A/N: Just thought I'd let you guys know, I tend to get into more detail involving clothes and houses and…other things. I like to explain everything so that my readers can get a good idea of what things should look like. If that annoys you, you might as well stop reading now, because I really can't help it. I add detail without realizing it. I hope you'll all continue to read and thanks for the reviews so far!

Chapter 3

Love

(Two days later)

"No, Ginny!" Hermione said in frustration. "It's levicorpus! Not levicorpse! And don't say it aloud!"

"I know, Hermione! I never could do it properly, even after Harry told us about it! I'm just, my head is…elsewhere…" She said, her eyes coming to rest on Harry, who was sitting quietly in an armchair in the corner. He had a Quidditch book open on his lap but was more interested in the fiery redhead across the room.

"Harry, go, Ginny really needs to learn this for her Defense Against the Dark Arts exam!" Hermione said exasperatedly.

"Mione, it's extra." Ginny pointed out.

"So? It still helps!" Hermione said. "Go, Harry!" She said, pointing out the door. He looked at his friend with amusement before standing, kissing Ginny quickly and walking out of the living room. He poked his head back in the doorway just in time to see Ginny, wand pointing at Hermione, who was hanging upside down. Ginny muttered the counter curse and caught Hermione as she fell.

"Better?" She asked, highly amused.

"Much better." Hermione smiled. Harry snickered and went upstairs to find Ron.

"Ron? How bout a game of chess?" He asked as Ron came out of the bathroom.

"Oh, sure Harry." He said distractedly as he led the way to his room. They set up the chessboard and began to play. After about fifteen minutes Ginny and Hermione entered. Ginny sat down on Harry's lap just as Ron's queen took Harry's bishop. Hermione frowned at the small pieces. She'd never been one for that game.

"I missed you." Harry said slowly, looking up at Ginny.

"I've been away from you for fifteen minutes." Ginny said with a giggle.

"I know." Harry nodded. Ginny bent down and kissed him softly.

"Oi! Get a room!" Ron snapped grumpily. "Or finish this game!"

"Will Ginny's room be okay, Ron?" Harry asked innocently. Ron stood up quickly, toppling the chessboard to the floor, the pieces screaming and running.

"YOU—!" He began.

"Relax, Ron, I was joking." Harry said. "Don't get all like that on me. Remember what I walked in on the other day?" Ron flushed a deep crimson. Ginny giggled. Hermione looked sheepish.

"What time is it?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Bout 11:30, why?" Harry asked as he lightly ran his fingers over Ginny's back. He could feel her shuddering.

"Well, Harry, in case you've forgotten, Ginny leaves for Hogwarts tomorrow." Hermione said pointedly.

"And?" Ginny said, wrapping her arms around Harry's neck.

"Have you gotten your things packed?" Hermione asked in a Molly voice.

"I'll get around to it."

"Ginny! You should be sleeping and you haven't even packed your things?"

"Fine, fine. I'm going." She said, giving Harry a small pinch on his neck and walking to her room.

"I'll go help her." Harry said, standing up and heading for the stairs.

"Not so fast, Potter." Ron said. Harry turned to look at his two best friends.

"What?" He asked.

"We should talk." Ron said, pointing at the chair Harry had just stood from. He was sitting down with Hermione standing behind the chair, her hand resting on the back of it. They looked quite intimidating, actually.

"Um, okay, what about?" Harry asked nervously as he sat back down.

"Ginny, of course."

"What about Ginny?"

"Harry, she's my sister. I need to know if…"

"Ron, I have the best intentions and I don't intend on leaving her at all." Harry said sharply.

"Okay, but the way you two carry on—"

"Us?" Harry said, looking from Ron to Hermione. "What about you two?"

"Well, see, for us Mum knows and she doesn't mind. Ginny on the other hand is her only little girl and you know how Mum gets…" Ron trailed off.

"Well, then we'll just tell Molly." Harry said reasonably.

"Not my call, mate. You have to talk to Ginny on that one." Ron said, shrugging his shoulders. "But another thing. If, and only if, you do happen to hurt Ginny, you will have six of her brothers and her father to watch out for." Ron said stoutly.

"Believe me, I know." Harry said, running a hand through his untidy hair. Ron nodded and leaned back in his chair. Harry took this as saying he could leave. He left the chair and headed upstairs. Ginny's door was open. He knocked on it, but she didn't turn from the window. She didn't even seem to have heard it.

Harry went forward and slid his arms around her from behind. "Gin…?" He said softly, uncertainly. She turned to him and buried her face in his chest. He held her there for a while, not really knowing what was going on. Eventually he pushed her back to look at her. She placed her hands on his arms. Her eyes were welling with unshed tears.

"Ginny, what's wrong?" He asked, wiping away a single tear that had fallen.

"I'm just going to miss you is all." She said with a watery smile.

"You'll be back right after your exams. It'll only be a week at the most." Harry said gently.

"Merlin, that seems like a long time, Harry." She said with a small giggle.

"It does, Gin, it does." He said, pulling her to him and holding her close.

"Ginny? Love, wake up." Harry said, running his forefinger between her eyebrows and down her nose repeatedly. Her eyelids fluttered and he withdrew his hand.

"Good morning, Harry." She said with a sleepy smile.

"Morning, love. I brought you tea." He said, handing her a cup from the nightstand. She took it gratefully and sat up against her pillows. Harry sat back beside her. "It's nearly nine and I figured you'd want up." He said, running his finger down her silky thigh.

"You figured right." She said softly, sipping her tea.

"So how do you think you'll do on your exams?" He asked.

"I don't really know Harry." She replied, looking into space. Just then they heard pounding footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Ginevra? Are you up yet? Get a move on!" Mrs. Weasley was quickly approaching Ginny's room. Ginny and Harry leapt off the bed and searched for a place to hide Harry for what seemed like hours, but was really only milliseconds before Ginny finally shoved him in her cramped closet. ("Oof!" Harry grunted.)

She slammed the door right as Molly walked in. "Oh good!" She said, smiling as she saw her daughter. Harry was in the closet biting his tongue and rubbing his nose furiously, for the door had closed upon it seconds before.

"Morning, mum." Ginny said lightly.

"I just wanted to make sure your up. We have to leave in less than two hours, so you'd best hope you get everything packed!"

"I will, mum." Ginny said, as if she'd said this for the past six years.

"Good." Her mother seemed satisfied as she started to leave. Ginny started inching towards her closet. "Oh, and Ginny?"

"Yes, mum?"

"Don't sleep like that, you never know who might come in here in the mornings." She indicated to Ginny's short night shorts, oversized T-shirt and no bra. Ginny flushed as her mother left the room, closing the door behind her. Ginny flung open the closet door and Harry stumbled out, still holding his nose, which had bled only a little before he'd stopped the flow.

"Tergeo!" Ginny said as she pointed her wand at Harry's nose. The blood disappeared. "I'm sorry Harry! I thought the door had hit something, but I thought it was your shoe." She said, forcing back a grin.

"Oh gee thanks." He said sarcastically. Ginny smiled up at him. He gave up on pretending to be mad, bent down and kissed her gently. His arms snaked around her waist and she put hers around his neck.

"I better get packed." She said breathlessly when they pulled away. Harry waved his wand about the room and everything, spell books, potions, robes and notes all flew into her trunk neatly and it closed with a snap.

Ginny laughed and kissed him again…and again…and again, until she finally told him to go eat breakfast while she got ready. He reluctantly agreed and headed into the kitchen. Ron, Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were already sitting down.

"Harry, dear, help yourself. I made bacon and eggs and toast, oh and there is some pumpkin juice in this pitcher. I looked for you earlier. Where were you?" She asked curiously.

"Just taking a walk." He said simply, helping himself to breakfast. Mrs. Weasley didn't look convinced, but Ginny walked down just then, distracting her mother by pulling Harry up and standing in front of everybody, holding his hand. Harry looked at her in surprise.

"Mum, dad, Ron, Hermione, Harry and I are seeing each other…again." Ginny announced rather suddenly. Arthur's fork fell with a clatter, and Molly took in a sharp breath. Ron and Hermione just smirked at each other and continued eating.

"S-sorry?" Arthur stammered.

"We're seeing each other. We found what needed to be fixed, fixed it, and now we're fine." Ginny said, positively beaming at Harry. Mrs. Weasley burst into tears.

"I knew it! I knew it!" She sobbed.

"Ginny, hurry or you'll be late!" Mr. Weasley said after he'd put Ginny's trunk on the train. Harry quickly walked Ginny to the train where she leapt on. He could see Luna waiting for her patiently. Ginny turned to face Harry.

"I love you, Gin." He said quietly. Her eyes filled.

"I love you too, Harry." She said softly. She bent down, her long hair falling over his face and kissed him fervently. She broke the kiss, as the train started moving. She shut the door and leaned out the window, waving at Harry and he waving at her, until the train disappeared around the corner.

"Calm down, sparky, come on." Hermione said, grabbing Harry by the ear and dragging him back over to Ron and his parents.

"Shall we?" Mrs. Weasley said, beginning to turn in a circle. The others did the same and in an instant, they were all back at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley hurried into the kitchen, Hermione right behind her, and Ron behind Hermione.

Mr. Weasley sank down into an armchair with a newspaper, and Harry realized he didn't know what to do with himself. He was normally always with Ginny, even if it had only been for three days so far. He decided to talk to Mr. Weasley, who had been strangely distant with him.

"Mr. Weasley?"

"Arthur, Harry." Mr. Weasley corrected him. Harry felt awkward.

"Uhm, Arthur?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"I'd like to talk to you about something." Harry said. Arthur looked up at him, folded his paper, set it aside and looked at Harry with rapt attention. Harry sat down opposite him and took a deep breath.

"What is it, Harry?"

"Well, I just wanted to ask…um…do you, er, feel-uncomfortable-with-me-dating-Ginny?" He asked, rushing the last part. Arthur blinked.

"Heaven's no, Harry. I'm completely and utterly relieved and happy she chose you. Why would you think otherwise?" Arthur watched him carefully.

"Well, um, you've been rather distant with me, and I wondered if it had anything to do with me and Ginny." Harry said, blushing at his own stupidity. To his surprise, Arthur laughed heartily. Harry stared.

"Forgive me, Harry, but the reason I've been distant, not only towards you, is because I've been rather immersed in my own thoughts. You know they are electing a new Minister of Magic in the fall?"

"Yes, sir." Harry said, now focusing on Arthur with his own full attention.

"Well, before he passed, Dumbledore rather thought I'd make a great Minister, and seeing as how I'm pretty much second in command, they'd practically give me the job, unless I declined it, which would lead to another election. I've just been thinking hard about it lately." Arthur said, rubbing his eyes. Harry nodded.

"I see. So…you have no objection what-so-ever to Ginny and I being together?"

"Ah, Harry. A father will always have his worries about his youngest child, his daughter. If you feel you can give her what she wants, and if you truly want to be with her, then there should be no objections from anyone. Do you understand the meaning beneath this?" Arthur asked, a twinkle similar to Dumbledore's in his eyes.

"That if I hurt her, you will hex me into a year from now?" Harry said, smiling.

"Oh, longer than just a year, dear boy. You can bet on that. But you're a good man, Harry. A good man. I have no doubts that you will always love Ginny and support her in the best way you can. Don't worry, son." Arthur picked his paper back up, and Harry, sensing this conversation was done, stood up to leave.

"Thank you, Arthur."

"Whatever for?"

"For believing in Ginny and me. It means a lot." Harry said. Arthur smiled and turned back to his paper.

"You're most welcome, Harry."

A/N: well, there's chapter three! Thank you guys so much for the reviews! They keep me going! It really means a lot to me that you like my story so much so far.