of Hufflepuff."

"Well, we could find her," Hermione said, looking up from the paper she had been reading and re-reading.

Harry shook his head. "She's dead."

Hermione's eyes narrowed in concentration. After a few minutes, her eyes widened. "Did you say her last name was Smith?" Hermione demanded, with something that sounded like excitement in her voice.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"Who do we know who is in Hufflepuff and who shares Hepzibah's last name?" Hermione asked, looking to the three other occupants in the room.

Ron groaned. "Zacharias Smith."

Ginny giggled a little, trying to find some humor at such a serious time in their lives. "Well, you must be happy, Ron. We get to go visit your friend."

Ron glared, his ears turning red. "Shut it. He is definitely not my friend." Just remembering Smith's attitude toward Harry when the DA was being formed, not to mention, his ridiculously bias commentating at the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch match, induced no agreeable feelings toward him.

"Well, regardless of our like or dislike of him," Hermione pointed out, "after we find the Slytherin Locket, or run out of ideas about where to look, we should go to Zacharias' house and speak to his parents. They might know something that could help us."

The others nodded their agreement and went back to their notes, or in Harry's case, book.

An hour later, Harry put down Ancient Hexes and Curses of the Ancients, sighing, and rubbing his eyes.

"I could do with a break," he said.

Ron patted his stomach. "I could do with some food."

Ginny made a sound of agreement and, with a helping hand from Harry, got up from her position on the floor of the room they were sharing.

"Come on, Hermione," Ginny said, following Harry to the door.

Hermione nodded, but kept reading.

Ron rolled his eyes and walked across the room to where she sat the floor. He bent down and grabbed Hermione's upper arm, pulling her up.

"Wait, Ron, I was reading…"

"Later, Hermione. You need to eat."

Hermione glared up at him.

Harry and Ginny readied themselves for another row. But, they were surprised when Hermione's eyes softened and she conceded with a nod and slight smile.

"Too bad you didn't know that a good rogering would keep you from getting in trouble, huh, Ron?" Ginny smirked. "Would have kept you from a lot of the arguments you and Hermione had."

Harry choked on his laughter, turning his back from Hermione and Ron who seemed outraged at Ginny's crude, but admittedly funny, remark.

Hermione gasped in shock as Ron growled, "Shut it."

Ginny smiled, grabbed Harry's hand, pulling him out the door and down the stairs.

Hermione and Ron followed closely behind, blushing every time they meet each other's eyes.

They sat down in the pub, eating a simple lunch of fish and chips.

They sat awkwardly for several minutes, before Ginny sighed, dropping her fish onto her plate.

"Alright, I'm sorry I said what I said. It probably wasn't a very nice thing to say."

Hermione looked up from her meal. "Its okay, Ginny. When you get 'rogered' as you called it, I reserve the right to make a joke about it to the two of you, just like you did to Ron and me."

Harry turned red in embarrassment when Hermione included the 'two of you' phrase.

Ginny's jaw dropped in surprise. While she did not think Hermione was a prude, she was still shocked by her remark.

But, Ron's expression took the cake. He had gone from an expression like Ginny's, his jaw almost dropping to the tabletop, to looking at Hermione with a proud smile.

A few short minutes of silence insured, but soon, Hermione and Ginny were talking and laughing, and Ron and Harry were discussing Quidditch, all of them having silently agreed that, unless it was urgent, they would send their breaks by not talking about Horcruxes or Voldemort or anything involving war.

After lunch, Harry and his friends went back upstairs, trying to find out what spell Mrs. Dearborn had suspected would work on the Horcruxes.

They tried some of the eight hundred plus hexes that were listed in the book. They hadn't had much luck and before they knew it, they were eating a late dinner and then making their way up to bed.

Ron and Hermione slipped into their room, shutting the door firmly behind them. Harry and Ginny heard a locking charm being performed and then, moans belonging to both Ron and Hermione drifted, muffled, out into the hallway in which Harry and Ginny were standing.

"Hurry and unlock the door, Harry. We can't hear them in our room, thank Merlin."

Harry nodded and quickly did the "Alohomora" unlocking spell.

Ginny sighed and closed her eyes in relief as she shut the door behind her, effectively stifling the moans of her brother and his girlfriend.

Opening her eyes and looking around the room, Ginny sought out Harry, who had opened the Ancient Hexes and Curses of the Ancients book once more and looking through it.

"The book will still be there tomorrow, Harry. We can look at that some more then. You should get some sleep."

Harry shut the book, setting it and the notes back into the box they had found at his parents house and locking it up tight. "Yeah, you're right."

"Of course I am," Ginny replied, making her way across the room.

She took off her shoes, and went over to her trunk, pulling out some night clothing, and going into the loo to change.

They had been sharing the same room for several days and had set up a routine. While Ginny was in the loo changing, Harry went to his trunk, pulled out night wear, and quickly changed into his night shirt and boxers.

Before Ginny left the loo, Harry was already in his bed, his glasses set beside him on the nightstand.

Ginny breathed deeply in and out to calm her nerves. She made her way to the bed, but, instead of getting into her own bed, as she had done every night except the first night they had stayed here, she pulled back the covers on Harry's bed and lay down beside him.

She felt Harry tense beside her. "What are you doing, Ginny?"

"Letting Hermione collect on her right to joke about us," Ginny whispered, waiting for Harry to realize what she meant.

Ginny lay silently, listening to Harry's breathing for a few moments, until suddenly his breath hitched and all the air left his lungs in a loud swoosh. He finally figured out what I'm talking about, Ginny thought.

"We can't, Ginny," Harry whispered, his voice as tense as his limbs had been since Ginny had lay down beside him.

"We can, too. And, don't pretend you don't want to," Ginny said stubbornly as she turned on her side to face Harry in the dark. The light from the window made him visible in the otherwise dark room. He was staring at her, fear raging with desire and love.

In the end, desire and, more importantly, love won out.

Harry pulled Ginny down on his chest, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss.

Clothing was peeled from each other's bodies, a contraception charm was performed, and innocence was lost. But, something important was gained. A strong love and commitment surrounded them as they lay, sated and happy in each other's arms.

"I love you, Ginny. I want to protect you from all of this. But, I know I can't really make you leave me, especially not now," Harry whispered into the red hair splayed across his chest.

Ginny smiled, "I love you, too, Harry."

Ron and Hermione shut their bedroom door behind them, locking it as they went.

Ron began making his way over toward his trunk to change clothes, when, Hermione stepped in front of him, sliding her hands up his chest and around his neck.

Ron bent down, wrapping his arms around her waist. He moaned in surprise when Hermione did a little jump and wrapped her legs firmly around his waist, her pelvis coming into contact with his quickly-hardening erection.

Ron slid one of his arms under Hermione's arse, his other hand remaining on her waist and bracing her body firmly against his. While he was thinking about it, he cast the contraception charm quickly so he wouldn't have to try and remember it later.

Realizing that he wouldn't be able to do much in this position, he turned around and pushed her up against the wall next to the door to their room.

"Thank, Merlin, you're wearing a skirt today, Hermione," Ron said as he rubbed his trouser-covered manhood against the flimsy material of her panties that were the only thing covering her from his view.

"I know," Hermione answered, sliding one of her hands under Ron's shirt, feeling the muscles that had developed over the years.

Ron groaned in pleasure and excitement as Hermione's other hand made its way to his trousers, trying to unbuckle his belt. She wasn't having much luck though.

Ron, noticing this, pushed harder against her, hoping this would be enough to keep her against the wall, but he was wrong. Luckily, his brilliant Hermione slipped her arms around his neck, clinging to him.

Pausing a moment to make sure that Hermione was not in danger of slipping, Ron was soon unbuckling his belt and, while he was at it, unbuttoning and unzipping his trousers.

Once this was done, his trousers and boxers now riding low on his hips, Ron brought his arms back up to her waist and under her arse.

"Please, Ron," Hermione pleaded, her breath coming in short gasps.

Ron let go of Hermione's waist but kept his other arm braced under her arse.

One handed he was able to tug his trousers down to his thighs but, a dilemma arose. He couldn't get wiggle out of them because, if he did wiggle, he might drop Hermione.

"Just leave them, Ron," Hermione's voice pleading with him to continue.

Ron groaned, shoving his free hand between them and pushing her panties aside. He slipped one of his fingers inside her, testing her readiness. And, Merlin was she ready. She was dripping wet and his finger burned from the heat emanating from her core.

Hermione moaned in pleasure when his finger swirled around her clit, but whimpered in protest when he felt his finger leave her body.

Ron smiled a little at the whimper, proud that he had such an effect on her. But, taking pity on her, and truth be told, himself, he grasped himself, and attempted to bring it to Hermione's waiting entrance. He growled in frustration when he found that her panties had slipped back into place and were once again covering her from him.

Hermione was quick to catch on to why he had growled. She one of the arms she had wrapped around his neck, down his hard chest and stomach, to her stubborn panties. She pushed them aside, meeting Ron's eyes as she did so.

Ron growled in thank you, and, still grasping himself, brought his erection to her entrance.

He thrust deeply into her, both of them groaning and moaning in relief. Now inside her, Ron brought his, again, free arm up and braced it against the wall.

Ron thrust hard in and out of Hermione as she clawed at his upper back.

His thrusting continued for several minutes, until Hermione let out a scream that Ron quickly stifled with his hand as she voiced her pleasure, her orgasm washing over her in waves.

Once he was sure she wasn't going to scream again, Ron brought the hand that had been silencing her scream down to her hip. He slid his other hand under her arse up to grip her other hip. He tilted her hips and continued thrusting, harder now, trying to find his own release.

Hermione moaned softly at the new angle, but was too sated from her powerful orgasm to feel much physical pleasure from it.

Ron, however, still hadn't come and found the new position extremely pleasurable. If it was possible, she felt even tighter like this, and Ron enjoyed it immensely.

He lasted for another minute or two, before he groaned into Hermione's hair, his legs shaking as his remaining strength threatened to leave him.

Lucky for Hermione and himself, he was able to make it to the bed before all strength left him.

They collapsed on the bed, and with the little strength they possessed they wrapped their arms around each other and each whispered "I love you" before drifting off to sleep.

Both couples woke up later than normal the next day, so late in fact that it was not until lunch time that either made their way downstairs.

Ron and Hermione had just gotten downstairs and ordered some lunch when Harry and Ginny came downstairs, and, as Hermione was quick to notice, they were holding hands.

Harry escorted Ginny to the table and went up to order their lunch.

"Why did you two sleep in so late? When Hermione and I got up, we knocked on the door but since you never answered, we figured you were still asleep," Ron asked, once Harry brought the food back to the table and sat down beside Ginny.

Ginny bit her lip and feigned interest in her food. But, Hermione noted, Harry was blushing.

"Don't joke with us," Ginny mumbled, but smiling as she did so, and then looked up meaningfully at Hermione.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Did you use a contraception charm?" she asked bluntly, not thinking about what she was saying, and to whom she was saying it in front of, until it was too late.

Ron, who had been swallowing a mouthful of drink at the time, began choking. "What!" he was able to croak out between coughs.

"Hermione," Ginny ground out.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ginny," Hermione said. And, because she did look genuinely sorry about what she said, Ginny forgave her.

"It doesn't matter. Ron was going to find out soon enough anyway."

Ron looked from Ginny to Harry, who looked hesitantly up at Ron.

"You…and you?" Ron asked, pointing at Ginny and then Harry.

Ginny snorted. "Yes. We are dating, Ron."

"I could live with the two of you dating, but this…"

Harry interrupted, "Is no different than what you and Hermione are doing."

"But, she's my sister."

"Yeah, and Hermione's like my sister. You know I wouldn't take advantage of her, Ron."

Ron stared at Harry for a few minutes and, finally, to Harry's relief, nodded.

"Yeah, alright. Just make sure I never have to see it."

Hermione smiled proudly at Ron, glad that he hadn't lost his temper. She reached over and slipped her hand into his, squeezing gently.

Ron smiled at her and squeezed back.

"Okay, what about this one?" Ron asked, pointing to one of the spells in the book. "It says that it is used in the same way that love potions are used now. You said that Dumbledore told you that love will defeat Voldemort. Maybe love spells are needed to destroy the Horcruxes too."

"Maybe," Harry said, looking at the description of the spell. "The hand movement looks really complicated." He read the rest of the description and sighed in disappointment. "It also says that I have to actually love the thing that I'm using the spell on. I definitely don't love that mirror."

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny laughed in agreement.

"I was thinking, Harry," Ginny said, later that night as they lay cuddled together in bed.

"You were?"

"Shut it, Potter." Ginny laughed, smacking Harry lightly, but quickly turning serious again. "Anyway, I was thinking about the spell that Ron found earlier today. You know, the one that requires you to 'love the mirror'."

Harry nodded. "What about it?"

"I think it might be the right spell."

Harry's face scrunched up in confusion. "How? I don't love the mirror. I really doubt Dumbledore loved the ring he destroyed. And, I know for a fact that I did not love the diary when I destroyed it."

"I know, but what if you don't really have to love the mirror, or any of the other items. What if it's enough to love what the destruction of them would mean."

At Harry's confused expression, Ginny continued.

"Okay, what did you feel when you destroyed the diary?"

"I knew that it was the only way to get rid of Riddle, and possibly to save you."

Ginny's voice took on an excited tone. "So, you loved what the destruction of the diary would mean?"

Harry shrugged. "Probably."

"And, I bet Dumbledore loved what the destruction of the ring would mean and so, he was able to destroy it."

Harry stared thoughtfully into space for a few minutes before speaking. "You might be right. Let's talk about it tomorrow with Ron and Hermione tomorrow."

"And, so, in a way, Harry really did love the diary, it was just the destruction of the diary that he really loved." Ginny said, the next morning while Ron and Hermione sat with her and Harry in their bedroom.

"That would kind of make sense," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"I have a question, though," Ron said. "Why was Mrs. Dearborn not able to destroy the mirror. She probably really loved the mirror, it was an heirloom."

The four sat in silence for a few minutes, each pondering this complication.

Finally, Hermione spoke up. "Maybe she didn't really love the mirror though. I mean, she kept it hidden away, as if she didn't want to see it or think about it. You know, out of sight, out of mind. Also, the destruction of the mirror would have been a good thing, because it would help bring about Voldemort's downfall, but, it also would have meant her death. Maybe she couldn't destroy it because a part of her, understandably, wasn't ready to die."

Harry nodded. "It makes sense. So, if this is the spell, I need to learn the wand movement."

Ginny nodded in agreement. "And, when you try to destroy it, you need to be totally focused on how much love you have for its destruction."

"And," Hermione added, looking at the description of the spell, "it looks like you need to know the word for mirror. The spell needs to be personalized like the summoning and banishing spells do."

"Do you know the word for mirror, Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, but if we have to do this for the other Horcruxes as well, we should find a Latin dictionary because I don't know the word for cup, if the Hufflepuff Horcrux is really a cup. And, it looks like it needs to be in Latin, not English, so just saying cup isn't going to work."

Ron and the others nodded. "At least Latin Dictionaries aren't hard to find."

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny nodded in agreement and spent the rest of the morning, until lunch time, trying to master the extremely complicated movement.