AN: I'm so pleased with myself for popping out another chapter (excuse choice of words). Perhaps this will make up for future slowness. Please note that this chapter is kind of sappy, owing to the mood I was in when I wrote it, but I hope you like it! Review please, I'd like to know where I'm going wrong (or right).

A smile spread across Harry's face as Ginny looked up at him in shocked silence. She wanted more than anything to jump on to him and kiss him, but she was unable to. Her arms remained paralyzed at her sides; her mouth seemed incapable of opening. Harry appeared to be having the same problems. They simply stood staring at each other.

Without warning, Harry took a swift step forward. Ginny overcame her stationary state and finally threw herself into his open arms. He hugged her so tightly to his chest that she could hardly breathe. However, she ignored this temporary lack of oxygen in order to focus on more important things.

After what seemed like a week but was probably less than a minute, they both pulled back. Ginny looked up once again at Harry. She had to say something –anything, to let him know what it meant to have him with her after so many heartbreaking weeks.

"You're…taller than I remembered." She said in a strangled half-whisper. Taken aback by what had just come out of her mouth, she blushed and prepared to redeem herself with a more romantic speech.

"Taller than you are, anyway," Harry smiled at her, "That's not saying much." With that he bent down to kiss her.

Ginny had been fantasizing about Harry's return to her for weeks. She had expected that, if and when the time came, they would come together in a passionate kiss that would produce some sort of fireworks in her brain. This kiss was nothing like that- only it was far better. His lips were so warm on hers, and so gentle. Despite having been separated for so long, she knew exactly what to do. The only descriptive word that came to her mind in that instant was "natural". It felt as if they had never been apart.

When they finally parted, both Ginny and Harry were smiling radiantly. Harry moved his hand from her waist to tenderly stroke her cheek.

"I came tonight for a reason," He finally said. He gestured towards a nearby bench, and they both sat down.

Ginny looked searchingly at his face. After the initial shock of seeing him right in front of her, she could now see changes in him. His eyes looked hollow, his entire face appeared somber. She smiled slightly upon realizing that his hair was messier than she had ever seen it.

"I think that I'm really close to finding another Horcrux." Harry continued.

"How?" Ginny asked, slightly louder than she had intended, "How did you know where to even start looking?"

"I've had help," Harry admitted, "Lupin and Moody have been searching as well. They know more people and can get into more places than I can."

Ginny nodded intelligently, but said nothing.

"The thing is…" Harry continued, "They've become even busier than before with the Order. Even though they admit that finding Horcruxes is a priority, they've decided to focus on… er… other things. For now."

Taken aback, Ginny opened her mouth to speak.

"So, the reason I'm here right now," Harry continued, cutting her off, "Is that I need some else who can help me. Someone who knows all about the Horcruxes, who knows what it's like to face Death Eaters and Voldemort. Someone who I can trust with my life." He looked at her pointedly.

"You mean… me?" Ginny asked, slightly stunned.

"Yes, I mean you," The smile returned to Harry's face.

"But what about Ron and Hermione," Ginny interjected, "You can trust them too. And I thought you said that you and I should…. be…"

"Separated," said Harry, nodding, "That's how I thought it had to be at first. I was afraid that Voldemort would harm you in order to get to me. But, Ginny, I've come to realize… he probably already knows. About us."

"That's what I always thought," Ginny said, "I mean, we were together before the school year ended, Malfoy saw us, there's no way that it was a secret. It would've had to get back to Voldemort eventually."

"Exactly," Harry agreed, "But I still thought I could protect you. It was more hoping than anything."

Not knowing what to say, Ginny put her hand over his.

"I think that I would be safer with you than I would be anywhere else," she said quietly, with a small tremor in her voice. She felt his hand tremble slightly under hers.

"Ginny, this will be dangerous," Harry said, "I want more than anything for you to come with me, for you to help me with this. But if you do, you will be taking a huge risk."

Silence fell in the dark garden as Ginny contemplated her choice. Which was worse? To be with her beloved Harry and face a dangerous task, or to stay at home, never knowing if Harry was safe. To her, there really was no decision to be made.

"I don't think I could handle being away from you for one day longer," she said, just as she felt her eyes begin to moisten. Embarrassed, she looked down at her hand in Harry's, and attempted to blink away the tear. Here she was, crying again!

"Ginny," The compassion in Harry's voice forced Ginny to look up, "I love you. You can't imagine how much I've missed you."

"Yes I can," Ginny gave a watery smile at his words, "I have a feeling that I've missed you just as much." Suddenly, she was laughing, and after a short pause, Harry joined her.

Harry pulled her close to him and rested his cheek upon her head. Ginny fully recognized the challenges ahead, but in that moment, she was unable to feel any fear. She closed her eyes, content to hear the sound of Harry breathing above her and nothing else.

And then- "I guess you'd better go get ready." Harry whispered in her ear.

Ginny looked up.

"What should I bring with me?" She asked.

"Anything you like," Harry replied, suddenly serious, "But we do have to get out of here soon."

"Why? Don't you want to see Ron and-"

"I would, but…" Harry trailed off as he stood up slowly.

Worried, Ginny stood up and turned him around to face her.

"But what?" she asked.

"Don't be frightened," Harry said, "It's only that… I know I'm being followed."

"Followed?" Fear rose in Ginny's chest.

"Yes, but don't worry," Harry tried to reassure her, "They're slow, very slow. And I know what I'm doing. I know where we are going next."

Comforted by the way Harry said "we", but nevertheless still a bit disconcerted, Ginny turned to sneak back up to her room. She was going to bring only the bare essentials. After all, Harry was the only thing she truly wanted with her.