A/N: Here's chapter two. Hope you like.

Chapter 2

Together

Harry stood looking at Ginny for a second longer than he should've. He turned scarlet and then turned his back.

"Um, I was just wondering if I could hang out with you in here since Ron and Hermione are snogging each other senseless." Harry said quickly. Ginny hurriedly pulled a black slip over her head and told Harry he could turn around and close the door. Harry shut the door, then turned to face her, then promptly turned back to the wall.

"You're still not dressed!" He said.

"I'm in a slip, that's good enough. I don't want to mess up my dress anyway. Harry, this slip is past my knees and barely V-neck. I highly doubt you'll see anything. It looks like a normal dress." Ginny said exasperatedly as she plopped down in her vanity chair and crossed her legs. Harry looked at them as they moved but quickly snapped his eyes back up to Ginny's face, which looked amused. He felt his cheeks turning red, then turned to sit down on Ginny's bed.

"I should've knocked, I'm sorry." Harry said, shaking his head and not looking at her.

"Harry, its fine. I really could care less." She said, picking up her brush and running it through her long auburn locks.

"So, um, how is it at Hogwarts?" Harry asked nervously. Ginny put down her brush and looked at him.

"Well, it was really hard last term, but it's gotten so much better this term." She said, grinning at him knowingly. Harry smiled sheepishly.

"Well, that's good. I miss it a lot."

"Yeah, but you guys will be there next year. That'll be fun." Ginny said, almost kicking herself at her lame response.

"Yeah." Said Harry, still carefully avoiding her eye.

"Harry? Why won't you look at me anymore?" Ginny asked quietly after a few moments. Harry didn't even realize she was standing right beside him until just then.

"I don't know what you mean." He said, looking up at her for less than a second, and then looking down at his hands.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, kneeling in front of him. "I thought we were friends, but if you won't even look at me, how will we be friends?" She demanded, placing a hand on his knee. He finally looked up into her eyes, preparing to tell her everything.

"I—" He began, but he broke off as he felt a stirring in his pants. Oh shite, not now. He thought furiously. He felt a blush rising quickly into his cheeks as he realized he was getting rather excited, just from looking at her and her touching him. He leapt up quickly, causing her to fall back, surprised. He ran flat out from the room and took refuge in the bathroom, barely hearing Ginny calling him. Ginny flung herself on her bed and sobbed into the pillow for five minutes until Hermione ran in the room and sat beside her.

"Ginny, are you sleeping?" Hermione demanded, rolling her over. "Ginny, what's wrong?" Hermione asked when she saw Ginny's tears.

"He hates me!" She said bitterly.

"Ginny, he doesn't—" Hermione tried to say.

"He does! He won't even look at me, and when I asked why, he didn't answer and then I asked him how could we be friends if he wouldn't look at me, and he looked ready to answer, then he got all scared and ran from the room! I revolt him, Mione! He hates me!" Ginny said, dissolving in another flood of tears while Hermione sat with her, trying to soothe her.

Meanwhile Harry decided that he would just walk in Ginny's room, grit his teeth, and tell her how he feels. He made quite sure his pants were still before heading toward Ginny's room, but as he was about to knock, he heard something that almost made his heart break. Ginny was crying, saying something about him hating her while Hermione tried to tell her he, Harry, did not hate Ginny. Harry walked swiftly to Ron's room.

"Ron!" Harry said as he entered. Ron was feeding Pig and Hedwig. He jumped and turned to Harry.

"What's up, mate?" Ron asked, stowing the food on the top of his wardrobe. He turned back to find Harry sitting on the bed, head in hands, muttering furiously. "Harry?"

"Your sister thinks I hate her." He said in distress. He kicked the bedside table furiously, achieving nothing but a throbbing pinky toe and a dent in his shoe. Ron was at a loss for words.

"What the hell? Why?" He demanded. "What did you do?"

"Me? I didn't do a bloody thing! Well, I kind of ran out of her room after she asked why I wouldn't look at her or talk to her, but I had a good reason!" Harry said, standing up.

"Why would you run out of her room? And why won't you talk to her? And why won't you look at her?" Ron asked furiously.

"I can't talk to her because I want her, I can't look at her because it turns me on, and I ran out of her room because I got a boner!" Harry hissed. Ron looked taken aback.

"Oh, um, well, those are pretty good reasons…" he said lamely.

"What am I going to do!" Harry yelled in frustration.

"BOYS! GIRLS! YOU BETTER GET READY FOR DINNER!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed up at them. "AND REMEMBER, IT'S FORMAL!"

"Well, first off we better get ready, then we'll figure out what you're going to do." Ron said as he picked up his casual tux and started to get dressed. Harry fetched his from his bag and got dressed as well, just as Hermione walked in to get her dress. She gave Harry a dirty look, grabbed her dress, kissed Ron, and then swept back to Ginny's room.

"Oh, Ginny, that dress is marvelous!" She said as she closed the door. Ginny had on an off the shoulder, floor length black dress that had a small ruffled train at the back. She looked at her figure in the mirror, examining her curves.

"You think?" She asked softly. Hermione nodded vigorously behind her.

"Absolutely." She said, putting hers on. Her dress was also black, but it stopped just below the knee in a billowy fashion. Hers had long sleeves that flared out at the ends. They both stepped into their heels and hastened to do their make up.

Meanwhile Harry and Ron were already heading downstairs. Lupin and Tonks were already there, hand in hand. Many of the other members of the Order were already coming out of the fire and Apparating. Most of them were taking their seats. When almost everybody was seated, Ginny and Hermione came gracefully down the stairs.

Harry had just taken a sip of butterbeer and choked on it when he saw Ginny. She was more beautiful than he had ever seen her. She did not look at him, but sat down by Hermione, who was next to Ron. Harry was on Ron's other side. Everyone had finally taken their seats at the table which held Mrs. Weasley's fabulous cooking. Harry looked around at all the familiar faces. Charlie, Fred, George, Bill whose face was still scarred by the werewolf that had attacked him, Fleur, to his surprise Percy, Mr. Weasley, McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Moody, Lupin, Tonks, and many others.

"If I could have your attention?" Mr. Weasley said from the head of the table. All eyes turned to him. "As we all know, this dinner was held for someone we all knew, cared about, and know should be sitting right here with us. Albus Dumbledore.

"I just wanted to say a few words in his memory before we eat. Dumbledore was the bravest, noblest, honest, most decent man I've ever had the honor to know. His life was taken from him horribly and unfairly by someone we thought of as an ally." Here Mr. Weasley paused, trying to control his anger and remorse.

"He was a courageous and outstanding wizard who should've been around to see all of us after the final battle. Those who knew him, were very fortunate indeed to be honored by his presence, and those who did not, have no idea what they missed out on.

"Therefore I raise a toast to the memory of a man who lived a spirited life, and led those who he cared for on, giving them strength. Please join me in remembering Albus Dumbledore." Mr. Weasley raised his glass high, and then drank, and everyone else did the same, murmuring Dumbledore's name.

-

Harry lay awake for a long time after Ron's snores had filled the bedroom. He could not get to sleep for anything. He slid off his bed, pulled on Muggle jeans and a shirt, grabbed his glasses, and headed downstairs. He pulled a butterbeer from a shelf, cooled it, and then sat down at the scrubbed wooden table. He could sense someone behind him, and turned quickly, wand out. Ginny stood there, fully dressed and Harry lowered his wand.

"Gin…what're you doing up?" He asked, summoning another butterbeer, cooling it, and offering it to her. She came forward and sat next to Harry.

"Couldn't sleep," She said simply, opening her drink, "you?"

"Same." Harry said dully, taking another swig from the bottle.

"What time is it anyway?" She asked, looking at him closely.

"Bout 5:30." Harry said, checking his watch. Ginny sighed. "What?"

"Nothing." She said dismissively. Harry left it at that for now.

"You looked very pretty tonight." He said, amazed at his own daring. Ginny looked up at him, a small smile playing at her lips, (oh how he wanted the feel of those lips on his), then took another swig of her drink, turning away from him.

"What's wrong, Gin?" He asked, looking at her face.

"I'm just a little sad, is all."

"Why would you be sad?" Ginny didn't answer him. "It's me isn't it? I've upset you…again." He stood up from the table and walked aimlessly towards the living room. He felt a small hand on his arm before he could sit in the leather armchair. He turned. Ginny was very close to him.

"Harry? What happened? What did I do?" She asked evenly.

"Nothing, Gin, I'm just being a royal prat." Harry said, looking at her hands, which were on his.

"Yes, you are." Ginny agreed.

"I'm sorry." Harry replied, unsure of what else to say. Ginny stood on tiptoe and was moving her face closer to his.

"Don't be." She whispered, coming closer. He leaned in, hoping against hope …and then they heard a loud bang from in the kitchen and both pulled away from their almost-kiss immediately. Harry was saved the trouble of cursing angrily by Molly Weasley bustling into the living room. When she saw them she stopped.

"Dears, what are you doing up so early?" She asked worriedly; completely unaware of what she'd almost walked in on.

"Um, I couldn't sleep, and I found Harry in the kitchen. Apparently he couldn't sleep either." Ginny said truthfully. Molly nodded.

"Understandable." She said heavily, a saddened look coming into her eyes. She turned away and began tidying up distractedly. Harry and Ginny looked at each other. Ginny's eyes were sad, Harry's unsure.

"I'm going to try and get a couple hours sleep." Harry said, turning to Molly. She nodded, but Ginny looked hurt. Harry looked at her a moment before turning and slowly ascending the stairs. He faintly heard Mrs. Weasley asking Ginny where she was going.

"Flying," She said to her mother sharply. Harry heard her rummaging around in a closet downstairs for her broom, then the front door open and slam loudly. He pushed open his and Ron's door only to find that Ron had someone else in his bed with him.

"Aw, Ron! Hermione!" Harry shouted, shielding his eyes as he saw Ron in the middle of undoing Hermione's bra. He stumbled out the door, slamming it behind him. "Lock the bloody door if you're going to do that!" Harry yelled through it. Harry went downstairs, grabbed his Firebolt from the same closet Ginny had grabbed her broom, and left the house, deciding he'd never be able to sleep now.

He set off on his broom, not really paying attention to where he was going. Behind the Weasley's backyard, or, field, rather, there were dense woods, and shortly behind that, a small lake. He could see a small red headed figure staring out across its surface. Harry landed quickly and propped his broom by a tree next to Ginny's.

He stood away from her quietly, watching her. She had her arms folded around her and was leaning her weight on one leg and resting the other with her foot turned out. She reached up and ran a hand through her soft curls, then let her arm drop and hang carelessly over the other one. She was fascinating and she didn't even know it. He took a deep breath and swallowed with difficulty.

He walked up next to her and the two stood there in silence, gazing out at the rising sun above the distant trees. The lake was still and quiet, with the exception of the occasional frog leaping in at various times. Harry desperately needed to talk to Ginny, but he was afraid of her reaction. She might bat-bogey hex him to next year. Luckily he was saved the trouble of breaking the silence.

"You found me." Ginny said softly, not looking at him.

"Not intentionally. I walked in on Ron and Hermione almost doing the dirty, but they weren't quite there yet and I left the house as fast as I could." Harry said.

"That's disgusting. Not quite smart of them to do that with mum mere meters away from them." Ginny said thoughtfully. Harry snorted and a small grin appeared on Ginny's face as well.

"Gin?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I know that I've hurt you and it just kills me to know I've made you suffer." Harry said sadly. Ginny turned to face him.

"You have." She said calmly.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to." Harry said, looking in her eyes. It was important she understood this.

"I know, Harry." She said. And without wasting a minute, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him hard and passionately. He staggered back, but quickly placed his arms around her thin figure. They kissed for minutes on end and when they finally stopped, Harry looked at Ginny thoughtfully.

"What?" She whispered.

"Does this mean we're together, then?"

"You catch on quick, Potter." She said with a grin and pulled him into another kiss.

A/N: Thank you guys so much for your reviews! Oh, and technically, Harry only saw Ginny in her underwear. Ha ha. And yes, I did right this shortly after finishing the 6th HP book. I was quite disappointed at the ending of it, but you know, it's JKR's wonderful work none the less! Thanx again for the reviews!